The Ctenanthe plant, native to tropical Brazil, is a member of the Marantaceae family and is related to the calathea and prayer plant. These evergreen perennials are grown primarily for the beauty of their colorful leaves. The three species which make good houseplants are C. lubbersiana, C. oppenheimiana, and C. burle-marxii. C. lubbersiana reaches a height of about 18 inches and has green and yellow patterned elliptical leaves with pale green undersides. C. oppenheimiana also called the ‘Never Never Plant, grows as tall as 3ft., produces lance shaped leaves that are dark green with silver bands, and has foliage with maroon undersides. The Tricolor variety of C.oppenheimiana is even more colorful. C. burle-marxii is a smaller more compact plant that has silver gray elliptical leaves with green stripes. A Ctenanthe is not an easy care plant and can be quite frustrating for a novice plant grower.
These plants are considered mildly poisonous (although often listed as non-toxic)), it may cause individual allergic reactions and should be kept away from pets and children.
LIGHT
Ctenanthes like Bringht Sunlight. If there is insufficient light, new leaves appear solid green rather than patterned with attractive colors. If there is too much light, the colors in the leaves fade.
WATER
Keep the soil evenly moist but never soggy. Ctenanthes do not like to dry out, and do not like cold or hard water.
FERTILIZER
Fertilize monthly in the spring and summer diluting the plant food at 1/2 the recommended strength. Fertilize every other month in the fall and winter. Never feed a Ctenanthe immediately after repotting, wait at least 6 weeks.
TEMPERATURE
Ctenanthes like warm consistent temperatures and will not tolerate temperatures below 60°F (15°C).
HUMIDITY
High humidity is very important. If the air is dry, place your Ctenanthe on a pebble tray filled with water. Be sure the plant is sitting on the pebbles and not in the water.
FLOWERING
The white or yellow flowers are small and inconsequential in comparison to the beautiful leaves. The flowers have 3 sepals, 3 petals, and form a short funnel.
PESTS
Spider mite and mealy bug are the pests to look out for.
DISEASES
botriyls, a fungal disease, can occur because of the high humidity these plants require.
SOIL
Use a good all purpose potting mix that drains well but still retains moisture.
POT SIZE
Re-pot once a year or every other year depending upon how quickly the plant roots fill the container.
PRUNING
A Ctenanthe rarely needs pruning, just remove any dead growth.
PROPAGATION
Ctenanthe plants are easily propagated using the offsets that develop into bushy clumps around the base of the plant. When propagating, it is important to use the same type of soil as was used for the original plant. Stem cutting is another propogation choice. Keep the new plants warm and the soil moist until established.
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