Every home needs a beauty like the Calathea Dottie. It has stunning and vibrant dark green foliage with dark purple patterns.

The most intriguing and distinctive aspect of this popular houseplant, however, may be the striking ring of fuchsia pink that surrounds each leaf, which contrasts beautifully with its deep purple underside.

Plus, it’s very easy to care for and can thrive in a variety of environments. This guide has all you need for Calathea Dottie care, including watering and lighting. Keep on reading to learn how to look after your Calathea Dottie!

About Calathea Dottie

The Calathea Dottie is a total standout plant, straight from the rich rainforests of South America. This unique plant mainly from Brazil is a natural offshoot of the Calathea Roseo, a nod to Brazil’s massive biodiversity.

Despite its origins in South American forests, the Calathea Dottie is a testament to human creativity and ingenuity in plant breeding. This captivating plant species is a hybrid, brought to life by combining the genes of two other Calathea plants, namely the Calathea Orbifolia and the Calathea Rufibarba. The cross-breeding of these species resulted in a new Calathea variant with distinct attributes, enriching the overall Calathea family.

Introduced to the world only recently in 2014, the Calathea Dottie carries not just its South American lineage, but also the name of its creator, Dottie Perkins. The nomenclature is a tribute to Perkins’ contribution to the world of botany and a lasting symbol of her ingenuity. The creation of the Calathea Dottie showcases the evolving nature of plant breeding and the potential for new varieties to emerge from careful selection and combination of desirable traits.

The different types of Calathea Dottie

The world of Calathea Dottie is pretty awesome, including two main types: the Calathea Dottie Green and Calathea Dottie Pink. Both come from the rainforests of South America and need the same kind of love, showing they’re like family.

The Calathea Dottie Green is a head-turner with its large, shiny, deep-green leaves marked by striking silver veins. The pattern looks like it runs along with the leaf veins, creating a mesmerizing effect.

Calathea Dottie Green is a slow-growing plant, growing bit by bit, but can reach heights of up to 2 feet. This serene growth pattern and unique looks make it a great pick for plant lovers who dig the details and don’t mind waiting for their plants to grow.

On the flip side, the Calathea Dottie Pink stands out with its light pink leaves, smaller than the green, but just as magical. The silver veins against the light pink leaves give this plant its own special charm. Unlike the Green, the Pink Dottie grows fast, and with the right care, it can grow up to 18 inches in no time.

Calathea Dottie Care Quick Overview

Botanical Name	Calathea Dottie
Common Name	Calathea Roseopicta Dottie, Black Rose, Rose-Painted Calathea Dottie
Plant Family	Marantaceae
Origin	North West Brazil and South America
Plant Type	perennial
Leaf Shape	oval
Leaf Color	dark purple with pink highlights
Recommended Home Placement	near a north-facing window
Growth Rate	moderate
Light	bright indirect light
Soil	standard commercial potting soil
Preferred pH	6.0-6.5
Humidity Range	70% and higher
Toxic To Pets?	No

Calathea Dottie Care Tips

Watering

Watering your Calathea Dottie is key for its health. Water the plant once every 2 weeks, using room-temperature distilled water or rainwater. Water it until water starts to leak from the bottom of the pot, then get rid of any extra water in the drainage tray right away.

Don’t water it too much or Dottie could get root rot, make sure the soil is totally dry in between waterings. If you don’t water it enough, the leaves could start to sag or turn brown. Skip the tap water – it often has chemicals that could hurt your Calathea Dottie.

Additionally, avoid overwatering as this can lead to root rot and other issues. Make sure the soil is completely dry before watering again. Water your plant from the top, allowing water to run out of the bottom, and discard any extra water that sits in the saucer after draining.

Keep the humidity at a happy medium for good growth – regular misting or a nearby humidifier should do the trick.

Ideal Humidity

The ideal humidity for Calathea Dottie Care is between 40-60%. Keeping the humidity in this range will help keep your plant healthy and thriving.

Plants need a bit of humidity to grow, as it helps them absorb moisture through their leaves so they can take up more water from their soil. A good amount of humidity can also shield the plant from the drying effect of the AC.

Calatheas love a humidity level from 40 to 60%. They can handle a bit more, but don’t let it drop below 40%. If the edges or tips of your Calathea are looking brown and crunchy, the humidity level is way too low.

To increase humidity for Calathea Dottie :

Pop a tray with water and gravel near your Calathea Dottie Care. This’ll help keep the humidity levels just right and keep your plant looking good.
A humidifier can also be used to keep the humidity level right in dry areas
A quick misting of your plant now and then can also help.
You can get a cheap hygrometer to keep an eye on the room’s temp and humidity levels.
Pop a hygrometer next to them.
Grouping plants together can also help bump up the humidity.

Ideal light

Your Calathea Dottie doesn’t need direct sun, but it does love bright indirect light. When grown indoors, you should place it near a window that gets plenty of light but doesn’t get direct sun during the day. You can dial down the direct light by using window sheers or blinds.

If the light’s too bright, the leaves can get spotty and if it doesn’t get enough light, the leaves will look pale or limp. Find a spot for it that’s shaded from the sun and has moderate light. For this reason, a room that faces north or east can be a great option.

To keep your Calathea Dottie Care happy, make sure it gets enough light for its colors but not too much that it gets hurt. You can also use a grow lamp to give it an extra light boost.

Don’t forget to rotate your Calathea every few days so all sides of the leaves get enough light.

Required temperature

The tropical plant Calathea Dottie needs warm temperatures to survive. The ideal temperature range for the plant’s habitat is between 65°F and 80°F (18°C and 27°C) during the day and 60°F (15.5°C) or higher at night. The plant should not be exposed to temperatures below 55°F (12°C), since this could harm the leaves and be bad for the plant’s general health.

A humidifier should be placed nearby or the leaves should be misted often because Calathea Dottie enjoys high humidity levels. Your Calathea Dottie will be happy and healthy if you keep the right temp and humidity.

Fertilizer

Use a balanced, water-soluble feed specially made for plants like the Calathea Dottie.

Fertilize every two weeks during active growth times and every four to six weeks during the chill time. Always ensure you water down the fertilizer according to the manufacturer’s instructions and water your plant before and after fertilizing it.

Fertilizing too much can be bad for your Calathea Dottie, so always follow the instructions carefully.

Check your plants’ leaves for brown spots. This could mean that the roots have too much salt ’cause of too much feed. The leaves might get burned.

The fix is to put the plant under a running water faucet and let it hang out for about 10 minutes. Let the pot totally drain. Stop
fertilizer until the plant has recovered.

Soil

Calathea Dottie plants prefer a soil mixture with good drainage and moisture retention without becoming soggy. Here is the formula for a soil mixture that is ideal for Calathea Dottie:

Ingredients:

2 parts peat moss
1 part perlite
1 part vermiculite
1 part orchid bark

Instructions:

In a big pot, mix everything together.
Make sure the soil mix is fully and evenly soaked with water.
The soil mixture should be put in the pot, leaving some room at the top.
Make sure your Calathea Dottie is steady before planting it in the soil mix.
Give the plant a good soak, letting extra water drain from the pot.

Calathea Dottie: These plants need proper drainage and keeping water, and this soil combination excels in both of these areas. To keep the soil steadily wet but not drowned, remember to keep checking how wet the soil is and change your watering routine as necessary.

Related: Calathea Zebrina Care: The Complete And Best Guide

Repotting

Repotting is a crucial part of looking after a Calathea Dottie plant. Repotting gives the roots more room to grow and makes sure the soil
has plenty of nutrients.

You should do repotting every 18-24 months to keep the plant fit and thriving.

Do it in spring or summer when the plant has enough power and nutrients stored up from the winter months.

Nevertheless, to determine when to repot, you still need to keep an eye on the roots and pot and look for growth signs. Simply said, it’s time to repot again when roots start to stick out through the drainage holes at the bottom.

It is best to use a pot that’s just a bit bigger than the old one when repotting. It’s also important to choose well-draining soil, as Calathea Dottie plants can’t handle too wet soil. When repotting, be sure to take off any old soil from the roots and swap it with new soil.

After repotting, it’s crucial to water your Calathea Dottie plant deeply until water is leaking out of the bottom of the pot. Once you’ve done potting again and watering, be sure to put the plant in a cozy spot with indirect sunlight.

Pruning

You should prune at least once a year, or more often if needed to manage growth and keep the calathea looking great.

Tips for Pruning Calathea Dottie:

Cut off yellow or dead leaves as soon as they appear, cutting them to their base using sharp scissors or clippers.
Cut out any suckers that are growing along the stems, as they can mess up the overall look of the plant.
Pruning can also help increase air through the leaves, lowering dampness and helping to avoid bugs and diseases.
Cut off damaged or too close branches to thin out the leaves and encourage new growth.
Pruning should always be done carefully to not hurt healthy stuff, and sharp tools should be used to make sure of a clean cut.

Pruning is crucial to keep Calathea Dottie looking super, so it’s important to make sure that pruning is done right and often.

Calathea Dottie Care propagation

Calathea Dottie propagation is best done through root division, where the rhizomes of the plant are split into individual pieces to make more plants.

When repotting a Calathea Dottie in spring or summer, the division is easiest.

To do this:

Carefully dig up and take out the Calathea Dottie from its pot and gently split the rhizomes with a clean knife or pair of scissors.
Each piece should have some healthy roots and some old soil attached to it.
Then, these pieces can be planted again in their own pots filled with moist soil and kept warm and damp.
The plant sections should be potted separately.
The divisions grow in 2 to 4 weeks.
Water often and keep out of direct sunlight until the new plants develop strong root systems.

Calathea Dottie Common Pests & Plant Diseases

Common Pests

Calathea Dottie plants are often robust and pest-resistant, but like any indoor plant, they can sometimes get infested with certain pests. Here are a few typical bugs that might hurt Calathea Dottie plants:

Spider mites: Spider mites are tiny insects that can infest Calathea Dottie leaves, turning them yellow and giving them a spotted look. Keep it damp around the plant and spray the leaves often to avoid spider mites.
Mealybugs: Mealybugs are tiny, white bugs that can turn leaves yellow and cause slower growth in Calathea Dottie plants when they’re around. Check your plant often for mealybugs and get rid of any bugs or leaves that are bug-eaten.
Scale insects: Calathea Dottie plants can get infested with these tiny, static insects, which can stick onto the leaves and stems, causing yellowing of the leaves and limited growth. Check your plant often and get rid of any insects or leaves that are damaged to prevent scale insects.
Fungus Gnats: Calathea Dottie plants may get infested with fungus gnats, which are tiny flying bugs that can harm the roots of these plants. Make sure the soil drains well and don’t overwater your plant to prevent fungus gnats.

You need to check the plant from time to time for signs of pest invasions if you want to keep the health of your Calathea Dottie. Early spotting and treatment can keep your plant healthy and help stop additional damage.

Plant Diseases

Plant diseases are a common issue with Calathea Dottie plants, some of which may be caused by bad care.

Root rot is one such condition, caused when the plant sits in a lot of water or its soil is kept too wet. This leads to fungus problems that can quickly kill the plant if not treated fast and rightly.

Other diseases like powdery mold and leaf spots may also happen, which are caused by bad air flow, not enough light, or a mix of both. You should keep an eye out for signs of disease like color-changed leaves and stopped growth, and act if necessary.

Regularly checking the plant and its environment is important to keep Calathea Dottie healthy and without diseases.

To stop diseases from spreading, you need to also make efforts to ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, water, and air.

Calathea Dottie Care Common Problems

Calathea might run into problems due to bad care and environmental conditions. Brown leaf tips, dry leaves and stems, wilting leaves and yellowing foliage are the usual issues. All of these issues can be solved with proper care and a closer look at the environment where your Calathea is living.

Brown leaf tips are a common problem and could be because of both under and overwatering, as well as too much direct sunlight or heat. To fix this problem, make sure to water your Calathea often, but don’t let it sit in the water for a long time. Brown leaf tips could also be due to too much direct sunlight, so make sure to keep your plant in a spot that gets indirect light.
Dry leaves and stems are another common problem because of under-watering or not giving enough moisture around the plant. To fix this, water it more often and think about getting a humidifier or misting your Calathea often.
Wilting leaves can be because of under-watering or too much direct sunlight, and yellowing foliage is a sign of overwatering. Make sure to check the soil before you add more water, as it should feel a bit damp but not soaked before doing so.
Your Leaves Are Spotted Brown or Black: This indicates that you have overwatered your plant. Calatheas prefer a moist environment, but because they’re likely to get root rot, you should be careful not to overwater them and let the roots get the oxygen they need.

By getting these common issues and the reasons behind them, you can easily change how you care for your Calathea Dottie to ensure it stays healthy and vibrant.

FAQ About Calathea Dottie Care

Q: Does Calathea Dottie need fertilizing?

A: Yep, it loves regular fertilizing during the growing season (spring to fall). Use a balanced, liquid fertilizer meant for houseplants. Just go by what’s written on the packaging for how much and how often to fertilizing.

Q: How often should I water Calathea Dottie?

A: Water Calathea Dottie when the top 1-2 inches of soil feels dry to the touch. During the summer months, it may need to be watered more frequently, but always check the soil before you water it. If you are unsure, it is better to underwater than overwater as Calathea Dottie will not tolerate soggy soil conditions.

Q: What is the best temperature range for Calathea Dottie?

A: Calathea Dottie prefers temperatures between 64 and 81°F (18-27°C). It should not be placed in a room where the temperature drops below 60°F (15°C) or rises above 85°F (29°C). Extreme temperatures can cause damage to its leaves.

Q: Does Calathea Dottie need humidity?

A: Yes, Calathea Dottie prefers higher humidity levels, but will tolerate average household humidity levels. To increase the humidity around your plant, use a humidifier or place it near other houseplants that release moisture into the air. You can also mist it frequently.

Calathea Dottie is lovely, but it still needs some basic upkeep to survive. You shouldn’t have any trouble maintaining the health and happiness of your Calathea if you stick to the advice we’ve provided above.

Of course, don’t be shy to hit up FamiPlants for help if you run into any problems or just have questions about taking care of plants. We love chatting about plants with other plant lovers.

Learn more about Other Calathea care resources:

Calathea Dottie Care: The Complete And Best Guide