Family: Marantaceae
Common Name: Calathea Red Mojo, Prayer Plants
Botanical name: Calathea roseopicta 'Red Mojo'
If plants could walk, then 'Red Mojo' would have a deliberate swagger. Maybe even pointing and winking at you as it strolls on by. This prayer plant gets away with it because it just looks so fine! Confident young leaves emerge bright green and will later turn light pink and eventually darken to a sultry pinkish red. Increased humidity and plenty of indirect light will keep the Calathea Red Mojo doing its own thing and looking dapper, yeah we said it!
Light
Prayer Plants, like the Calathea Red Mojo are not picky at all when it comes to light. They can live in low, medium, or bright indirect light. The most important thing to remember is that the light must be indirect. Exposure to direct sunlight can singe the leaves.
Like all plants, the Calathea Red Mojo will grow in response to the amount of light it receives. If you want your plant to grow as quickly as possible and push out lots of big, beautiful leaves, then find a spot that receives bright indirect light. The pink accents may also appear more vivid in higher light environments. This Prayer Plant can handle lower light areas and still look amazing, but the plant may grow more slowly.
Water
Damp soil is ideal for growing prayer plants. These are plants that certainly love lots of water and finding the right balance can be hard for first-timers. Let the top layer of soil dry out before watering and completely drench the soil when it’s time to water. Empty the tray or cache pot of excess water because calathea houseplants like to stay consistently damp, not submerged.
Soil
Calathea Red Mojo needs a soil medium that can retain moisture but drain excess water to avoid the root rot. Most pre-mixed soils will suffice. Make sure that there is plenty of organic matter, like coco-coir, peat moss, or shredded leaves, and avoid soils that contain moisture retaining crystals. If your soil drains too quickly, we recommend re-potting your calathea into a compost-rich soil mixture. Learn how to create your own universal soil mixture for all of your indoor plants!
Temperature
Average room temperature, generally anything above 65 degrees is comfortable for most calatheas. Prayer Plants like warmer temperatures and will be fine if the temperature gets into the 70s and even the 80s. Cold temperatures can be a problem, so if you bring the plant out onto a patio space in the summer, get it back inside well before the weather turns chilly.
Humidity
Dampness in the air is very important for Calathea Red Mojo. Increased humidity keeps the leaves lush and helps the plants go through their daily motion of folding up their leaves at night and opening back up during the day. It is common in many areas to provide extra moisture in the air with a humidifier or an evaporation tray in order to keep the humidity where it needs to be for calathea to thrive.
Fertilizer
In the spring and summer, feed the plant using a diluted complete liquid fertilizer or fish or seaweed emulsion once a month. Do not fertilize the plant when it is not actively growing. Learn to know when and how to fertilize your indoor plants!
Growth Rate
Calathea Red Mojo is a moderate to fast grower and with the right care and conditions can reach 2+” in height and width!
Pet Friend or Foe
These indoor plants are non-toxic to pets! Friend
Pro Tips
- Pay attention to what the plant is telling you. Curling or limp leaves usually indicate the plant is too dry. Brown, dried-out patches along the edges typically indicate not enough humidity. Brown spots on the leaves or muted colors can be signs of exposure to direct sunlight.
- When pruning the plant, use clean, sharp tools. This minimizes stress on the plant and helps protect against the spread of bacteria.
- Dust can accumulate on the leaves with time and this can diminish the look of the plant, but also prevent it from effectively performing the functions it needs to survive. Rinse the plant off or wipe the leaves clean using a cloth to keep your prayer plant healthy and looking amazing.