Peacock Plant Care (Goeppertia makoyana, Calathea makoyana): Light, Water and Humidity

The peacock plant (Goeppertia makoyana, still sold as Calathea makoyana) has thin, almost papery leaves patterned like a peacock’s tail feathers. It is one of the most striking calatheas you can buy. In return it asks for steady warmth, soft water and humid air.

How to identify a peacock plant

It grows as an upright clump of leaves on long, slender stalks. NC State Extension gives a height of 1–2 feet and a spread of 8–12 inches; the RHS says up to about 20 inches. The leaves are oval and up to 12 inches long, according to the Missouri Botanical Garden. The background is pale green to cream, with dark green “feathering” running from the midrib toward the edge, oval dark blotches along the veins and a dark green border.

Flip a leaf over and the same pattern shows in reddish purple. New leaves emerge rolled up, flashing their pinkish-red undersides, and the leaf stalks are reddish. NC State Extension’s quick ID hints sum it up: an egg-shaped leaf held upright on a long stalk, a peacock pattern of green spots with cream feathering, and a papery leaf with a purple underside.

Common names include cathedral windows and brain plant (both listed by the RHS and NC State Extension) and peacock calathea. Like other members of the prayer plant family, it folds its leaves up in the evening and opens them at sunrise; NC State Extension says the movement responds to changes in light and temperature. The small white-and-purple flowers rarely appear indoors.

For a long time this was a Calathea. Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants now accepts Goeppertia makoyana, with Calathea makoyana and Maranta makoyana among its synonyms. It is native to southeastern Brazil; NC State Extension names the state of Espírito Santo. The species name honors the Jacob-Makoy nursery in Liège, Belgium, which brought it into cultivation. If you are unsure what separates calatheas from marantas, see calathea vs. maranta.

Light

NC State Extension recommends bright, indirect light or partial shade, and the Missouri Botanical Garden lists part shade to full shade. The RHS adds that it tolerates low light but that bright light can scorch the leaves. A spot near an east- or north-facing window works well, or a few feet back from a south-facing window behind a sheer curtain.

The leaves tell you when the light is wrong. Direct sun leaves pale, burned patches. Too little light fades the pattern, and the RHS notes that Goeppertia species grow weakly in low light. In winter, move the plant closer to the window or add a grow light.

Watering

Keep the potting mix evenly moist, never soggy and never bone dry. NC State Extension lists both wet soil and dry soil among the things this plant will not tolerate. From spring through summer, water often enough that the mix stays uniformly moist. The Missouri Botanical Garden recommends cutting back on water from fall to late winter, and the RHS says to let the surface dry out in winter without letting the whole pot dry out.

Water quality matters. NC State Extension recommends distilled water or rainwater, because fluoride in tap water can brown the leaves. The RHS says tap water is acceptable if you leave it to stand for at least 24 hours so the chlorine evaporates. Always tip out water that collects in the saucer or cover pot.

Potting mix and repotting

NC State Extension recommends a moist but well-drained potting mix high in organic matter, with perlite added for drainage. The Missouri Botanical Garden calls for a well-drained, humus-rich mix, and the RHS recommends peat-free compost. The goal is a mix that holds moisture without staying wet.

The RHS suggests repotting calatheas every few years, once the clump has filled its pot, in spring or summer. If you mix a slow-release fertilizer into the fresh potting mix, the RHS says you usually won’t need liquid feed for the first year.

Humidity and temperature

Humidity is the make-or-break factor. NC State Extension recommends about 60%, and the Missouri Botanical Garden warns that this is hard to provide in winter, suggesting a humidified room or an indoor greenhouse. A pebble tray with water or grouping several plants together also helps. See our houseplant humidity guide for more options.

Keep temperatures steady. NC State Extension gives 65–75°F (18–24°C), and the RHS gives 61–70°F (16–21°C) for calatheas in general. The plant dislikes cold drafts, temperature swings and hot air from radiators or heating vents.

Fertilizing

NC State Extension recommends a balanced fertilizer about every four weeks during the growing season and no feeding in winter. The RHS gives the same rhythm: once a month from April to September, nothing from October to March.

Dust on the leaves slows photosynthesis. Wipe the thin leaves gently with a soft, damp cloth when they look dusty.

How to propagate a peacock plant by division

Peacock plants are propagated by dividing the rhizomes. NC State Extension and the RHS both recommend late spring, and NC State Extension suggests dividing about every two years to keep the plant vigorous.

1. Water the day before so the root ball holds together.
2. Slide the plant out of its pot and loosen some of the old mix so you can see the rhizomes.
3. Split the clump by hand or with a clean knife. Each piece needs roots and several leaves.
4. Pot each division into a smaller pot of fresh mix and water lightly.
5. Keep the divisions warm, humid and evenly moist until new growth starts, as the RHS recommends for all calatheas. A clear plastic bag or dome over the pot helps.

Leaf pattern

Every peacock plant carries the feathered pattern; it is a feature of the species, not a rare cultivar. Our sources do not list any variegated cultivars of Goeppertia makoyana. NC State Extension notes that the pattern fades when light is inadequate, while direct sun burns the leaves.

Common problems

Symptom	Cause	Fix
Leaves roll and turn brown	low humidity	humidifier, pebble tray, group plants
Brown tips and edges	fluoride in tap water	distilled water, rainwater or water left to stand
Pale, scorched patches	direct sun	move back from the window or behind a curtain
Faded pattern, weak growth	too little light	brighter spot without direct sun
Water-soaked patches (edema)	mix too wet in winter	let the surface dry in winter
Wilting in wet soil	root rot from overwatering	empty the saucer, check the roots
Fine speckling, webbing	spider mites	raise humidity, wipe the leaves
White fluff, sticky residue	mealybugs, scale, aphids	remove by hand, isolate the plant

NC State Extension reports no serious pests or diseases for this species, but lists aphids, scale, mealybugs and spider mites as the ones to watch.

Is the peacock plant toxic to pets?

The ASPCA lists calatheas (Calathea spp.) as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses. That is a genus-level entry covering the genus this species used to belong to. NC State Extension lists Goeppertia makoyana itself as non-toxic to cats, dogs and horses. One trap: the ASPCA page titled “Peacock Plant” is about Kaempferia (peacock ginger) in the ginger family, not this calathea. Our sources say nothing about toxicity to people.

Care is close to that of Calathea orbifolia and the prayer plant, which belong to the same family.