Baby Calathea rufibarba

The clump-forming Calathea Rufibarba is also known as the Velvet or Furry Feather Calathea due to the tiny reddish hairs that grow from its stalks. These have a luxurious velvety feel and a rather dramatic appearance. From the stalks grow long wavy glossy green leaves with rich purple undersides, which produce an exotic flair.

Calathea Rufibarba is a variety of Prayer Plant and is native to tropical areas of the Americas - Brazil in particular. As such, it does best in a humid environment, which can be recreated by regular misting or a pebble tray. A bright spot out of direct sun is ideal. Your new plant will tolerate a shady position but you’ll find the leaf colour loses its vibrancy. Keep the plant away from draughts wherever possible. As long as you keep the soil moist but well-drained and give it the right amount of sunlight, you’ll find Velvet Calathea relatively easy to care for.

Growing your Calathea from its baby stage and watching it mature over time, from a tiny leafy stem to a healthy, fully grown plant is a delight to witness.

It’s not unusual to give your plant a name… so don’t hesitate to choose one that you think suits the plant! Try naming your plant with the first name or word that you think of when you look at it - that’s how we ended up with an orchid named Clover and spider plant called Joseph.