Ctenanthe Plant Indoor Care, Propagation, Common Problems and Remedies

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Ctenanthe Plants flourish in bright indirect light, warm and humid conditions and consistently moist, rich, well drained soil coupled with monthly feeding in the growing season.

Ctenanthe Plants are rare, evergreen, perennial plants which are grown as indoors plants for their attractive and often variegated foliage.

The leaves are large, oval-shaped and are marked by strikingly beautiful silver patterns. The undersides are often a beautiful dark-maroon color.

Botanical name: Ctenanthe
Family: Marantaceae

Origin

Ctenanthe spp are native to the topical regions of Central and South America, mainly Brazil.

Size

Ctenanthe grow to a height of about 7 feet and the large, oval-shaped leaves are usually about 1-2 feet long.

Varieties

There are about 15 species in the Ctenanthe genus but only a few can be grown indoors succussfully.

The popular Ctenanthe species for indoors include;

Ctenanthe lubbersiana, (Bamburanta),

Ctenanthe burle-marxii, (Fishbone Prayer Plant),

Ctenanthe amabilis, (Beautiful Ctenanthe),

Ctenanthe oppenheimiana 'Tricolor', (Never Never Plant),

Ctenanthe setosa among others.

Related Plants

Ctenanthe are related to the Calathea, Maranta and Stromanthe. These groups of plants are sometimes commonly called Prayer Plants in reference to their curious characteristic of closing their leaves at night.

Toxicity

Ctenanthe Plants like other Marantaceae plants are non-toxic to both humans and pets as indicated by ASPCA. They are safe to grow indoors.

Where to Buy

Are you looking to add this plant to your collection? Ctenanthe are available online on Etsy (Link to Etsy).

Ctenanthe Plant Care Indoors

Ctenanthe Plants prosper in bright indirect light, average warmth of 16-26⁰C, humidity of 60-70% and consistently moist, fertile, well drained, all purpose potting soil coupled with monthly feeding during the growing season.

Ctenanthe Plants require pruning to keep it neat, to reduce pest and disease infestations and to rejuvenate growth. Repotting is needed every 2 years when it has become pot-bound. Keep reading for more on these conditions and how to provide them.

Watering

Water Ctenanthe Plants thoroughly during the growing season while allowing the top 1-2 inches of soil to dry out between waterings and keep the soil moist at all times.

Decrease watering in the cold season as growth is minimal at this time to maintain the soil slightly moist.

Ctenanthe Plants are sensitive to chemicals dissolved in water, therefore, water it with water that is free of chlorine and flourides.

Being a tropical plant, water it with water that is at room temperature to avoid shocking the plant which can result in reduced growth.

Make sure that the pot has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy as it can lead to root-rot and death of the plant. Avoid wetting the foliage during watering or water from the bottom instead to prevent fungal infestation.

Light requirements

Ctenanthe Plants grow best in bright, indirect light. Too little light will result in loss of the beautiful variegation. Keep it away from direct sunlight as it can lead to scorching and yellowish leaves.

Ctenanthe Plants can be grown under a grow light where the natural lighting is not adequate. Check out these full spectrum grow lights on Amazon.

Regularly turn the pot to ensure that the plant receives light on all sides for uniform growth and prevent leggy growth.

Temperature and Humidity

Ctenanthe Plants prefer average warmth of 16-26⁰C. Protect the plant from cold drafts and sudden changes in temperature.

Ctenanthe require high humidity of 60-70% to thrive. To increase humidity, surround the pot with wet moss or set the pot on a wet pebble tray. It can be grown in a terrarium as a high humidity can be maintained inside a terrarium. Take a look at these techniques on how to raise humidity for houseplants.

Clean the leaves by damp-wiping with a soft cloth to keep them clean and neat as well as discourage pests and diseases. Ensure that there is good air circulation to prevent fungal diseases.

Fertilizer

Feed Ctenanthe Plant with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer once monthly through out the growing season. Stop feeding in the cold season as growth is minimal and feeding at this time can lead to fertilizer burn.

Once in a while, flush out accumulated chemicals (salts) from the soil by running a stream of water through the soil. Allow the stream of water to run for some time and repeat the process several times.

Potting Mix

The best soil for Ctenanthe Plant should be rich in organic matter and free-draining to prevent it from getting soggy while providing the required nutrients. Most all purpose potting mixes are ideal for this plant.

Repotting

Repot Ctenanthe Plant every 2 years at the beginning of the growing season when the plant becomes pot bound. Use a pot 1 size larger than the current one.

Ctenanthe Plants do not like to sit in soggy soil, therefore, ensure that the soil is free-draining and the pot has a drainage hole as soggy soil can lead to root-rot.

The large plants can be divided at the time of repotting and use the splits to propagate new plants. Check out these self watering pots on Amazon.

Pruning

Pruning Ctenanthe Plant is easy as it involves removal of dead and yellow foliage to maintain the plant neat and also minimize pests and disease infestations. Cutback the stems at the beginning of the growing season to rejuvenate growth.

Propagation

Ctenanthe Plant propagation can be done at the beginning of the growing season by plant division.

How to propagate Ctenanthe by plant division

Take the Ctenanthe plant out of its pot and divide it into several sections. Ensure each section has some roots inorder to hasten rooting.

Pot the sections into individual pots in moist, free-draining soil. Ensure the pots have a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy as it can lead to rotting.

Cover the pots with clear polythene to create a greenhouse effect and maintain warm humid conditions which hasten establishment of the Ctenanthe plants.

Place the pots in a warm, well-lit shaded place until new growth has emerged in the sections.

Gradually remove the polythene cover over a period of two weeks to acclimate the new plants.

Then move the set up to a warm, brightly-lit place and maintain the soil moist until the new Ctenanthe Plants are well established after which routine care can begin.

Ctenanthe Problems with Solutions

Ctenanthe Plants common problems include brown leaf tips, rotting, curled and yellow leaves, scorched leaves, stunted growth, pests and diseases among others. Keep reading for more on these problems and how to solve them.

Pests

Common pests in Ctenanthe are mealy bugs, aphids, scale insects and spider mites. Isolate the affected plant to prevent spread to the other plants and treat it for the pests. Learn how to identify and treat pests in houseplants.

Diseases

Ctenanthe is prone to leaf spot disease due to the humid conditions that it prefers. Isolate the affected plant to prevent spread to the other plants and treat it appropriately for the leaf spot disease.

Limp and rotting stems

Ctenanthe limp and rotting stems are due to too cold air and or too wet soil. At this point, the plant may be too far gone to be saved. To prevent limp and rotting stems, maintain an average warmth of 16-26⁰C. Check out this guide on understanding temperature for houseplants.

Keep the plant away from cold drafts like windy doors and windows, air conditioning units among others to prevent sudden changes in temperature. Avoid soggy soil by ensuring that the pot has a drainage hole and that the soil is free-draining.

Curled, spotted leaves and lower leaves yellowing

Ctenanthe curled, spotted leaves and lower leaves yellowing are due to underwatering. Water the plant liberally and keep the soil consistently moist during the growing season. Cut down on watering during the cold season to keep the soil slightly moist but do not let the soil dry out completely. Learn more on how to water houseplants the right way.

Brown leaf tips and edges

Ctenanthe brown leaf tips and edges is due to too dry air (low humidity) as the plants are very sensitive to low air humidity. To raise humidity, set the pot on a wet pebble tray or grow the plant in a well-lit bathroom and other moist areas in the home. You can also grow Ctenanthe in a terrarium as a high humidity can be maintained in a terrarium.

Brown and dry leaf tips, stunted growth

Ctenanthe brown and dry leaf tips accompanied by stunted growth are an indication of spider mite infestation due to the air being too dry. Remove the dead growth and set the pot on a wet pebble tray or use a cool mist humidifier to elevate humidity.

Discolored or scorched leaves

Ctenanthe discolored or scorched leaves are due to exposure to of the plant direct sunlight. Move the plant to a shaded spot or protect it from direct sunlight to prevent its death.

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