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Calathea ‘Furry Feather’, or Calathea rufibarba, is a herbaceous plant with long leaves, which have very distinctive ruffled or wavy edges and velvety red undersides.
Latin name
Calathea rufibarba
Pronunciation
(“kal-ah-THEE-ah roof-fee-BAR-bah”)
Common name
Velvet Calathea
Origin
North-eastern Brazil
The specific name, rufibarba, means red beard. This is a plant chosen for its beautiful foliage – the flowers, if they occur indoors, are very dull and can be cut off with a sharp knife or scissors.
Non-toxic to pets and humans. It can be safely grown around cats, dogs and children without risk of poisoning.
caring for your plant
Light
Low to medium. Avoid direct sunlight.
Watering
The growing medium should be kept moist at all times during growth but less so in winter if conditions are cool. Over watering may lead to stem rot, while under watering causes the leaves to go yellow or spotted. Excessively cold water may also be damaging.
Pruning
There is no need to prune this plant. If any leaves are damaged, cut them back to the base of the petiole (leaf stem) with a sharp knife or scissors.
Feeding
Add a weak solution of fertilizer to the water when you water the plant.
pest & diseases
Mealybugs and two-spotted spider mites are occasional problems. Spider mites can cause permanent and severe damage if they are not controlled as soon as they are seen by removal with a damp cloth or paper towel. Mites are deterred by humidity, so regular misting is beneficial.
Our plants are grown in Ecoponic, an alternative to soil. Officially known as a vulkaponic substrate, it replaces traditional compost with a clean, mineral-based medium that helps protect peatlands.
According to the IUCN UK Peatland Programme, “A loss of only 5% of UK peatland carbon would be equal to the UK’s annual greenhouse gas emissions.” As well as storing carbon, the natural wetlands where peat is found are critical to the survival of plants and wildlife. Ecoponic also improves plant health and uses water more efficiently.
Find out more about Ecoponic here.
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