How to keep Ctenanthe Plants both indoors and outdoors

Overview

This native of the tropical rainforests from Marantaceae flowering plants Ctenanthe is an evergreen plant with longevity of many years. These plants are widely cultivated as impressive decorative ones out of their aboriginal habitat due to their multi-colored leaves. Coming from tropical woods, they need warmth and humidity. The bare minimum of cold temperatures would be 13°C. Never cultivate in containers and move them outdoors while it's still the risk of frosty weather. They must be placed indoors during the fall and winter seasons.

Characteristics

Ctenanthe plant rises to 2 meters, extending horizontally, up to 12-18 inches in height. They grow long oval-shaped foliage up to 40 centimeters long with stunning silver prints. The precise dimensions of the plant will mostly depend on the size of the pot. That's where it gets limited to the plant's optimal root blossoming. Generally, a dark maroon color will expand underneath the leaves for added coloration and consistency. This easy-to-maintain plant might require some pruning from time to time because of its size and colors.

Light Requirements  

One of the specific things to consider when building a plant's environment is its perfect conditions. To get close to a rainforest ecosystem for a beautiful grown-up Ctenanthe plant, first, you should place its pot where it can have bright but indirect sunlight. Inaccurate lighting can cause greenery issues. Without a stable and consistent basis of indirect but bright sunlight, the foliage shades would change by negatively impacting the attractiveness for which the plant is most widely appreciated. Otherwise, exposing Ctenanthe to excessive rays will cause fading and a dry plant.

Water Necessities

As a tropical plant, the Ctenanthe plants accept different soil moisture levels, yet it's essential never to tolerate the plant drainage at any moment. Moisture entirely as soon as you notice dry mud at the top surface. You must water the Ctenanthe plant until it fulfills all of the drainage holes in the pot. Overwatering can drive root corrosion, yet you can stop this ahead by observing the plant's conditions and the soil's moistness instead of following a watering plan. Ideally, it would help if you utilized filtered or rainwater.

Temperature Range

A Ctenanthe plant will endure and even blossom in cold weather. If you live in a region with a moderately cool climate, your plant will be all right for temperatures above 13°C. It undoubtedly adjusts to moderate indoor temperatures. Nevertheless, be careful to place your plant in a warm spot if hard frosts are around your residence. One night of harsh weather could induce irremediable damage.

Soil and fertilizer

The perfect jar for a Ctenanthe would be the one that allows well-draining to avoid overwatering the root area. It's highly advised to wait for at least six months to fertilize the plant if it has been re-potted recently. Anyhow, Ctenanthe plants demand water-soluble fertilizer every month moderated from the instructed strength.

Pests and diseases

Regardless of its beautiful colors, something else we genuinely adore about the Ctenanthe plant is its resistance to different illnesses and pests. Nevertheless, in the case of any bugs, or spider mites, it's the most suitable to treat any bugs as soon as they arise. You can evade typical fungus by upholding a standard optimal humidity level and never permitting the mud mixture to get soaked. The main changes to notice in your plant's health are curling leaves, brown tips, yellow plants, or the falling of the foliage. These might happen because of overheating, excess light, intense humidity, or lack of water.

Reproducing Ctenanthe  

The Ctenanthe is somewhat easy to multiply by splitting the adult plant. Babies from the grown plant might quickly evolve in spring, as that's the time when the Ctenanthe plant prospers.