Medium Calathea Rattlesnake
The Rattlesnake calathea tropical evergreen perennial native to Brazil. This Calathea can be identified by its distinctive foliage: a deep green leaf grows with a wavy pattern along the edges and is variegated with shades of darker green hues. The undersides of the leaves are a beautiful purplish-red. Like other Calatheas, the Rattlesnake will fold up its leaves at night, and then "bloom" open to greet the sunshine, giving it the nickname “prayer plant.”
CALATHEA RATTLESNAKE CARE
LIGHT
The Rattlesnake Calathea loves light and should be kept near a bright window, but not in the way of the direct sunlight. These plants can be finicky, so you might experiment with different spots until you can make your Calathea happy. If you see brown spots or crispy edges to the leaves, move the plant to a place with less light.
WATER
These plants like moist soil, so water when you feel that the top inch or so of the soil is dry. They love humidity, so if you do not have a humidifier, you can put pebbles in a tray and place the pot on top. Any excess water in the soil will drain into the tray and keep the roots humid without adding too much moisture to the soil.
GROWTH HABITS
The Rattlesnake calathea can grow up to about 20 inches tall in the right conditions, and the plant is likely to go through a period of dormancy in winter. Propagation can be done through root division or by separating new shoots from the original pot.
