The Calathea Dottie is a gorgeous plant, known for its unique dark purple leaves and bright pink markings. It’s rare to see a plant come in such rich, dark colors and that’s one of the many reasons plant enthusiasts love it. With the proper care that’s outlined in this guide, you can grow a Dottie that stands out from every other plant in your collection.
What Are The Notable Characteristics?
Calathea Dottie is a very distinct plant, notable characteristics you can look for to help you identify it include:
- The dark green leaves that appear black at first glance or in dim light.
- The pink stripes that run down the center and around the inside edge of the leaf.
- The way that it grows, it should grow in a clump and reach roughly 15 inches, or 40cm, tall.
- If the plant is flowering, you can also identify it by the white flowers with purple lips.
If you see these characteristics, you’re looking at lovely Calathea Dottie.
What Are Its Scientific And Other Names?
The Scientific name for Calathea Dottie is Goeppertia Roseopicta. It’s commonly called Dottie, Calathea, Rose Painted Calathea, or The Black Rose. Some plant enthusiasts even call it the goth cousin of the Calathea family, due to its leaves appearing black at first glance.
What Is The Origin Of The Calathea Dottie?
The Calathea Dottie originated in the tropical rainforests of South America. While it grows in several places, it’s most commonly referenced as being from Brazil. The Dottie is a naturally occurring mutation of the Calathea Roseo.
Is It An Indoor or Outdoor plant?
The Dottie can be grown both indoors and outdoors, though temperatures will play a big factor. The catch is that in order to grow it outside you’ll need to live in a very specific type of environment. Because the Dottie comes from a tropical climate, it’s not suited to most climates.
If you’re going to try to grow the Dottie outside, you’ll need to live in an area that doesn’t get below 65 degrees, above 95 degrees, and maintains a humidity level of at least 50%.
You’ll also need to keep these specifications in mind if you plan to grow the plant indoors. It won’t like being near an air conditioner, and you should consider if the area you plan to keep it in will be humid enough. It will do best in indirect light, which really makes the colors pop.
It’s a bit of a picky plant when it comes to its temperature, but that’s to be expected given its origins.
What Is The Height And Structure Of The Plant?
The plant stands between 15 and 25 inches, or 40 or 63.5 centimeters, tall and grows in clumps.
What Color Are The Flowers?
The Calathea Dottie’s flowers are small and white. They rarely appear on the plant if it’s being grown indoors, so don’t be concerned if you don’t see them come blooming season.
How Should You Plant A Calathea Dottie?
A Dottie should be planted in a peat moss soil mix. If you’re placing it in a pot, choose a size that’s two to four inches bigger than the plant. You should re-pot in a pot that’s two to four inches larger than the last one every three years.
Ideal Planting Time?
The Dottie should be planted in the spring so that it has a full season to grow before it goes into its winter mode. The plant goes winter dormant, which means you won’t see much growth from it during the cold months.
How Much Light Does It Need?
This plant isn’t a fan of direct sunlight. You’ll want to place it where it can get indirect light, if it’s indoors a window facing north, east, or west is preferable.
What Temperature Will The Plant Thrive In?
The Dottie does best in temperatures between 65 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit or 18.3 to 95 degrees Celsius. As we discussed earlier, this can pose a challenge when it comes to growing the plant outside.
Does It Need To Be Staked?
No, this plant doesn’t need to be staked. If you notice it falling over or looking droopy it’s a sign that it needs to be watered.
How Much Water Does It Need?
The soil around the plant needs to remain damp, but not be completely soaked. You should also mist it with a water sprayer regularly to maintain humidity.
Does It Need Fertilizer?
The plant should be fertilized monthly during the spring and summer. The plant can be sensitive when it comes to fertilizer, so make sure to dilute your feed.
How Does It Respond To Humidity?
This is a plant that loves humidity. It does best in an environment where it has at least 50% humidity in the air.
Should You Use Mulch?
If you’re growing your Dottie outdoors, mulch can help keep the soil cool and moist. This shouldn’t be necessary for an indoor plant.
What Should Your Trimming And Pruning Routine Be?
You should remove damaged or dead leaves as needed, and prune them to your desired size.
What Kind Of Pot Does It Need?
A ceramic or plastic pot with several drainage holes is the best option for this plant. Clay pots can leech the moisture from the soil, so you should avoid those for this type of plant.
How Does It Propogate?
The Dottie will produce shoots during its peak growing season, which is the spring and summer.
Can You Divide And Transplant It?
If you want to start a new plant, you’ll need to divide out a section and ensure it has a good root system attached. You can also wait for a new shoot to appear near the soil and separate it from the rest of the plant.
What Pests And Diseases Should You Be Aware Of?
Spider mites are known to love plants from this family. They’re very small but you can find them by looking for webs built underneath the leaves.
Root rot and mold on the soil surface are also common problems you’ll need to look out for, due to the wetness of the soil.
What Is The Plant Species?
The Dottie is from the Calathea species, which originates in South America.
Other Noteworthy Species In The Family
Other stunning plants in the species include:
- The Calathea Ornata, or Pinstripe Plant.
- The Calathea Lancifolia, or Snake Plant.
- The Calathea Orbifolia.
- The Calathea Makoyana, or Peacock Plant.
Is The Calathea Dottie Toxic?
The Dottie is a non-toxic plant for humans, making them safe to have around small children.
Is It Safe For Cats And Dogs?
Yes, the Dottie is also non-toxic to cats and dogs so there’s no need to worry about your furry family members.
The Calathea Dottie is a stunning plant that can be used to spruce up any home, office space, or garden. Now that you know how to care for it, it’s sure to be a prized plant in your collection.
