How to Care for Calathea Rattlesnake
One look at the leaves and you’ll understand why the plant gets its name.Calathea Rattlesnake is a stunning indoor plant known for its unique foliage. The distinct snake-skin patterns on the foliage give the plant the name Calathea Rattlesnake. It also goes by the name Calathea Lancifolia.
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Rattlesnake Plant Care Guide
The Calathea Rattlesnake can be dramatic at times especially when its watering and sunlight requirements are not met. So, it might appear slightly challenging for a complete houseplant beginner. However, if you have some experience in nurturing houseplants, the Calathea Rattlesnake is easy to understand and care for.
The Calathea Rattlesnake is non-toxic both to pets and humans. Moreover, this is an air-purifying plant. So, it makes a wonderful choice for households with pets. Read on to understand how to take good care of your Calathea Rattlesnake plant.
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How to Grow (Propagate) a Calathea Rattlesnake Plant
Calathea Rattlesnake is easy to propagate. If the Calathea Rattlesnake gets too bushy and big for the pot, it needs to be repotted. And when you repot the plant you can make sections of the root ball and place them in individual pots to propagate the plant.
Maximum growth in the Calathea Rattlesnake occurs during summer and that’s when the plant needs to be fertilised; every month. It does not need any fertiliser during winter.
In addition, keep in account the following:
1. Sprinkle the Sparkling Water
In general, a Calathea Rattlesnake placed at room temperature needs to be watered only once or twice a week. Vary the watering frequency based on the weather conditions and growth rate too. During summer, the topsoil gets dry quickly and the plant might also be growing in full swing. So, check the soil regularly and water the plant more often. But during winter, you can reduce the watering frequency because overwatering is bad for the plant.
The Calathea Rattlesnake plant loves humidity. So, try to place the plant in a room with moderate to high humidity levels. When the air gets dry, to prevent the leaves from losing their shine, you can place bowls of water near the plant or mist them occasionally.
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2. Map the Temperature
The Calathea Rattlesnake loves moderate to warm temperatures. The ideal temperature range suitable for the plant is 18 degrees to 30 degrees Celsius. Sudden temperature changes and cold blasts of air can both be harmful to the plant.
How Much Sunlight Does Calathea Rattlesnake Need?
Calathea Rattlesnake does well in filtered sunlight near a window. The plant originates from a rainforest habitat where it only gets partial sunlight trickling through the tree cover above. Mimicking similar conditions try to place the plant in a room where it gets medium to bright light. Low light can cause the leaves to look dull and you might not notice the signature bright colours that the plant is known for. At the same time, too much sunlight and direct sunlight exposure can burn the leaves. So, if the window by which you have placed the plant gets direct sunlight for a long time you can always add sheer curtains to soften the light and protect the leaves.
How big does Calathea Rattlesnake get?
The Calathea Rattlesnake are known for their slow growth rate. But when well-cared for, the plant can reach a height of about 2 feet to 2.5 feet.
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Concluding Note
The different shades of green on the top of the leaves alternating with the deep purple undersides can quickly breathe life into any room. There is no point denying, Calathea Rattlesnake is surely not a very beginner-friendly plant but once you get a hang of the ambient conditions it requires, it is very rewarding. Get yours here.
FAQs
Q1. How often should you water Calathea Rattlesnake?
Ans. As the winter approaches, you can consider reducing the watering frequency, however, check the soil regularly and water the plant more often.
Q2. Is Calathea Rattlesnake easy to care for?
Ans. Yes, Calathea Rattlesnake is easy to understand and care for if you have some experience in nurturing houseplants.
Q3. What temperature range can Calathea Rattlesnake tolerate?
Ans. The ideal temperature range suitable for the plant is 18 degrees to 30 degrees Celsius.
Q4. What should you do if Calathea Rattlesnake's leaves are turning yellow?
Ans. Yellow leaves can instantly dampen the looks of your Calathea Rattlesnake. This can be a sign of overwatering. When this happens, increase the distance between waterings. Or if the problem is with poor drainage in the pot, change the pot.
Q5. What should you do if Calathea Rattlesnake's leaves are drooping?
Ans. Calathea Rattlesnake belongs to the prayer plant variety. Like all prayer plants, this one can show quite drastic curling of the leaves at night with the leaves springing back to life in the morning. But if you notice the leaves drooping it’s an easy sign of underwatering. Keeping the soil moist and maintaining good drainage in the pot can prevent this.
Q6. What should you do if Calathea Rattlesnake's leaves have dry tips?
Ans. Brown leaf tips on the Calathea Rattlesnake are often due to low humidity levels in the room where you have placed the plant. Misting, placing a humidifier, and other ideas that restore the humidity levels in the air help the plant.
Q7. Is Calathea Rattlesnake safe for pets?
Ans. This is an air-purifying plant. The Calathea Rattlesnake is non-toxic both to pets and humans.
