Goeppertia Roseopicta Care

Identification

Goeppertia roseopicta is also referred to as Calathea roseopicta and rose-painted calathea. It is well-known for its striking foliage – featuring green ovular leaves, as well as stunning deep pink stems, also prevalent on the undersides of the leaves.

Like other prayer-plants, the Goeppertia roseopicta raises and closes its leaves at night, and opens them up again at dawn. 

The Goeppertia roseopicta can be found at many big box stores, garden centers, and plant shops. 

The Goeppertia roseopicta is also the recipient of the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit. 

Like other varieties in the Goeppertia genus, the Goeppertia roseopicta has earned a reputation for being difficult to care for. However, we believe great plant care starts at making sure that your Goeppertia roseopicta has the right growing conditions to increase the likelihood of its success. 

Origin and Indoor Environment

Goeppertia roseopicta is native to northwest Brazil. As a clump-forming, evergreen perennial – this plant prefers low light, high humidity, and moist soil. 

Like other varieties of Goeppertia, the roseopicta has a horizontal stem or rhizome that sends out roots and shoots from its nodes. 

Lighting Requirements

Goeppertia roseopicta will do best in well-lit conditions, and as such we recommend placing your Goeppertia roseopicta in north-facing windows or a few feet away from east or west-facing windows. Direct sunlight can burn your Goeppertia roseopicta. 

Another important PSA: low light, does not mean no light – placing your Goeppertia roseopicta in a place that receives little to no light is not recommended.

If you are unable to provide your Goeppertia roseopicta with adequate lighting, then the use of a grow light could come in handy.

Watering Frequency

Goeppertia generally enjoys high humidity conditions, and as such we recommend a moderate watering schedule to ensure its success. At the same time, however, we do not recommend having damp or drenched soil either due to too frequent watering, as this can lead to root rot and the demise of your houseplant.

Also, be sure to keep in mind seasonality – you can expect to water your Goeppertia roseopicta more frequently in the growing season than in the fall and winter months. In the colder months, only water once the top layer of soil has dried through.

Moreover, Goeppertia are also quite sensitive to the type of water you use to water them. Tap water often contains salts and minerals that build up in the potting mix and lead to crispy brown leaves. While having brown leaves is not necessarily a bad thing, you can opt for distilled water or rainwater instead.

Increasing Moisture and Warmth

Your Goeppertia roseopicta will appreciate high humidity conditions. While we can’t mimic the exact conditions of a Brazilian rainforest, we can do small things indoors to increase humidity. One tip we have is to group humidity-loving plants together in your home, as this can increase the humidity in the area that they are all in. 

Alternatively, you can choose to buy a humidifier and place it close to your Goeppertia roseopicta to raise humidity as well.

Goeppertia does not appreciate when the temperature dips below 20 degrees celsius. Try to maintain consistently warm temperatures from 20-25 degrees celsius in your home.

Potting Mix and Fertilization

Goeppertia roseopicta will do best in moist soil, and as such we recommend using a well-draining potting mix that is still able to retain a bit of moisture. 

When it comes to repotting, only do so when your Goeppertia roseopicta is root-bound. The best time to re-pot would be early on in the growing season – spring. When choosing a pot, look for a pot that is 2 inches bigger than the pot your Goeppertia is currently in but is the same depth.

When it comes to fertilization and/or nutrients, it is often the case that if you have just taken home your Goeppertia roseopicta from the garden center or nursery that the potting mix is currently in likely has the necessary nutrients to keep your plant happy for the next few months.

However, you can always choose to promote continued growth with a boost of fertilizer during the growing season. Fertilize monthly and look for a balanced, all-purpose fertilizer with a 10/10/10 NPK and follow the instructions accordingly. 

Goeppertia roseopicta blooms

Goeppertia roseopicta is more likely to bloom in the right growing conditions: low light, high humidity, and moist soil. You can expect to see small white and purple flowers that are not super obvious, but exciting to see nonetheless.

Propagation of Goeppertia Roseopicta

Please note that you cannot water propagate Goeppertia roseopicta. However, you can propagate Goeppertia roseopicta through division once the plant is mature enough. If you plan on repotting, simply separate a section out from the main root ball. 

Pest Problems

Goeppertia varieties are often plagued by spider mites, which you’ll know you’ll have if you see webbing in your Goeppertia roseopicta’s foliage. You can use neem oil as a preventative measure to reduce the risk of a spider mites outbreak from occurring. 

If you find spider mites in your houseplant, isolate the plant immediately. You can usually blast off the spider mites from your plant with a sprayer or hose. Purchase a mite-specific pesticide and treat your Goeppertia roseopicta by following the instructions. Keep the plant isolated and check every few days to see if any new outbreaks start back up again. It’s likely you’ll have to treat it a couple of times if the outbreak is especially bad. 

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you care for Calathea Roseopicta?

Calathea (Goeppertia) roseopicta will appreciate high humidity, moist soil, and low lighting.

Are Calathea Roseopicta easy to care for?

Calathea (Goeppertia) roseopicta has earned a reputation for not being the easiest to care for, however, if you perfect the growing conditions you can ensure your house plant’s success. 

How often do you water Calathea Roseopicta?

As Calathea (Goeppertia) appreciates high humidity and moist soil, we recommend a moderate watering schedule for this houseplant. This of course can vary by season and by location. As long as you water frequently enough to keep the potting mix moist (not soaking or damp) then this should be sufficient. Do not overwater as this will lead to root rot.