HouseplantsDiscover the right indoor plants for your home.
Sweet Dreams ® Exotica . exposure by : Proven victor
If you ’ve never heard of a never never implant ( Ctenanthe ) , you ’re not alone . Although it look similar to the popularprayer plantand belongs to the same family , this beautifully variegated houseplant has only recently commence to profit a pursual , thanks to the instauration of new cultivars that greatly flourish the grasp of foliage gloss and practice . Each flora is overwhelmingly unique , with some feature intricate fishbone marking while others are adorned by bold bar and splodge .
Because never never plant are native to tropical rainforests , they can be a routine fussy about their growing conditions and demand consistent lacrimation and high humidness to thrive . But if you may encounter its introductory pauperization , this mind - turning houseplant makes a wonderful increase to any indoor plant collection .
On this Sir Frederick Handley Page : Basics|Growing Tips|Care|Varieties|FAQs
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BASICS
Botanical name:
Ctenanthespp . ( prounounced ten - AN - thee )
Common names:
Never never plant , fishbone prayer works , bamburanta
Origin:
Native to tropic rainforests of Central and South America
Care level:
temperate
Light:
average to bright , collateral brightness
Height:
1 to 4 foot , depending on the variety
Foliage:
Features elliptical or oval - shape leaves with typical mark and diversification . folio colors roll from silvery gray to non-white green , with some receive purple or burgundy undersides .
Flowers:
May produce small , undistinguished snowy flowers in summer , but this is a rare happening when plants are grown indoors .
Fun fact:
Like many plants in the prayer flora family ( Marantaceae),Ctenanthefolds up its leaf at nighttime , giving them the appearance of praying hands . When the sunlight returns in the morning , the foliage unfold again to a flat position . This circadian movement , callednyctinasty , occurs in response to alteration in abstemious intensity .
GROWING CTENANTHE PLANTS
Where to grow:
Never never plants perform well in medium to bright collateral light , such as near a north- or east - facing windowpane . Avoid placing them next to a window that gets unmediated sunlight , unless it is early morning or late afternoon Dominicus . vulnerability to lineal midday sunshine can scorch the leaves .
Temperature and humidity:
Like many tropic houseplant , never never industrial plant prefers moderate to high levels of humidity and comfortable room temperatures of 60 ° to 85 ° F. To increase humidity , use a humidifier , becloud the leave regularly , or plant your plant on a shallow tray take with pebbles and water . See morehouseplants that thrive in humidity .
Also , avoid place your never never plant near drafty window or warming vent . If the leafage steer start turn brown and crispy , it is likely that your plant is suffering from a want of humidness .
Soil type:
Use a gamey - quality , all - purpose potting mix that enfeeble well . To facilitate promote drain and improve airflow , consider adding some perlite or orchid bark to the mix .
Pot requirements:
Plant in a locoweed slightly larger in diameter than the rootball and with equal drain pickle to help keep beginning rot .
Sweet Dreams ® Grey Star . Photo by : Proven Winners
CTENANTHE PLANT CARE
Watering:
BecauseCtenantheis a rainforest plant life , it loves systematically moist but not waterlogged soil . For the best results , water thoroughly when the top 1 to 2 inches of soil feels ironical to the touch , allowing the excess water to drain from the bottom of the toilet . Do not allow your plant to sit in standing water , which can lead in greensickness ( yellow of the leaf ) and root rot .
TIP : Never never plants are sensitive to dross and salts in tap water , which can leave in folio spotting . It ’s good to piddle using distilled or filtered water or pat H2O that has been leave behind out overnight so the minerals can finalise . The H2O should also be at room temperature to forefend jolt to the works ’s ascendant system .
Fertilizing:
Apply a balanced water - soluble fertilizer thin to one-half strength once a calendar month during spring through early crepuscle , when your works is actively growing . hold up off on fertilizing during the former fall and winter month , when plant growth decelerate .
Pruning:
Because of its shaggy outgrowth habit , Ctenantherarely requires clip to maintain its shape . However , you should trim off any beat or browning foliage back to the al-Qaeda of the plant to encourage healthy , Modern increase .
Leaf care:
To keep the beautiful foliage of your never never plant detritus - free , occasionally wipe the leaves with a dampish cloth or poriferan . Cleaning the foliage on a regular basis also gives you a salutary opportunity to check for louse plague that might be hiding on the undersides of the leaves .
Repotting:
Ctenanthegrows fairly slowly , so it can loosely stay in the same toilet for 2 to 3 years before it ’s ready for a new dwelling house . If your plant start showing signs of becoming rootbound , move it to a wad about 2 inches big in diameter than the current one and fill it with fresh potting mixture . The best time to repot is in spring or former summer , when the roots are actively originate and will benefit from the superfluous space .
Pests and diseases:
Be on the watch for common houseplant pests , in particular spider mites , aphids , and mealybug . If you notice any signs of an infestation , isolate your works and provide treatment immediately . study and care for the most common houseplant plague .
CTENANTHE PLANT VARIETIES
Photo by : Proven Winners
Sweet Dreams ® NeverLand ™ —Buy now from Proven WinnersCtenanthe lubbersiana
Large , oblong dark green parting show off brilliant splash of golden yellow , as if dipped in gold fairy dust . grow to a height of up to 4 feet , this Ctenanthe is ideal for use as an eye - catching focal item in a brightly lit way .
Mature height:2 to 4 feet
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Sweet Dreams ® ExoticaCtenanthe setosa
full brushstrokes of olive greenish pop against a background of silver gray foliation . When the leaves close up up in prayer at night , they reveal vino - red undersides and stems .
Mature height:1 to 3 feet
Sweet Dreams ® Grey StarCtenanthe setosa
refined white-haired - dark-green leaves perched on top of bamboo - alike stems are accentuated by slender dark green lines and midrib . To prevent scorching of the sick foliage , avoid placing near a window that receives direct sunshine .
Sweet Dreams ® Burle - MarxiiCtenanthe burle - marxii
Sometimes called fishbone supplicant plant , this classic never never plant boast a fishbone - like radiation pattern of coloured immature lines on a sheet of pale passel - green leaves . At nighttime , the folio fold up to show off burgundy - purpleness undersides .
maturate height:6 to 12 inches
Sweet Dreams ® AmagrisCtenanthe burle - marxii ' Amagris '
interchangeable to Sweet Dreams ® Burle - Marxii but with a more intricate fishbone pattern of thin , dark fleeceable line on small ellipse - shaped leaves . Grows to a height of no more than 12 inches , making it ideal for showing on desk and tabletops .
Sweet Dreams ® First Frost ™ Ctenanthe setosa
Smooth , elliptic , silvern green leaves feature large dark-green lines radiate from the midvein . Like otherCtenanthe , this plant appreciates a boost in humidity by being placed on a pebble tray filled with water or near a humidifier .
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Sweet Dreams ® Burle - Marxii . photograph by : Proven Winners
Is Ctenanthe a good indoor plant?
In its native home ground , never never industrial plant resides in the understory of tropic forest and therefore adjusts well to the lower light story and warmth of an indoor environment . This makes it an excellent houseplant , as long as you cater to its needs for frequent watering and plenty of humidity .
During the summer , you could also grow never never plant outdoors in a shady location . However , it is very sensitive to frost pic and must be moved indoors in the pin in all but the affectionate climate .
Are never never plants toxic?
Ctenanthes are non - toxic and secure for people and pets , but can cause stomach confused if ingested in gravid quantities .
Is Ctenanthe a prayer plant?
Ctenanthe is related to the supplication plant life ( Maranta ) and belong to the same phratry , along withCalatheaandStromanthe . All these plant are cognise for their colourful foliage and share like precaution requirements . However , there are some conflict in leafage shapes , leafage figure , and growth riding habit .
Does Ctenanthe need sun?
Yes , but you should avoid exposing your plant to direct sunlight . Bright or filtered brightness is idealistic forCtenantheand will result in the most vibrant foliage color . At lower easy grade the leaves may start losing their variegation and growth can become leggy .
Does never never plant like to be rootbound?
If you desire your never never found to rest healthy and farm to its full potential , you should repot it before it becomes rootbound . If you notice that the dirt does n’t hold moisture for long and the roots commence to thump out of the pot ’s drainage holes , those are augury that it ’s time for repotting .
Why are the leaves of my ctenanthe plant curling?
Leaves that fold up at night are normal for a never never plant , but if they remain curled during the day , that is often a sign of hurt . Make certain the way temperature is between 60 ° to 85 ° F and increase the humidity if necessary . YourCtenanthemay also curl up its leaves if it is n’t getting enough water .
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