As an understory plant, Calathea thrive in moderate indirect light. Calatheas will not tolerate bright direct sunlight for very long. However, very low light conditions will slow down the growth of the plant and increases the chance that overwatering will occur since the plant will be using less water.

Calathea prefer consistently moist soil, however their roots will not tolerate standing water. When repotting, it is important that the soil and new pot is well-draining. If the soil is too dry, leaves will respond by curling and becoming crisp.