Where should I put my Calathea?

A bathroom, kitchen, or any room with naturally higher humidity. Calatheas are notoriously fussy about humidity and dry indoor air is their #1 killer. Best window direction: North- or east-facing only; never direct sun. Best distance: 4–6 feet from an east window; right beside a north window. Target light: 150–400 fc (low to medium indirect only).

What temperature does a Calathea need?

Calathea prefers 65–80°F (18–27°C), humidity 50%+.

Placement · Calathea

Where to Put Your Calathea

A bathroom, kitchen, or any room with naturally higher humidity. Calatheas are notoriously fussy about humidity and dry indoor air is their #1 killer.

Best window

North- or east-facing only; never direct sun

Distance from window

4–6 feet from an east window; right beside a north window

Target light

150–400 fc (low to medium indirect only)

Room temperature

65–80°F (18–27°C), humidity 50%+

What to avoid

Any direct sun (instant leaf burn and fading of patterns), and rooms with under 50% humidity (causes brown crispy edges)

Most common placement mistake

Treating it like a bright-light tropical because of its dramatic patterns. Calatheas evolved on a rainforest floor — bright light fades their colors and burns the leaves.

How to measure light at home

A foot-candle (fc) is a unit of light intensity. You can measure it with a free smartphone app like Light Meter or with a $20 digital light meter. As reference points:

50\u2013100 fc: A bright corner away from any window — most low-light tolerant plants only
100\u2013400 fc: A few feet from a north or east window — medium light
400\u20131000 fc: Right next to a bright east window or 3\u20136 feet from a south window — bright indirect
1000+ fc: Directly in a south or west window — full sun, only suitable for succulents and high-light tropicals

Source: NC State Extension

For full Calathea care — watering schedule, fertilizing, pests, and propagation — see the Calathea care guide. Or check out how big Calathea gets.