Calathea Medallion Goeppertia veitchiana 'Medallion'
Reviewed June 2026 · how we check this
A living-art prayer plant with broad, rounded leaves brushed in feathered emerald and silver, each one flipping over to reveal a deep burgundy underside. Famous for raising and lowering its foliage with the day, and for demanding steady humidity and gentle care.
Light
Calathea Medallion thrives in medium to bright indirect light — a spot near an east or north window, or set back from a brighter window behind a sheer curtain, is ideal. Its painted variegation evolved on a shaded rainforest floor, so direct sun is the enemy: even a couple of hours of midday rays through glass will bleach the markings, fade the burgundy undersides, and scorch the leaves with crispy patches. Too little light is also a problem — the colors dull and the dramatic feathering flattens out. If the leaves curl tightly or look washed out, adjust the light before anything else.Watering
Keep the soil lightly and evenly moist — never bone-dry, never soggy. Water when the top inch feels barely dry, usually every 5–7 days in warm months and less in winter, going by feel rather than the calendar. Calathea Medallion is famously sensitive to water quality: fluoride, chlorine, and dissolved salts in tap water cause brown leaf edges over time. Use filtered, distilled, or rainwater at room temperature, and empty the saucer so the roots never sit in standing water. Curling, crisping leaves usually signal it went too dry or too thirsty for the air around it.Soil & potting
Use a rich but airy mix that holds moisture without staying waterlogged: a quality peat- or coco-based potting mix loosened with perlite and a handful of fine orchid bark works well. The goal is a medium that stays evenly damp yet drains freely, mimicking the humus-rich rainforest floor this plant calls home. Always use a pot with drainage holes. Repot every 1–2 years in spring when roots fill the pot, moving up just one size — an oversized pot holds too much water and invites rot in this moisture-loving but rot-prone species.Humidity & temperature
Humidity is non-negotiable for Calathea Medallion — it wants 60% or more, and dry indoor air is the single most common reason its leaf edges brown and crisp. Run a humidifier nearby, group it with other plants, or stand it on a pebble tray; misting helps little and can encourage spotting. Keep temperatures between 65–80°F and steady — it dislikes sudden swings. Shield it from cold drafts, air-conditioning vents, heating registers, and chilly winter windows, all of which stress the foliage and trigger curling.Fertilizing
Feed lightly with a balanced liquid houseplant fertilizer diluted to quarter or half strength every 4–6 weeks during spring and summer. Calathea Medallion is sensitive to fertilizer salts, so a gentle hand prevents the brown, burned leaf tips that over-feeding causes. Stop entirely in fall and winter while growth pauses. If you notice a crusty white build-up on the soil or chronic tip burn, flush the pot thoroughly with filtered water to leach out accumulated salts, then ease back on feeding.Pruning & maintenance
Pruning needs are minimal. Trim away fully yellowed, crisped, or damaged leaves at the base with clean, sharp snips to keep the plant tidy and direct energy into healthy growth. You can neaten brown edges by trimming along the leaf's natural curve, though it won't regrow. Wipe the broad leaves gently with a damp cloth now and then to clear dust, which both improves the look and lets the foliage breathe and photosynthesize freely.Propagation
Calathea Medallion is propagated by division, not cuttings — stem cuttings won't root. At repotting time in spring, gently tease the root ball apart into clumps, making sure each section has several leaves and a healthy share of roots. Pot each division into the same moisture-retentive mix, water in, and keep warm and extra-humid (a loose clear bag or covered tray helps) while the divisions settle and recover from the transplant shock over the following weeks.Common problems
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Diagnose your Calathea Medallion →Through the year
Spring
Growth resumes — restart light feeding, repot or divide if rootbound, and bump up humidity as the heating turns off.
Summer
Peak growth. Keep the soil evenly moist, feed gently every few weeks, and maintain high humidity through warm, dry spells.
Fall
Growth slows — ease back on water and stop fertilizing as days shorten.
Winter
Near-dormant and most vulnerable to dry heat. Water sparingly with filtered water, skip fertilizer, run a humidifier, and keep it well clear of vents and cold glass.
Recommended supplies for Calathea Medallion
- A small room humidifier
- A soil moisture meter
- A well-draining indoor potting mix
- Orchid bark for chunky mixes
- A balanced liquid fertilizer
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