Calathea rufibarba ‘elgergrass’ care guide

In this guide you'll learn: How to care for your Calathea rufibarba ‘elgergrass’ plant and
answers to FAQs to keep your plant happy

In this guide you'll learn: How & where to buy the calathea rufibarba 'elgergrass', how to care for your plant and answers to FAQs to keep your plant happy

About the Calathea rufibarba ‘elgergrass’

The elgergrass is a cultivar of the Calathea rufibarba, and is known for long, slender, deep green leaves with a reddish-purple underside and velvet-like leaves, giving indoor spaces a touch of the tropics.

Also known as the velvet calathea, furry feather and prayer plant, this stunning tropical plant comes from Bahia state in northeastern Brazil, and grows to 3 feet in height and can make any home or office space that little bit more interesting.

The rufibarba ‘elgergrass’ needs high humidity to thrive, and bright indirect light as well as thoroughly draining soil that doesn’t remain wet. This can be a little tricky to manage for beginners, but is achievable if you can pay some care and attention to your plant to give it the environment that it needs.

Its leaves are a deep green set over an underside of red, burgundy or purple, and have soft hairs that give them a velvet-like feel. The leaves have a slight crinkle, are long and slender, and grow tall upon long stems, making it a very unique houseplant that will catch the attention of guests.

Relatively easy to care for with once-weekly watering, requiring no special equipment or growing mediums, if this is the tropical plant for you, see our buyers guide below, and our full care guide here.

Calathea rufibarba ‘elgergrass’ In The House & Office

The Calathea ‘elgergrass’ will do well in most situations but the main concerns are both light and humidity.

Keep your plant at least 5 feet from a south-facing window, or a little closer to windows facing other directions. This gives your plant bright light that isn’t direct, ensuring that the leaves don’t get scorched.

Provide a minimum humidity level of 50%, but ideally 60%, either by using a humidifier, misting the plant daily, placing the pot on a tray of pebbles with water, or by grouping the plant together with several other plants which raise the local humidity by losing water through their leaves.

By doing this, you’ll give your plant similar conditions to its native habitat on the floor of Brazilian rainforests, keeping it happy enough to unfurl new leaves to create a statement piece in your home or office.

If it seems unhealthy, try adjusting its position, check the humidity level and change the watering habits. Watering with rainwater is best as tap water can contain too many minerals that Calatheas dislike.

To supplement with artificial lights, provide 10,000 to 20,000 lux when measured with a light meter.

This plant is an excellent option for homes and offices as the large leaves produce ample amounts of clean air, and trap dust which can be easily wiped away.

Calathea ‘elgergrass’ Size

Height:  60-100cm / 24-39in / 2-3.3ft

Spread: 30-60cm / 12-24in / 1-2ft

Calathea ‘elgergrass’ Care

Light: Provide your ‘elgergrass’ with bright, indirect light for 6 or more hours each day, and do not allow it to sit in direct sunlight. Move the plant away from bright light if it looks unhealthy, or closer if the light is already verging on being inadequate. 10,000 to 20,000 lux on a light meter should be ideal, but it can survive (not thrive) in lower light. The ‘elgergrass’ can’t be grouped with  low light plants, but should also not be placed at the front of a group of strong-light loving plants either.

Soil: Fill your grow pot with a fertile potting mix that contains materials to help it drain well. Keep the soil moist, but make sure that it doesn’t remail wet, as your plant’s roots will rot. 

Watering: Try watering just once per week to begin with, and water when the first inch or so of potting soil is dry. As Caltheas dislike the minerals in tap water, try using distilled water.  cause slowed growth.

Humidity: The ‘elgergrass’ will be happiest if you can keep the humidity level above 60%, but will survive at 50% or more. This could be perfect for a brightly-lit bathroom or kitchen where the humidity is often higher than normal. You can group your plants together, as they raise the humidity by losing water through their leaves, or you can use a humidifier, mist the plant daily, or stand the pot in a tray of pebbles and water. 

Feeding: Feed with a regular, half-strength fertiliser every couple of weeks during the main growing season of spring and summer, but reduce feeding if leaf edges start to turn brown.

Temperature: Room temperatures of 18-24°C / 64-75°F should keep your plant happy, so long at it doesn’t reach 15°C / 60°F during the winter.

Ailments: The ‘elgergrass’ is prone to red spider mites which can be treated using an oil and water, or soap and water solution, which can be sprayed directly twice each day as needed. If the leaves turn brown, raise the humidity level, and if the leaves lose their vibrancy you should reduce the intensity of light by moving it further from the window.

Further Care: To help your plant thrive, read our full guide detailing everything your plant needs to grow into an impressive part of your collection, see our full plant care guide to the Calathea rufibarba ‘elgergrass’.

Where To Buy Calathea rufibarba ‘elgergrass’ Online

  • Ebay (UK) / (USA)
  • Etsy
  • Bloombox Club (UK) / (USA)
  • Local Facebook Groups

The Calathea ‘elgergrass’ is a great addition to a beautiful house, and can be found at many online indoor plant stores.

We recommend to check both Ebay and Etsy for well-rated sellers that have many positive reviews, if you would like to choose the exact plant you receive. If you don’t mind a little bit of mystery, read the reviews and check the return policy of reputable gardening businesses online before you buy.

Always make sure that you buy from a reliable vendor and don’t settle for a diseased, unhealthy or damaged plant if one arrives. If you are unhappy with your plant, complain and request a return and refund.

FAQs

Is the Calathea rufibarba ‘elgergrass’ toxic to animals or humans?

This plant won’t be toxic to you or your pets, but we would still recommend against using it in a salad.

How much humidity does it need?

The humidity level will need to be at least 50% and ideally above 60%, in order to prevent leaf burn. You can easily raise the humidity by regularly spraying your plant with water, or by grouping it together with several other plants. You can also increase the humidity with a humidifier, or by sitting the pot on top of a tray filled with water and pebbles.

Does it flower?

The ‘elgergrass’ will flower in the right conditions, but is most well known for its foliage as the flowers are rather small and not very show-worthy. 

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About the Author

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Plant-lover with a life-goal to buy land across the UK to plant his own forest, James specialises in horticulture and botanical research, and has been growing and rewilding forests with trees, including endangered species, for over 15 years. He is an avid gardener, allotment owner, and aids in the running of a carbon neutral initiative in companies across the UK.


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