Calathea Makoyana (Cathedral Plant)
- Regular price
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€30,95 - Regular price
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- Sale price
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€30,95
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Frequently asked questions
How to reveal the stained glass effect of a Calathea Makoyana? Place it backlit in front of a window with indirect light — the translucent patterns then light up in a way that no other houseplant can replicate.
Can a Calathea Makoyana live in a bathroom? Yes, the natural ambient humidity of a bright bathroom is especially beneficial — it’s one of the best spots for this species, which is very sensitive to dry air.
Shipping & packaging
Shipped within 24/48 hours via DPD
- Delivery in 2 to 5 working days
- Eco-friendly packaging: recyclable boxes and biodegradable materials
- Special protection so your plant arrives in perfect condition
- Tracking link sent by email as soon as your parcel ships
- Free delivery from €85 (Ireland: €120) depending on your country
ZEN ARRIVAL GUARANTEE
We guarantee that your plants will arrive in perfect condition. If your plant arrives damaged or in poor condition:
- Contact us promptly at hello@verdeia.eu with photos
- We will find the right solution for your situation
- No return needed — we trust you
The guarantee covers: damage in transit, plants severely weakened on arrival, and order preparation errors.
CARE TIPS ON ARRIVAL
To help your plant settle in for the long term:
- Unpack your plant immediately and inspect it
- Let it acclimatize for 24-48h in a bright spot out of direct sunlight
- Check the soil moisture before watering (dry surface = light watering)
- Wait 2-3 weeks before repotting, if needed
- Keep it away from heat sources and drafts
- Gently wipe the leaves to remove dust
Need help? Contact our team at hello@verdeia.eu or via chat.
🌿 Transparent foliage with stained-glass patterns • 🌤️ Partial shade to indirect light • 💧 Moderate watering • ✨ Easy care • 🐾 Non-toxic • 🏙️ 3 sizes available
The Calathea Makoyana, also known as the Cathedral Plant, is a tropical plant with translucent leaves adorned with intricate light and dark green patterns that create a striking stained-glass effect when light passes through them. Its deep purple undersides are revealed with every movement — because, like all Marantaceae, its leaves fold up in the evening and open in the morning in a daily ballet.
Native to the tropical forests of Brazil, it stands out in the Calathea collection for its unique transparency effect — no other variety creates this stained-glass-like botanical glow when the light shines through. This nyctinastic behavior, shared with Marantas and other Calatheas, has earned the entire family the nickname prayer plant — one of the most fascinating spectacles in the world of indoor plants.
Which Calathea variety should you choose?
Each Calathea has a distinctive pattern — it's the foliage that makes all the difference. Here's how the Makoyana compares within the range:
- Calathea Makoyana (this plant) — translucent leaves with light and dark green patterns, creating a stained-glass effect when the light shines through, with purple undersides. The most transparent and artistic.
- Calathea Medallion — broad, round leaves with intricate medallion patterns in green and silver, with purple undersides. The roundest and most densely patterned.
- Calathea Orbifolia — large, round leaves with regular silver stripes. The brightest and most refined.
- Calathea Warscewiczii — velvety dark green foliage with purple undersides. The most velvety.
- Calathea Majestica 'Princeps' — elongated dark green foliage with pink stripes and purple undersides. The most colorful with pink stripes.
- Calathea Ornata — dark green foliage with fine pink stripes. The most graphic with pink lines.
- Calathea Lancifolia — elongated light green foliage with dark green spots and a purple underside. The most distinctive elongated shape.
- Calathea Zebrina — light green velvety foliage with dark green zebra-like stripes. The most graphic in terms of green contrast.
Makoyana is the only Calathea to offer this effect of transparency illuminated from behind — placed in front of a window, its patterns light up like stained glass, a quality no other variety can reproduce.
Exposure & placement
Calathea Makoyana appreciates moderate indirect light — it is in this soft light, neither too strong nor too weak, that the stained-glass effect of its leaves is most striking. Direct sun fades the patterns and scorches the leaves; low light gradually dulls them. The natural ambient humidity of a bright bathroom is particularly beneficial.
- Ideal exposure: moderate indirect light — north- or east-facing window, bright room without direct sun.
- Tolerates: low light, high ambient humidity.
- Avoid: direct sun, which fades the patterns and scorches the leaves.
- Temperature: 18–25 °C, without sudden fluctuations or drafts.
- Substrate: light, rich, and well-draining — universal potting soil with perlite.
Placed backlit in front of a window with indirect light, Makoyana fully reveals its stained-glass effect — the translucent patterns light up in a way impossible to reproduce with any other plant.
Watering & care
Calathea Makoyana is sensitive to water quality — brown edges on the leaves are almost always caused by limescale or fluoride in tap water, not by a watering problem. Switch to filtered or rainwater, and new leaves will emerge without brown edges.
- Watering: moderate - keep the substrate slightly moist without ever allowing it to become waterlogged.
- Frequency: approximately once a week in spring and summer; reduce slightly in winter.
- Water: preferably low in minerals - use filtered or rainwater, or water that has been left to stand for 24 hours.
- Humidity: mist regularly or group with other plants - it appreciates 60-70%.
- Drainage: essential - a pot with drainage holes is mandatory; empty the saucer after watering.
- Fertilizer: diluted liquid fertilizer for green plants, once a month in spring and summer.
Gently wipe the leaves with a damp cloth to preserve their transparency - dust settles on the surface and veils the patterns, reducing the stained-glass effect.
Decor ideas & plant pairings
The unique transparency of the Calathea Makoyana makes it a plant that looks different depending on the available light - it literally changes its appearance throughout the day. A reliable choice for a tropical atmosphere.
- In front of a window with indirect light: this is its preferred location - the translucent patterns light up; pair it with a Maranta whose leaves, also nyctinastic, create an animated duo that moves in rhythm.
- In a bright bathroom: the H45 cm | Pot Ø14 cm size is ideal for a shelf - place it in a white ceramic relief decorative pot whose purity highlights the complexity of the patterns without competing with them.
- In an artist's arrangement: pair it with a Calathea Orbifolia with large silver-striped leaves - the translucent patterns of the Makoyana and the Orbifolia's opaque stripes create a fascinating dialogue of textures.
- Decorative pot and color scheme: the purple undersides of the leaves pair particularly well with a matte pink Groovy decorative pot - a warm harmony between the plant's purple tones and the ceramic's powder pink.
Verdeia tips
- Use low-lime water: the characteristic brown edges of Calathea disappear within a few generations of leaves as soon as you switch to filtered or rainwater — this is the most effective change you can make to improve the plant's health.
- Maintain proper ambient humidity: in a heated apartment during winter, mist 2 to 3 times a week or place the pot on a bed of moist clay pebbles — dry air from heating is the main enemy of translucent foliage.
- Observe the nocturnal movement to assess its health: if the leaves no longer fold up in the evening, this is often a sign of insufficient water or humidity — take action before the edges turn brown or the leaves curl.
Makoyana is more sensitive than most Calatheas to water quality and ambient humidity — if you take good care of it in these two areas, it will reward you with foliage of incomparable translucency and vibrancy.
Technical characteristics
- Botanical name: Calathea makoyana
- Common name: Cathedral plant
- Family: Marantaceae
- Origin: Brazil
- Available sizes: H45 cm | Pot Ø14 cm / H55 cm | Pot Ø17 cm / H70 cm | Pot Ø21 cm
- Mature size: up to 40–60 cm indoors
- Light exposure: moderate indirect light to partial shade
- Substrate: light, rich and well-draining — universal potting soil with perlite
- Watering: moderate — keep the substrate slightly moist, use low-lime water
- Care: easy
- Growth: moderate
- Toxicity: non-toxic
- Decorative style: Artistic / Transparent / Tropical
- Distinctive feature: translucent leaves with unique stained-glass patterns, purple undersides, nyctinastic leaves (day/night movement)
Each plant is unique: the photos show a representative example. The intensity of the patterns and the translucency of the foliage naturally vary depending on light levels and the season.
Your plant, delivered with care
Every plant is hand-packed in a box specially designed for plants — secured, protected, ready to travel. It arrives in perfect condition, roots intact and foliage preserved, ready to take its place in your home.
Our Verdeia commitments
FAQ – Everything to know before adopting your Verdeia plant
How are my plants prepared before shipping?
All our plants are selected from our European partner nurseries. Before shipping, they are watered, cleaned, and protected with breathable, secure packaging. Each package is designed to ensure your plant arrives in perfect health, without any transport-related stress.
Will the plant look exactly like the photo?
The photos accurately represent the variety and the stated size. Since each plant is unique, slight differences in shape, foliage, or color may occur — and that’s part of their charm.
What are the delivery times and conditions?
Orders ship within 48 working hours, with tracked delivery in 2 to 5 working days via DPD. Shipping costs €8.90 to €24.90 depending on your country, and delivery is free from €85 (Ireland: €120). You receive a tracking link as soon as your parcel leaves.
What should I do when my plant arrives?
Open your package as soon as you receive it and carefully remove the plant from its packaging. Let it acclimate for 24 hours in its new environment before watering. If it has been slightly stressed during transport, it will recover its shape after one or two days in the light.
What should I do if my plant arrives damaged?
Contact us within 48 hours with a photo of the issue. Our team will assess the situation and offer you the best solution: replacement, partial refund, or recovery advice.
Can I return a plant?
Since plants are living beings, standard returns are not possible. However, we guarantee good health upon delivery: if the plant arrives damaged, it will be replaced free of charge. For any other cases (order error, decorative pot, accessory), returns are possible within 14 days.