Botanical Name: Calathea ‘Northern Lights’ Common Names: Northern Lights Calathea, Prayer Plant Description: A stunning tropical foliage plant with broad leaves displaying vibrant shades of green accented by pink to purple tones. Its colorful foliage and graceful leaf movements make it a standout choice for indoor plant collections. Care: Bright indirect light, keep soil consistently moist, prefers high humidity and well-draining soil. ✓ Free Shipping · ✓ Carefully Packed Live Plant · ✓ Ships Across the Continental U.S. · ✓ 48-Hour Live-Arrival GuaranteeNatural variation expected with live plants Botanical Label Common name: Calathea 'Northern Lights' Botanical name: Calathea 'Northern Lights' Pot size: 4" nursery pot Light: Medium to bright, indirect; keep out of direct sun Water: when the top inch of soil starts to dry — keep it lightly, evenly moist (don't let it fully dry out). Difficulty: Moderate — rewarding, but a bit fussy about humidity and water quality. Growth style: Clumping, upright foliage plant. Mature size: Stays a compact-to-medium tabletop or floor plant — mature size can vary by growing conditions. Lifespan: Can live for many years with regular care — varies by growing conditions. Pet safety: Pet-friendly — considered non-toxic to cats and dogs (ASPCA). As with any plant, discourage pets from nibbling. Best for: Bright bathrooms, kitchens, shelves, and desks with indirect light. Vibe/personality: Colorful, patterned, lively foliage. Curator's Note: Calathea 'Northern Lights' is a living piece of art — painterly, patterned leaves that fold up at night and open again by day. It rewards a little attention with some of the most striking foliage in the houseplant world. Continue the Collection Browse more Calatheas & Prayer Plants → Explore pet-friendly plants → Browse all live plants → Why It Belongs in Your Collection Bold, painterly leaf patterns and colors Leaves fold up at night and open by day (the "prayer plant" move) Adds a lush, tropical feel to a room Stays a manageable size for shelves and tabletops Often striking, colorful leaf undersides Care Notes from the Greenhouse Light: Medium to bright, indirect light is ideal. Keep Calathea 'Northern Lights' out of direct sun, which fades its markings and scorches the leaves. It tolerates lower light better than many houseplants, though the colors and patterns are boldest in bright, indirect light. Watering: Keep the soil lightly and evenly moist — prayer plants don't like to fully dry out or to stay soggy. They're sensitive to mineral buildup, so if your tap water is hard, use filtered, distilled, or rainwater at room temperature. Humidity: Loves high humidity — dry air causes crispy brown leaf edges. Group it with other plants, set it on a pebble tray, or run a humidifier. Temperature: Warm, steady room temperatures (about 65–85°F). Keep it away from cold drafts, vents, and sudden temperature swings. Soil: A rich, well-draining mix that still holds some moisture (a peat- or coco-based potting mix). Fertilizer: Feed lightly with a balanced houseplant fertilizer in spring and summer; pause in winter. Pruning: Trim off crispy or yellowing leaves at the base to keep it tidy. Care tip: Crispy edges usually mean low humidity or hard tap water — raise humidity and switch to filtered water. Best Display Spots Bright bathroom: loves the extra humidity (with indirect light). Kitchen shelf or counter: bright, indirect light and a bit of humidity. Desk or tabletop: stays a tidy size and shows off its patterns. Plant stand away from direct sun: bright, filtered light is perfect. Grouped with other plants: raises humidity and looks lush. Best For / Think Twice If Best for: Calathea and prayer-plant fans Humid spots like bright bathrooms and kitchens People who love bold, patterned foliage Growers who don't mind a little extra fuss Think twice if: Very dry-air rooms (without added humidity) — they get crispy edges Spots with harsh direct sun People who tend to forget watering — they dislike fully drying out Anyone wanting a totally low-fuss, set-and-forget plant Botanical Exhibit Notes Prayer plants belong to the Marantaceae family — many fold their leaves upward at night and open them again by day, a movement called nyctinasty. Native to the tropical Americas, they grow on shady forest floors — which is why they prefer indirect light over direct sun. Calathea 'Northern Lights' is grown for its strikingly patterned leaves, often with colorful (sometimes purple) undersides. Unlike many popular houseplants, prayer plants are considered non-toxic to cats and dogs (ASPCA). They're sensitive to hard tap water, so many growers use filtered or distilled water to avoid crispy leaf edges. Shipped Fresh from Florida to Your Home Florida Plant ships across the United States. Your plant ships from Florida and California, USA, carefully packed in its nursery pot with soil unless noted. Orders dispatch within 1–4 business days, early in the week so plants don't sit over a weekend in transit. During cold weather, orders to colder areas are sent with a heat pack, and we may hold delivery to very cold areas until it's safe to ship. Every plant is backed by our 48-hour live-arrival guarantee — contact us within 48 hours of delivery with photos if there's an issue. Because this is a live plant, each one is unique — size, fullness, color, and shape vary naturally, and minor cosmetic imperfections can happen. Give your plant a little time to settle in after it arrives. Plant Questions, Answered How often should I water Calathea 'Northern Lights'?Water when the top inch of soil starts to dry — keep it lightly, evenly moist (don't let it fully dry out). It prefers to dry out a little between waterings rather than stay soggy. What kind of light does Calathea 'Northern Lights' need?Medium to bright, indirect light is ideal. Keep Calathea 'Northern Lights' out of direct sun, which fades its markings and scorches the leaves. It tolerates lower light better than many houseplants, though the colors and patterns are boldest in bright, indirect light. Is Calathea 'Northern Lights' pet safe?Yes — Calathea and Maranta prayer plants are considered non-toxic to cats and dogs (ASPCA), a popular pet-friendly choice. As with any plant, it's best to discourage pets from chewing the leaves. Why does my Calathea 'Northern Lights' have crispy brown leaf edges?Usually low humidity or minerals in hard tap water. Raise humidity (pebble tray, humidifier, or grouping plants), switch to filtered, distilled, or rainwater, and keep the soil evenly moist.
