Velvet Plant Goeppertia micans

The miniature Calathea is a compact tropical herbaceous perennial in the prayer plant family (Marantaceae) native to Mexico and South Tropical America. It is found in the tropical rainforests and thrives on high humidity and warm temperatures. This plant has adapted to being used as an indoor plant and has been widely distributed to North America. The miniature Calathea is well known for its velvety leaves and small size. The specific epithet, micans, is Latin and means "sparkling," "shining," or "glowing."

Outside of its native countries, this plant is typically grown as an indoor houseplant requiring bright indirect light or partial shade and uniformly moist, well-drained, peaty potting mixtures at room temperatures ranging from 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. With care, it will develop into an attractive indoor foliage plant. To provide humid conditions, consider standing a potted plant on a bed of wet pebbles, misting the foliage regularly or growing the plant in a humidified room. Water regularly to keep soils moist but not wet or soggy during the growing season, but reduce watering in winter when plant growth slows down. It can be propagated by division of its rhizomatous roots.

The miniature Calathea has a clumping habit and grows up to 12 to 16 inches tall in containers. The leaves are 6 to 10 inches long, glossy, broad, ovate, and dark green on the upper surface and maroon on the undersides. The leaves are velvety soft and slightly waxy. They have a veining pattern that is slightly lighter than the remainder of the leaf. When the plant matures, it will begin to produced clusters of small, inconspicuous white to pale lavender blooms in the spring or summer.. 

Consider the miniature Calathea as an addition to your houseplant collection or for use in a terrarium. The size of your plant will be based on your ability to match the growing conditions with that of its native habitat. 

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious insect or disease problems. Watch for aphids, scale, mealybugs and spider mites. Overwatering can cause root rot, and leaf spots can occur from wetting the leaves when watering. In low humidity, the leaves may roll or turn brown. Direct sun causes leaf scorch.