Goeppertia insignis (akaCalathea insignis)
With its long leaves and striking pattern , rattlesnake plant should be an all-important member of your entreaty plant life collection .
What ? You do n’t have a supplication plant compendium ? What a feat of restraint !
While Iadmittedlylack such chasteness , I imagine it ’s a fair trade . Because of my zealousness for this family unit of flora , I have a group of beautiful Marantaceae plants , and my rattlesnake calatheas are some of my right-down favorites .
Photo by Kristina Hicks-Hamblin.
This is one snake that decidedly wo n’t burn you – but its beguiling foliagemightsteal your spirit !
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Whether you are add it to a collection of supplicant plants or if this is your first Marantaceae specimen , I ’ll share everything you require to know to grow and handle for this species .
Here ’s what we ’ll cover :
What You’ll Learn
While we ’ll be focusing on just one metal money for this clause , if you ’re interested in more general care counseling for prayer plants , be sure tocheck out our staring guide .
And just to ensure we ’re all on the same page , this clause is about the mintage normally used as a houseplant , and notEryngium yuccifolium .
This species plump by the plebeian name “ rattler master , ” and it is a deciduous perennial with thistle - like flush heads that grows natively in the Eastern and Midwestern United States .
The subject area of our clause may also be confused with rattler pep ( Calathea crotalifera)from the same category , the Marantaceae .
This is a coinage grown for its large , showy , yellow flowers , and whose large , ellipse - regulate , unripe leaves are not pattern . With this other calathea , the “ rattlesnake ” sobriquet touch to the rale bod of its inflorescence .
What Is a Rattlesnake Plant?
rattler plant is a tropical , evergreen , herbaceous perennial that has long , still , sheeny leaves , which are fishgig - shaped and have distinctive marking .
It ’s both the farseeing shape of the leaves and their pattern that give this calathea a reptilian allure .
The leafage are light gullible with a pattern of drab green splodge that alternate from large to small , locate between the mid - costa and the foliage margin . This form of non-white splotches chip in the magic trick of small leaflets .
slenderly wavy , specially at the margins , the leaves are also rim with dark park . They have purpleness to burgundy undersides , which are even more noticeable when the flora raises its leave after nightfall .
rattler calathea grows to be up to three feet tall by three feet wide and has a fountain - like growth substance abuse . It has no main stem ; instead , each single leaf leafstalk go forth from rhizome in the dirt .
novel leaves also emerge from rootstock , seethe up tightly , and show their purple undersurface as they slowly unfurl .
When plant produce flowers , these egress on curt stems at the base of the plant . They are white in color and intermediate - sized . However , flowering on specimens maturate indoors is uncommon .
Like its other prayer plant congener , one of the fascinating features of this specie is that it raises and frown its leaves to the rhythm of nightfall and sunrise .
At dark you ’ll notice more purple among your houseplant ’s foliation , as it lifts its leaves up vertically , revealing their undersurface .
In the morning time , you ’ll see this calathea gradually lower its leaves again to a more horizontal position , place its gullible rule in full view .
Cultivation and History
This species is a native to the State of Rio de Janeiro in southeast Brazil , where it grows in mottled shade in humid tropic forests as an understory works .
Goeppertia insignisis a extremity of theprayer industrial plant family or Marantaceae , and counts such beauties asStromanthe thalia‘Triostar,’zebra calathea , pinstripe industrial plant , peacock butterfly flora , andred - vein marantaamong its relatives .
Previously classified in theCalatheagenus , this species and most of its calathea relatives werereclassified taxonomicallyto a different genus , Goeppertia , in 2012 .
However , this metal money is still normally referred to asCalathea insignis . ItsGoeppertianomenclature has n’t quite caught on yet – either among home gardeners or in scientific circles !
Even before being reclassify , this specie was also sometimes referred to by an older classification , C. lancifolia . Some sources continue to utilise other sometime compartmentalisation includingG. lancifoliaandMaranta insignis .
Its metal money nameinsignismeans “ distinguished , ” while the genus nameGoeppertiahonors Heinrich Goeppert , a German botanist .
While this species is mainly known for its use as a houseplant , it can be grown outdoors year - orotund inUSDA Hardiness Zones10a to 12 .
you could also countG. insignisas one of thenontoxic houseplant optionsthat ’s suited for exercise in homes with pets or small children .
Propagation
Since calathea come are hard to origin and difficult to propagate , rattler calatheas are easily propagated through class .
Towards the oddment of winter or in former spring , you ’ll probably notice novel leave unfurling from your flora . This is a desirable time to undertake propagation .
audit the stems of your calathea – if you may make out several different clump , you may divide your specimen into several different plants . You may also acknowledge an outgrowth coming up and away from the main glob of stems .
First decide how many class you want to make from your parent plant , but seek to check that that each division has at least three leaves on it .
foregather your repotting supply , including clean pots , get medium , and a sharp knife or span of pruners – make indisputable they are sterilize .
softly work aside the different bunch from each other , using your knife or pair of scissors if want , and then repot the ball as indicate in the repotting department below . Keep study to find out more .
How to Grow Rattlesnake Plants
While rattler calathea is n’t exactly a broken - upkeep plant , it ’s not laborious to keep it happy if you provide it with its basic care requirements :
Choosing a Plant
The first step to succeeder in your calathea acquire risky venture is to take a healthy specimen .
Avoid droop plants or those with yellowing or brown leaves .
Also , front for signs of disease and pest infestation , and securely reject any such specimen – unless , of course , you have a warm urge to be a houseplant rehabilitator , as well as an region where you’re able to quarantine the specimen until it is in full health .
You ’ll learn more about checking for pest and signal of disease by and by in this clause .
Light
A native of suspicious tropical woods , rattlesnake calathea does best in average , indirect Light Within .
This houseplant will tolerate a small amount of direct sun early in the morning , but avoid direct midday or afternoon Lord’s Day .
If exposed to too much direct sun , its leaves jeopardy being scorched , and they may turn a loss their striking patterns as well .
This species can conform to low-down , indirect light , but will grow more slowly in such conditions .
Temperature
G. insignisprefers a moderate temperature without any extremum . For best resultant , keep this species in a temperature range between 65 and 75 ° F .
locate it in a location where it will be spar from both cold draught , such as what you ’ll find near windowpane and exterior threshold , and hot strain , such as near fundamental heating plant air outlet .
This prayer plant is not as large-minded of high heat temperature as some of its relatives .
If you must discover your houseplant to excessively raging consideration during summer , urine it more frequently and move it to the shadiest side of your family to keep it cool .
Water
Like its congeneric , G. insignisbenefits from regular tearing , and prefers to have moist – but not soggy – soil .
Be certain to use rainwater , distilled water , or filtered water since this species does n’t tolerate impurities such as fluoride that can be found in tap water .
When watering , remove your houseplant from its ornamental pot and place it in a bowl , sink , or bathtub . Water the surface of its soil evenly – this will be easier with awatering can adapted for houseplants .
Water until liquid run from the bottom of the potty . I care to repeat this process twice during my weekly watering routine .
get the pot drain thoroughly before fall it to its ornamental potbelly or discus .
You might also want to try thebottom tearing methodwith this houseplant .
Humidity
Like its orison works relatives , G. insignisprefers humid growing circumstance , with a relative humidity of at least 50 per centum .
If you live in a humid climate , you may not need to take any further measures to provide this plant with the moist zephyr it prefer .
However , if you heat your habitation in winter , or live in a more desiccate climate , there are many ways you may increase the proportional humidity for your specimen .
One method is to place your calathea on a humidness tray .
you could make your own humidness tray by filling a dish with pebble and water , and allow the houseplant to model on the pebbles , above the water spirit level – just be careful to quash letting the plant wick up water through its great deal .
7 ” x 9 ” Humidity Tray with Polished Pebbles
If this DIY method is n’t at the top of your to - do list , you could purchase a ready - made humidity tray that comes with pebble , such as this seven - by - nine - column inch modelavailable for purchase from 9GreenBox via Amazon .
Another option for increase relative humidity for your calathea is to group it with other houseplants to make a more humid microclimate .
In addition to pigeonholing houseplants , small specimens can be placed insideterrariums , such as this mini nursery from Ikea , available via Amazon .
Ikea Mini Greenhouse
Finally , if your specimen is too large to place in a terrarium ormini - nursery , you might also view using a humidifier near your calathea to help moisturize the gentle wind .
Providing adequate humidity will go a long way toward preclude brown leaf tips or edge on your calathea .
While a lack of sufficient humidity is probably the most common rationality for chocolate-brown tips , there are other causes as well . you could see about thetop reasons for brown leaf on prayer industrial plant in our article .
Soil
One of the trickiest face of grow entreaty plant is find a really good pot metier .
By now you eff thatG. insignislikes to have dampish ground , and what ’s commonly recommended to ensure such moist soil is a peaty grow medium . But there ’s a caveat – prayer plants also want good drainage .
In add-on to these requirements , it ’s good if this houseplant ’s growing medium doesnotcontain perlite in parliamentary procedure to avoid exposure to fluoride , which can induce tip sunburn .
And as far as pH move , this specie is reasonably flexile and can grow in soil that is slenderly acidic to more or less alkaline , or in other words , in grime with a pH rate between 6.1 and 7.3 .
enquiry also showsthat compost , biochar , and humic acid all kick in to salutary growth for this particular species .
Combining these various requirements and retainer , thepeat - freecalathea potting medium I reach for is one part Cocos nucifera coir and one part De La Tank ’s Houseplant Soil Mix for houseplants .
The coconut coir provides the peaty pee memory , while De La Tank ’s Houseplant Soil Mix brings with it good drain from pumice stone and chunky coconut shuck , as well as compost , biochar , and humic window pane , all of which will help this species flourish .
De La Tank ’s Soil Mix
you may feel De La Tank ’s Soil Mix in one- , eight- , or 16 - dry quart bagsfrom Tank ’s Green Stuff via Arbico Organics .
As for thecoconut coir(also get laid as cocopeat ) , grease one’s palms this mathematical product in a compressed shape make it more effective to stash away and keep on hired hand for various gardening uses .
10 - lb Prococo Compressed Coconut Coir Block
I like this 10 - pound block of compressed coconut coir from Prococo , alsoavailable via Arbico Organics .
Growing Tips
Pruning and Maintenance
Rattlesnake calatheas do n’t necessitate much additional maintenance once their basic requirements are met . However , here are a few other tips that will facilitate keep your houseplant happy and healthy :
Pruning
Despite our good efforts , prayer plant likeG. insignisare prone to browning leaf tips and edges . If you incur these unsightly , you may trim them off .
Any leaves that go brown due to overleap lacrimation wo n’t ever recover their gullible hue , though new I will come forth calculate fresh and immature as long as any disuse is remedied .
To crop any undesirable leaf , first sterilise a pair of scissors grip or garden snipping by pass over them down with rubbing alcoholic drink or hydrogen peroxide .
cut back the brown part , or if a whole leafage necessitate to be removed , make your cut as far down the foliage stem as possible .
Fertilizing
When fertilise prayer plants , check that to take a blue-blooded approach .
I habituate worm compost teatime for mine . If you do n’t yet have avermicompostbin set up in your home , you could purchase worm compost teatime bags from theEarthworm Technologies Store , via Amazon .
Teadrops All Purpose Houseplant Fertilizer
These sachet are overcharge in room - temperature water , and then serve up as a plant food to your houseplant at watering time . Be trusted to watch the manufacturer ’s educational activity .
Cleaning Leaves
When you water your houseplant , take reward of this moment to give your calathea ’s leafage a light cleaning .
you could accomplish this with just a newspaper towel or clean rag and some water .
muffle the paper towel , then pass over down the tops and nates of each foliage .
This will assist to take away any dust that has build up on your houseplant ’s foliage and keep it not just expect great , but feeling healthy as well , since detritus can clog up a industrial plant ’s stomata .
Repotting
Since calatheas are slow - spring up , they do n’t need to be repotted very frequently – every two or three years should run in most cases .
But rather than schedule a hard date with your purse of pot land and hold fast to it , observe your calathea and letittellyouwhen it need to be repotted .
If you have to water two or three times a week to keep it from drying out , then it ’s probably time to undertake this chore !
Beyond that , the upright time to repot is in spring when you see new ontogeny on your calathea .
Another good tip is to wait until the day after you ’ve irrigate your houseplant .
When it seems that it is indeed time to transition your houseplant to a novel container , gather your repotting supplies .
You ’ll need a pot that ’s just one size larger than your current pot , pot sensitive , and a work surface you do n’t mind catch a little marked-up – I like to utilise a cookie weather sheet .
Remove the plant from its pot and scratch your hand along the edge of the soil to loosen up its roots .
Place a little stain in the bottom of the newfangled mountain . fix your plant in its young passel , adjusting the amount of soil in the bottom of the corporation if needed , so you leave just half an in to an inch of space between the top of the soil and the rim of the pot .
Fill in with pot medium , take aid not to comprehend the crest of the plant ( the part where its stems emerge from the soil ) . Tap the pot gently on the work open to subside in the soil , and add together more growing culture medium if needed .
Water in your newly repotted houseplant and render it to its usual fix .
Where to Buy Rattlesnake Plants
Rattlesnake calatheas are tardily - grow plant , so when you ’re quick to add one to your houseplant collection , pick out a size that you will be well-chosen with for a while .
Small
If you ’re planning to keep your houseplant in a terrarium , choose a small specimen in a three- or four - in lot .
Live Starter Rattlesnake Plant in 4 ” Pot
You ’ll find a small starterC. insignisavailable for leverage in a four - inch potfrom Hirt ’s Gardens , via Amazon .
Medium
If you ’d like your calathea fellow traveler to make a prissy presence on a side board next to your sofa or at your workstation , a medium - sized specimen will work well , so take care for one in a six - inch good deal .
Live Mid - Sized Rattlesnake Calathea
A live plant in a six - column inch pot can be find for purchasefrom Fast Growing Trees .
Large
If you are looking for a calathea bombastic enough to hold its own as a floor specimen , look for one in an eight - inch pot .
Live Mature Rattlesnake Plant in 8”-Pot
you could buy a fledged , live flora in an eight - inch potfrom the Wekiva Foliage via Amazon .
Managing Pests and Disease
rattler calathea is cushy when it comes to pests and diseases – this species is n’t peculiarly prone to such problems .
However , here ’s what you ’ll require to look for , peculiarly when welcoming a new plant into your home :
Insects
If you have recently purchase a unexampled specimen or have summered your houseplants out of doors , keep a lookout man for these pests :
You ’ll in all probability tell apart a mealybug trouble from across the room . The difficulty is , you may not cognize you ’re visualize a pest outlet unless you know what to look for .
Mealybugs look like lilliputian bits of white blur . They tend to congregate on plant life stem and on the undersides of farewell .
These pests will latch onto your houseplant and suck away worthful nutrient , leaving the industrial plant ill-fed . make matters worse , mealybugs exit deposits of honeydew melon on the flora , which can lead to fungous problems .
There are many option when dealing with an infestation of mealybugs . Be sure to readour article on mealybugs to learn how to control and extirpate these pests .
Like mealy bug , scale insects can be hard to discern .
What should you await for ? Small , smooth , round or oval - shaped dots on your calathea ’s root or the undersides of their leaf . weighing machine insect are often dark-brown , but can also be black , tan , beige , or green in color .
Like mealybugs , scale insects blow nutrients from the industrial plant and forget a rest of honeydew behind , lift the risk of fungal infection .
To learn more about identifying and controlling these pest , read our clause on musical scale insects .
wanderer touch are so tiny that it can be easy to drop a problem until there ’s a terrible infestation .
These lilliputian arachnid can get stippling as they suck nutrients from leaves , and will eventually shroud your houseplant in webbing .
Read our guide to spider mitesto memorize how to inspect for and hold in these pests .
Disease
Disease in calatheas is uncommon and well-fixed to forestall . Here ’s what you postulate to recognize :
Cucumber mosaic virus is a viral pathogen that can induce a sensationalistic mosaic design on your houseplant ’s leaves .
Since there ’s no treatment for this disease , bar is your best strategy . To prevent introducing pathogens , ensure to wash your script between treat different specimens , and sanitize your tools .
If your houseplant does succumb to this disease , the upright tidings is that the damage is only enhancive .
However , to keep banquet to other houseplants in your collection , the safest recourse is to destroy the septic specimen .
Have you noticed any brown or tan lesions on the leaves of your calathea , accompany by yellow halos ? If so , Helminthosporium leafage bit may be to fault .
This disease is stimulate by various fungous organisms that thrive in blotto conditions and mild temperature .
Prevention is the best route , so avoid wetting your calathea ’s leaf while watering , especially on cool days .
Once bar is no longer an option , infection can be controlled with fungicides , such as the innate , atoxic fungicide neem rock oil .
TheraNeem Neem oil colour
I recommend TheraNeem steel , usable for purchasefrom Organix South via Amazonin 16 - troy ounce feeding bottle .
check that to take after the manufacturer ’s education when enforce this mathematical product .
If your calathea has chicken leaves or is wilting despite having squiffy soil , root decomposition may be to blame .
Root rot is associated with soilborne kingdom Fungi , which thrive in wet , soggy condition .
This meansroot bunkum is preventablewith good watering hygienics : do n’t let your houseplant sit in a saucer of water , ensure it ’s pot in an appropriately - sized container , and ensure that there is good drainage .
For in effect drainage you ’ll ask both hole in the bottom of the pot and a well - draining growing medium , such as the one recommend in the grime section of this article above .
If root rot seems to be the cause of your houseplant ’s problem , identify the cause so you may prevent recurrence .
You may need to repot your works into a modest glasshouse pot , change its acquire medium , or rein in your watering number .
While pest and disease problems can do your calathea to develop yellowing leaves , there are other causes for this discolouration – take our article tolearn how to troubleshoot yellow leaf on prayer plants .
Best Uses
Rattlesnake calathea can be used as an ornamental houseplant where you want to draw attention to its attractively patterned foliation .
It can work well as a focal point , or grouped with other foliage houseplant in need of some line .
This metal money will also work well for interiorscaping , the type of indoor landscape gardening used in office buildings or other public spaces .
But its United States of America do n’t end with its good looking !
Since it is consider nontoxic , it can also be used in homes or other space where there are children or peculiar ducky present .
In area with inhuman winters , this houseplant should be bestow indoors for the winter , but in USDA Hardiness Zone 10a and up it can live outdoors year - circle in a placement with dappled subtlety .
Quick Reference Growing Guide
This Snake Is All Blade and No Bite
While this houseplant is completely benign , you may , nevertheless , find yourself sting with desire for this enchanting calathea !
No counterpoison is necessitate , you now have all the knowledge you ’ll need to keep your houseplant happy and healthy .
If you ’re interested in add up other nontoxichouseplantsto your collecting , we ’ve got more for you right here :
Photos by Kristina Hicks - Hamblin © Ask the Experts , LLC . ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.See our TOSfor more details . in the first place published February 17th , 2022 . Last updated May 7th , 2023 . Product photos via 9GreenBox , the American Plant Exchange , Hirt ’s Gardens , the Earthworm Technologies Store , Ikea , TheraNeem , Prococo , Tank ’s Green Stuff , and Wekiva Foliage . Uncredited photos : Shutterstock .
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Kristina Hicks - Hamblin
