Rattlesnake plant

You might have seen the Mile Marker boards that parents create for their children – they highlight things like the height, weight, likes, and dislikes of their child at various stages of life. We at Nick’s Garden Center think Plant Parents should have something like this for their Plant Babies as well! Our Plant Parent Chalkboard Photos and blogs will provide you with an overview of what each plant needs in order to “grow up” happy and healthy!

Rattlesnake plant (Calathea Lancifolia) is one of the many Calathea plants available. Like its cousins, Rattlesnake plant has long and low growing oval-shaped leaves with unique and attractive markings. The leaves of Rattlesnake Plant are bright green with dark green spots and have the purple underside that Calathea are known for. Unique to Rattlesnake Plant though are the wavy edges of the leaves that give the plant its trademark look. While it is known to flower, typically Calathea will not flower as an indoor houseplant. You can expect Rattlesnake Plant to grow to about 2 feet in a mounding shape, with most of that space being taken up horizontally.

Rattlesnake Plant is both pet safe and known to be an air-cleaning plant! It will want light that is medium to bright in intensity and is indirect. Use an African Violet soil (or similar) with Rattlesnake plant, and make sure your pot has good drainage. If you are set on a pot that does not have a drainage hole in the bottom, use a Moisture Meter to test the moisture level at the bottom of the pot before watering. Like most Calathea, Rattlesnake Plant will begin to droop if it’s in dire need of water, but it’s best to avoid reaching that point. In general, water Rattlesnake Plant when the soil on top is dry about once below the surface. Just give it a good soak until the water runs out of the bottom of the plant. Be sure to avoid letting the pot sit in a tray of water to avoid root rot. Rattlesnake Plant can be sensitive to fluoride and chlorine in tap water, so use water that has been left out for a few days (so that the chemicals evaporate), or use distilled or boiled and cooled water to give the plant a drink.

Rattlesnake Plant likes higher humidity habitats, so if you live in a dry climate, try different methods of adding humidity to the air near the plant such as placing a humidifier nearby, placing the pot on top of a tray full of pebbles and water, or keeping your Rattlesnake Plant in a well-lit bathroom. You will notice that Rattlesnake plant will fold up its leaves at night like other Calathea plants, and you may also notice brown tips on the plant occasionally. If you see brown around the edges, just try to get a little more humidity to the plant, and carefully trim away the brown places. Wipe the leaves down occasionally to help the leaves absorb as much light as possible, and to help keep the plant free of pests. Keep Rattlesnake Plant away from vents, doors, and windows where a sudden temperature change may occur, and try to keep it in temperatures that fall between 70 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Follow these tips and even our beginner Houseplant Parents should be able to enjoy healthy and vibrant Rattlesnake Plants in their spaces!

Happy Plant Parenting!