Calathea erythrolepis

A large prayer plant endemic to Colombia, reaching about 2 m when mature, with broad oval green leaves on thick petioles, a long purple pulvinus, and inflorescences of spirally arranged, finely hairy deep purple bracts. Herbarium and field records place it in humid premontane and sub-Andean forest, mostly at 1300–1750 m. It wants shade, steady moisture, high humidity and warm days with mild, cool-leaning nights.

At home, aim for

Day IntermediateTargets in Plantistry

Night Close to the dayTargets in Plantistry

Humidity Ordinary room humidityBand in Plantistry

Light ShadeDLI and PPFD in Plantistry

No rest periodGrows in the ground

Where it grows wild

Record labels describe humid premontane forest, well-preserved sub-Andean forest, mature forest and humid tropical forest on the eastern slopes of the Colombian Andes. As a large understory herb it grows on the forest floor in shade and gaps.

Labelled records span about 650 m (Casanare) to 2300 m (Boyacá), with most between 1300 and 1750 m.

Colombia

🔒 Growing it like that

The wild conditions above, turned into targets for a shelf, a tent or a greenhouse. The full profile has:

✓ Day and night temperature targets, and the limits it tolerates

✓ Humidity band, and how to hold it

✓ Light as DLI and PPFD for a grow light

✓ Wet and dry seasons, and whether to rest it

✓ Substrate and airflow

✓ A step-by-step setup to grow it like the wild

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Profiles are drafts built from measured range and climate and from published sources; each section carries its own confidence in the app.