Taking care of the rattlesnake plants can be difficult, especially for new plant parents. However, if you follow some important tips for proper rattlesnake calathea care, you will be able properly to grow the plant and get a captivating display in your home. Rattlesnake calathea is majorly found in the rainforests of Brazil and can grow up to 30 inches tall. Moreover, the leaves of rattlesnake calathea have varying shades of green and wavy pattern that makes them highly attractive.
Keep reading this article to learn all about rattlesnake calathea care.
Rattlesnake Plant Care
First of all, it is important to note if you have just started keeping houseplants, you should not choose rattlesnake plants as your first houseplant. Rattlesnake calathea has some unique and specific requirements in terms of sunlight, heat, and hydration needed for their optimum growth. Nevertheless, the entire rattlesnake calathea care is a fulfilling experience due to the end result in the form of beautiful leaves.
Generally, people assume that rattlesnake calathea is an outdoor plant because it is seen growing in locations like California, Florida, and Hawaii. However, the optimum growth conditions for this plant can easily be achieved by following these tips:
Sunlight Requirements
The most suitable light for rattlesnake calathea is filtered light. It simply means you should keep the rattlesnake calathea plant in a window that does not have excessive afternoon sunlight, or you can diffuse the light with drapes. Similarly, you can also utilize a bright spot in a well-lit room away from direct sunlight for optimum growth.
Soil
A soil that can be drained well is suitable for rattlesnake calathea because they have to be kept moist but without any standing water. Generally, a light sandy soil or a suitable potting mix of two parts peat moss and one part perlite is perfect for growing rattlesnake calathea. These plants also have good growth in slightly acidic or neutral pH levels, but you should avoid alkaline soils.
Hydration
The summer period is the growing season for rattlesnake calathea. As a result, it has to be watered quite frequently during the summer to ensure the soil is kept moist and hydrated. On the other hand, during the winter period, you should let the top layer of the soil get dried before watering it again.
Keep in mind that the rattlesnake plants do not tolerate waterlogged conditions, so if you are seeing yellow color in the leaves, it means you might be overwatering the plant. On the other hand, if the leaves are curling in an unattractive manner, the plant might not be getting enough water. The best way to keep the rattlesnake calathea hydrated is to ensure frequent small watering instead of deep irrigation.
Temperature
The location of the rattlesnake plant can make a huge difference in the overall growth and health of the plant because it impacts the temperature and sunlight requirements. The best temperature for rattlesnake calathea is 60 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. If the plant is exposed to lower temperatures for a long period of time, it can result in wilting and brown leaves.
Other sudden fluctuations in temperatures, lack of proper ventilation, and cool and dry air can also adversely impact the growth of the plant. Therefore, you should always keep the rattlesnake plants away from heating and air conditioning systems.
You can easily create the best humidity conditions by standing the potted plant on a tray of pebbles to ensure the water draining through the pot remains there. Regular misting of the plants is also useful in creating the best moist conditions. If you have multiple houseplants, you should consider investing in a good humidifier.
Fertilizer
As part of the rattlesnake calathea care, you should provide fertilizer to it every month during the spring and summer because these are the optimum growth seasons. A well-balanced liquid fertilizer is suitable to ensure healthy foliage development and full growth of the plant.
Propagation
Rattlesnake plants are easy to propagate. You should water the plant one day before propagation and repotting that you should perform during the spring. Make sure you use sterilized equipment during this process to avoid any threats from pests like aphids, spider mites, and others.
Conclusion
By following these tips of rattlesnake calathea care, you will be in a very good position to properly grow the plant and get beautiful leaves. However, there are still some things that can go wrong, so you should always look out for common issues like leaves discoloration, rotting stems, and pests attacking the plant to ensure you are taking care of the plant properly.
