Freddie, known as Prayer Plant, Zebra Plant, or Peacock Plant, is an attractive foliage plant native to Brazil. This cultivar offers light green leaves with dark green brush-stroke stripes and a compact upright habit 12-36" tall. Its leaves open in the morning and close at night, mimicking our circadian rhythms. Calathea is an excellent addition to any houseplant collection, flourishing in bright to low indirect light with minimal water and high humidity. For another Calathea variety, try growing Calathea Makoyana.
Freddie Selling Tips
Sell Freddie to customers looking for a unique houseplant. Freddie offers many benefits, including attractive foliage and low water needs, and is well-suited to bright or low light conditions. With proper care, this plant provides striking foliage whose leaves open and close from morning to night. Create a calming atmosphere by pairing Calathea with Ferns, Peperomia, Fittonia, and Philodendron.
Coach Your Customer
1. Place this plant in an indirect light. It requires more water in bright and less in low light but grows well in either.
2. Water every one to two weeks when the topsoil is dry. Provide high humidity by putting the plant's pot on a tray of wet rocks or misting the plant daily with filtered or distilled water (tap water can chlorinate and kill the foliage). This plant doesn't go dormant in winter but prefers a rest with less water.
3. Provide constant average room temperatures between 65-75 degrees and avoid placing this plant near a drafty window or door.
General Growing Tips For Your Rooted Cutting Liner
For best results with Freddie, grow one rooted plug per 4-inch or one to two per 10-inch container. Use well-drained rich soil with a pH of 6.0-6.5, EC of 0.6-1.0 mS/cm, and medium feed (150-200 ppm N). Provide temperatures between 65-75 degrees and 60% humidity. This plant doesn't require PGRs or pinching. Watch for aphids, scale, and spider mites.
Flowering
This plant is grown for its ornamental foliage.
Pinching
This plant doesn't require pinching.
Spacing
Space containers for adequate airflow and sunlight penetration around the base and foliage of each plant.
Height Control
This plant doesn't require PGRs. Control height with proper cultural conditions.
Pests
Scout for aphids, scale, and spider mites as part of your commercial greenhouse's Integrated Pest Management plan.
Aphids are small, soft-bodied insects that cause damage by sucking sap from plant tissue. They reproduce quickly and are particularly attracted to young growth. Curling and yellowed leaves, stunted growth, and stickiness on leaves are signs of an infestation. These insects also spread diseases and reproduce rapidly. Use biological controls or horticultural oils to discourage and kill aphids.
Scale are insect pests that feed on plant sap and look like small bumps on leaves or stems. Control damage from this pest by scouting, introducing natural predators, applying horticultural oils or insecticidal soap, and pruning and discarding infested plant parts or whole plants. Be sure to disinfect tools and always use a sanitary growing media and containers. Note that healthy plants are more resistant to pests and disease.
Spider Mites are tiny pests that cause stippling, yellowing, and webbing on foliage by feeding on plant sap. They flourish in warm, dry environments. Use correct water and fertilizing practices; over-fertilizing can attract spider mites. Proper humidity levels, predatory mites or ladybugs, and insecticidal soaps or oils may prevent or address a spider mite infestation.
Disease
This plant isn't prone to disease. Watch for signs of low humidity, typically indicated by brown or rolling leaves.
Planting Freddie Liners
We recommend planting one rooted plug per 4-inch container or one to two per 10-inch container. use well-drained, rich soil and completely bury the ellepot centered or evenly spaced in the container. This plant should be started in the fall for spring sales.
Rooted Cuttings
Cuttings vary in size between different plant families. These rooted starter plants will arrive ready to be transplanted in to your final container. If they are to be used in a landscape application, you will need to establish them in a 4 inch pot or an 1801 before planting outside.
Calathea Freddie Quick Reference Guide
4 Inch crop time | 20 Weeks |
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10 Inch crop time | 20 Weeks |
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Habit | Upright |
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Height | 12-36 Inches |
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Light | Bright Indirect/Filtered |
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Minimum Temp | 50 |
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Perennial Zone | 10-11 |
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Water Needs | Light |
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Patented Plant | No |
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