The Calathea Ornata, commonly known as the Pinstripe Plant, is a type of tropical foliage that adds a unique touch to any home or office. Its long, slender leaves are adorned with intricate white stripes running along their length, earning it its name.
This low-maintenance plant is easy to cultivate and care for in almost any climate. Not only does this plant add aesthetic beauty to your living space, but it is also an efficient air purifier and humidifier.
Its leaves cast a pleasant scent that fills the room with freshness and has even been said to reduce stress levels when inhaled! The Pinstripe Plant can flourish in both well-lit areas or darker spaces and requires minimal pruning or upkeep throughout its lifespan.
Pinstripe Plant at a glance
| Common Name | Pinstripe Plant |
| Scientific Name | Calathea Ornata |
| Growth Rate | Slow |
| Full maturity | 2-3 years |
| Height (max) | 90 cm |
| Width (max) | 90 cm |
| Pet safe? | Maybe |
| Sunlight | Bright, indirect sunlight |
| Soil Ph | 6.1–7.8 |
| Native to | South America |
Growing Pinstripe Plant indoors in Australia
Growing indoors in Australia is becoming increasingly popular with many people looking to incorporate plants into their homes. One of the most popular plants for indoor gardening is the Pinstripe Plant (Calathea Ornata).
This vibrant and easy-to-care-for plant is native to South and Central America, but has become a favourite amongst avid gardeners in Australia. With its unique striped pattern of alternating light green and dark green leaves, this hardy plant adds texture and colour to any room it’s placed in.
It thrives best indoors with enough humidity and indirect sunlight, making it ideal for growing inside the home or office. Not only does it look great, but this low maintenance plant also purifies the air and produces oxygen – making it a great way to add some greenery into your living or work space!
Quick care tips
Growing the Pinstripe Plant (Calathea Ornata) is a great way to spruce up any home or office. This beautiful tropical plant is known for its striking patterned leaves, which are long and oval-shaped with deep green stripes.
But before you bring one of these beauties into your home, it’s important to know how to take care of them properly. Here are some quick tips on how to get started: First off, it’s essential that the Pinstripe Plant has plenty of water and humidity.
Keep the soil moist at all times without overwatering and mist regularly with a spray bottle in order to keep the humidity levels high. Place your Calathea Ornata near a window where it can receive indirect sunlight throughout the day – direct sunlight can cause sunburn damage on its delicate leaves.
Pinstripe Plant (Calathea Ornata) (Source)
Caring for your Pinstripe Plant
Plants add a splash of life and beauty to any home. Though they can seem intimidating, many plants are quite easy to care for with minimal effort and attention.
In particular, the pinstripe plant (Calathea ornata) is an elegant addition that stands out in any room. This easy-to-grow houseplant is perfect for novice gardeners and those looking for a unique piece to brighten up their living space.
The pinstripe plant rewards its owner with lush green foliage adorned with beautiful stripes of deep purple or brown lines across the leaves. To keep this gorgeous specimen thriving and healthy, it requires medium to bright indirect sunlight and regular watering every two weeks when soil is dry. It’s important not to over-water as this could lead to root rot or other issues that could damage the plant’s health.
Light
Light is a key ingredient in maintaining a healthy and vibrant pinstripe plant (Calathea ornata). Although this tropical houseplant can survive in low light conditions, it will need bright indirect sunlight to develop its signature white stripes.
Without adequate light, the foliage can become dull and limp with little striation. It’s best to place Calathea ornata near an east or west facing window for around two to four hours of sun each day.
Bright artificial lighting can be used as an alternative if natural light isn’t available. For optimal growth and colour intensity, supplementing with fluorescent lighting is recommended. Position the lights about 15 cm from the plant and keep them on for approximately 10-12 hours per day.
Water
Water is a vital resource that all life depends on, and the same goes for plants. The pinstripe plant (Calathea Ornata) is no exception.
In order to keep this tropical plant happy and healthy, it needs to have the correct amount of water. Too much or too little can result in discolouration of leaves or worse, death of the plant.
When watering a pinstripe plant, it’s important to note that they like their soil moist but not soggy. This means the soil should be damp enough so that when you touch it with your finger, some moisture comes off on your fingertip but not so much that your finger appears wet once removed from the potting soil.
Fertiliser
Fertiliser is an important factor in success when growing the beautiful Calathea Ornata, also known as Pinstripe Plant. This plant requires frequent fertilisation for optimal growth and lush foliage.
Fertilising the Calathea Ornata should be done every two weeks during its active growing season from spring to fall using a balanced liquid fertiliser diluted to 1/4 strength. It’s best to avoid overfertilising this plant, as too much fertiliser can cause harm to the roots and foliage.
The soil should be allowed to almost dry out before fertilising again, so regular checks of the soil moisture are necessary. During winter months or when the Pinstripe Plant is dormant, it shouldn’t be fertilised at all as this may damage it or cause it to produce weak foliage.
Temperature
Temperature is an important factor when it comes to growing the pinstripe plant, Calathea ornata. This tropical species of plant thrives in warm temperatures between 18-27 degrees Celcius.
It is best to keep the temperature consistent and avoid drastic changes that could harm the plant’s health. Stable temperatures also help promote growth of vibrant foliage year-round.
When night temperatures begin to drop below 60 degrees, be prepared to take measures to protect your pinstripe plants from cold damage. In addition, proper humidity levels are essential for Calathea ornata’s health. The ideal range should be between 50 and 70%. To ensure the right level of moisture in the air for your pinstripe plants, you can use a humidifier or mist their leaves with a spray bottle filled with filtered water throughout the day.
Humidity
Humidity is an important factor in the growth of any plant, especially one as sensitive to its environment like pinstripe plants (Calathea ornata). This tropical species loves high humidity and temperatures between 65-80°F; too much or too little moisture can cause their leaves to curl or turn yellow.
For this reason, it’s wise for a pinstripe plant owner to pay close attention to the level of humidity in the room. High humidity can be achieved easily with certain techniques.
One method is by using a humidifier that creates mist to add more moisture into the air. In addition, misting pinstripes directly with water will also increase the relative humidity of their immediate environment; this should be done twice daily if possible.
Learn more about how humidity can affect indoor plants.
Flowering
Flowering is a beautiful phenomenon that often symbolizes rebirth and new beginnings. For gardeners, there are few things more exciting than seeing the plants they love bloom with vibrant flowers after months of nurturing and care.
The pinstripe plant (Calathea Ornata) is no exception to this; it’s stunningly delicate blossoms make for a captivating addition to any garden. Although not all Calathea species flower, the ornata variety has been known to produce small yellow flowers in some cases.
To get your own pinstripe plant flowering, it’s important to provide optimal growing conditions as well as a bit of extra care and attention. With proper light, temperature, humidity and nutrition levels, you can easily encourage your Calathea Ornata to bloom.
Pests
Pests can often be a problem for gardeners and homeowners who want to keep their plants looking healthy. The pinstripe plant, also known as Calathea ornata, is no exception.
While these plants are typically quite easy to care for, they may occasionally fall victim to pests like spider mites, aphids and mealybugs which feed on the foliage of the plant. Left unchecked, pest infestations can cause discolouration of the leaves and even stunt growth of young plants.
In order to prevent an infestation from occurring in the first place, it is important to regularly inspect your Calathea ornata for signs of pests and take action when necessary. This could include wiping down affected areas with a damp cloth or using insecticidal soap or horticultural oil on more serious outbreaks.
Find out more about common indoor plant pests in Australia.
Diseases
The pinstripe plant (Calathea ornata) is an attractive and easy to care for houseplant. It’s popular among a variety of gardeners and decorators due to its beautiful foliage that comes in a range of colours from white, green, and maroon stripes.
While the pinstripe plant is generally a hardy species, it can still be susceptible to diseases. Common fungal infections such as root rot or leaf spot can occur if the plant is kept in an overly wet environment or if pests are present on the leaves.
Other diseases may also affect the pinstripe plant such as bacterial blight which causes yellow spots on leaves or powdery mildew which creates a white coating on leaves. Gardeners should take extra precaution when growing Calathea ornata because it’s more sensitive than other houseplant species.
Soil
Soil is an essential component of successful gardening. For growing the pinstripe plant (Calathea Ornata), soil that is well-draining, high in organic matter and rich in nutrients is key.
The type of soil can have a significant impact on the health and growth rate of your plants. When choosing potting soil for your Calathea Ornata, look for one that has peat moss or coco coir as a base ingredient.
Perlite and vermiculite are also beneficial additions to ensure optimal drainage. Other ingredients such as composted bark, worm castings and fish meal can provide additional nutrition to the plants’ root system. To improve aeration, mix in some organic matter such as dead leaves or grass clippings before planting.
Learn how to lower your soil PH.
Pot size
The Calathea Ornata, more commonly known as the Pinstripe Plant, is an evergreen perennial with beautiful and intricate foliage. While this plant thrives in many climates, one of the most important factors for its successful growth is selecting the right pot size to maximize its growth potential.
When choosing a pot for your Calathea Ornata, it is critical to consider both the size and type of material since these can have significant impacts on your plant’s health. Ideally, you should select a pot that is 5-8 centimetres wider than the roots of your plant.
The material should be porous enough to allow for proper drainage and breathability so that air can circulate freely around the roots. Clay or terracotta pots are better suited for this purpose than plastic containers since they are less likely to accumulate excess moisture which could lead to root rot.
Pruning your Pinstripe Plant
Pruning is an important part of caring for a Pinstripe Plant (Calathea Ornata). These plants need regular pruning in order to look their best and keep their foliage healthy.
Pruning should be done at least once per year, preferably during the late spring months when new growth tends to be most abundant. When pruning your Pinstripe Plant, it’s important to use sharp, clean shears or scissors to avoid any fraying or tearing of the leaves.
Start by removing any browned or discoloured leaves at the base of the plant. It’s also important to trim away any dead flowers or stems that don’t have green foliage attached. Doing this will help encourage new growth and keep your plant looking its best!
Propagating your Pinstripe Plant
Propagation is the process of growing plants from existing parts of existing plants. Growing pinstripe plant (Calathea ornata) from a cutting can be done by following a few simple steps.
This tropical houseplant is known for its beautiful pinstriped leaves, and propagating it will help provide gardeners with many new plants to enjoy. To propagate Calathea ornata, start by selecting a healthy stem with at least one leaf attached that has not yet flowered.
Use clean scissors or pruning shears to cut the stem just below a node—the spot where each leaf stem meets the main stem—and remove any lower leaves. Then, place the cutting in a container filled with potting mix and lightly water it until damp.
Is Pinstripe Plant poisonous?
The pinstripe plant, or Calathea ornata, is an evergreen perennial native to the tropical regions of Latin America. This ornamental leafy shrub features beautiful foliage with a distinct striped pattern.
It’s an excellent choice for bringing colour and texture to any outdoor space, but it’s important to know that this plant can be toxic if ingested by humans or animals. This species is considered to be low-maintenance and easy to care for when grown indoors or in a sheltered area outside.
When cared for properly, pinstripe plants can grow up to 60 cm tall and have leaves up to 30 cm long.
Featured Image: Source
