Rattlesnake Plant (Calathea lancifolia)

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Plant Details

Category: Houseplants

Light: Bright Light

Bloom Season:

Height: 12-30" /

30-76cm

Space: 12-15" /

30-38cm

Zones: 11, 12

Lowest Temp: 50° to 80°F /

10° to 27°C

Colors: Grown for foliage

Basic Care

Rotate plants often to maintain uniform growth. Mist plant daily, keep pot on a tray of pebbles filled with water, or place near a humidifier. Keep soil evenly moist.

Water

Water when top 1-2” (3-5cm) of soil is dry to the touch. Apply water until it runs out the drainage hole at bottom of pot. Discard any water left standing in the saucer.

Soil

All-purpose commercial potting mix.

Feed

Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer monthly through spring and summer.

detailed care guide →

Ornamental Foliage

Containers

Features

This colorful rainforest plant is native to Brazil. In fact, its vibrant, patterned leaves look like they’re straight from a Carnival dancer’s costume! Like other species of Calathea, the leaves of the rattlesnake plant are held horizontally on the plant during the day and then gradually lift into a vertical position for the night.

Uses

Perfect for all kinds of containers. Very decorative on a small table or in a hanging basket. Loves humidity; a good choice for a bathroom with a window. Can be grown outdoors in the summer in shaded locations.

Rattlesnake Plant (Calathea lancifolia) Care Guide

Start with a good quality, commercial potting soil. These are usually lighter in weight than topsoil, sterile and pest-free. Many are available with a mild starter fertilizer in the mix.

Select a container with a drainage hole or be prepared to drill holes for drainage if there are none.

Prepare the container by filling with potting soil up to 2” (5cm) from the rim of the planter. Remove the plant from its pot.

Make a small hole in the soil slightly larger than the root ball either by hand or using a trowel. Insert the plant into the hole and press soil firmly around the roots and just covering the root ball. When all the plants are potted, water thoroughly to settle the soil and give plants a good start. Place plant in a reliably sunny location.

Repot every 2 years in the same container or in a container slightly larger than the diameter of the roots.

Prefers moist but well-drained soil. Check the soil moisture with your finger. If the top 2-4” (5-10cm) of soil is dry, or plants are wilted, it is time to water.

Apply water at the soil level if possible to avoid wetting the foliage. Water the entire soil area until water runs out the base of the pot. This indicates that the soil is thoroughly wet.

Most container plants can be pruned freely to maintain the desired size and shape. Keeping the foliage trimmed also keeps the plants looking neat and tidy, encourages the plant to develop more side-shoots and flowers, and reduces the demand for the plant to develop a larger root system. This is important since the roots are in a confined space.

Fertilizers are available in many forms: granulated, slow-release, liquid feeds, organic or synthetic. Determine which application method is best for the situation and select a product with a nutritional balance designed for foliage plants.

Too much fertilizer can damage plants so it’s important to follow the package directions to determine how much, and how often, to feed plants.

Slow-release fertilizers are an especially good, care-free choice for container plants. A single application can often provide plants with the proper level of nutrition all season long.

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Rattlesnake Plant (Calathea lancifolia)

Plant Details