For the most part , care for plants is somewhat much the same . They need light , water , and solid food , and most of them will be dead happy in the already subsist conditions of your home . However , a Brobdingnagian section of plant species tends not to be so easy to care for , but their beautiful foliation is surd to defy ! Of course , we ’re speak aboutcalatheas . These strip , spotted , and elegant plant life are heavily want in the houseplant community of interests , but they are also well known for their irritability . While you might be able-bodied to ignore a ZZ plant for three months and it will be fine , a calathea will require a whole deal more attention and care . So before you go spend a lot of money on a rattler plant , let ’s go over what this plant needs .
What is the rattlesnake plant?
The rattler plant life , orCalathea lancifolia , is a beautiful plant native to the rain forest of Brazil . It gets its common name from the markings on its leaves , which resemble the markings on a rattlesnake ’s hindquarters . The leaves are light green with blue immature stripes and an eye - catching purple underside . In ideal condition , they can grow up to 30 column inch tall !
In their innate home ground , the rattlesnake flora produce small yellow flowers but very rarely grow those indoors .
Care tips for a rattlesnake plant
These are not beginner - well-disposed plants ; they have gamy expectation from their caretakers and need specific heat , light , and humidness levels that can be hard to accommodate . And while other plant will give you warnings that they ’re unhappy and give you time to adjust and help them out , the rattlesnake plant life will simply drop all its leaves . This can happen overnight without you even fuck something is wrong .
Water
It does n’t want to sit in piddle , but it wish its grease to stay moist . Do not allow this plant life dry out out for farsighted periods , or else it will drop leave at an alarming rate . you may help yourself out by sum up peat moss to its stain for add together moisture retention .
Light
The rattlesnake plant grows in the under - canopy of the rain forest , so it prefers filtered and dappled lighting . This mean it will be happy about six foot from a bright windowpane , but not on its windowsill . However , if you do n’t have another spot , a window could forge as long as you put drapes or something sheer between the sun and the plant .
Food
During the spring and summer , the rattlesnake plant will benefit from monthly feedings with a balanced fertilizer . Or you’re able to utilize a fertilizer designed for foliage - heavy plants to help boost the plant ’s foliage production and keep their existing leaves happy and healthy .
Temperature
Since it ’s used to those rainforest conditions , the rattlesnake industrial plant will want to persist between 65 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit . Anything lower than this for farsighted periods will cause the works to curl its leaves and in all likelihood die off . In addition to ardent temperatures , the rattlesnake industrial plant will need to avoid vents , ironic air , cold air , lack of ventilation , and sudden change in temperatures . These are all dangerous to the aliveness of a rattlesnake plant .
Humidity
While you ’re keeping the blank warm for this stripped calathea , you ’ll also want to keep the humidness gamy . Anything below 55 or even 60 percent humidness can make this plant to start browning at the tips and dying . you could combat this by aggroup it with other high humidity plants , come in the plant next to a humidifier , on a regular basis becloud the plant , or bringing it into the rain shower with you every solar day . If you have bright collateral Inner Light in a bathroom that ’s frequently used , that might be ideal for this rain forest baby .
Toxicity
Even though this plant is high criminal maintenance , it is not toxic to humans , cats , or dog . So you’re able to safely place this plant life within orbit of kids or positron emission tomography and not interest about them taking a bit . However , after all the hoops you ’ve jumped through to get this plant glad , you might not be so proud of about your cats ’ nibbling .
Additional care
You might remark your rattlesnake plant move a lot throughout 24 hours . This is because the plant is following the Dominicus and looking for the optimal light advantage . To avoid the flora growing in funny management , it ’s crucial to rotate it regularly .
If you ’re willing to put in the employment , or if you already have a adorable “ rainforest turning point ” in your household , the rattlesnake flora will not let down with its stunning leave-taking .
