Surely have you seen the Ctenanthe burle marxii and have you thought about the prayer plant; or in calatheas and marantas. But the truth is that it really isn’t. It is related to them, of course, since it belongs to the Marantaceae.
However, we can already tell you that it is not exactly one of them, but a close relative. Even so, it is still one of the most beautiful and striking plants, curious for its mobile leaves and similar in appearance to the others (but with other care and needs). Do you want us to talk about them?
What is Ctenanthe burle marxii like?
We are going to start by talking about the Ctenanthe burle marxii because of its origin. This plant Its natural habitat is Central America and South America. Specifically, in tropical areas because, like a good maranta, it needs moisture to live well. In addition to its name, Ctenanthe burle marxii is also known by more “common” ones, such as: Fishbone, Calathea Burle Marx or Maranta Fishbone.
Physically, it is a plant that It grows at most about 40 centimeters. Once it reaches them, it fills with buds and spreads wide. The leaves are oval, long and green with a pattern that simulates the spine of a fish, hence it receives that curious name.
These leaves are, from behind, that is, on the underside, reddish in color, and one of the characteristics for which it is confused with a maranta or calathea is the fact that it moves its leaves. That is, in the morning it opens them and at night, with the lack of light, it closes them.
However, yes there is a difference between Ctenanthe burle marxii and a “real” maranta or calathea. It has to do with the pattern of the leaves. On the one hand, you will see that this pattern is not the usual one in a maranta or calathea; on the other, the leaves are not the same either, because they are much longer and oval than those of the true ones. Even so, it is still a very nice plant to have at home, especially because it oxygenates and improves the humidity of the room where you place it.
Something that is not usually seen in the Ctenanthe burle marxii and that nevertheless occurs in its habitat is flowering. Although at home it is very difficult for us to see it, in its ideal environment it does bloom with spikes full of white flowers. If at any time she does it at home, she will be indicating that the care you provide is the most appropriate for her.
Ctenanthe burle marxii care
And speaking of care, do you know what you have to worry about so that the Ctenanthe burle marxii is happy? We have to tell you that it is not a plant that you have to be very aware of. In fact, once you meet all the requirements you can forget about it a little and just take a look at it from time to time. Here we leave you indications of everything.
Location and lighting
When you buy a Ctenanthe burle marxii, the first thing you should think about is where you are going to place it. It is not a plant that tolerates direct sun, but it does not like shade either. In fact, its ideal place would be semi-shade because, if it is in the sun, the leaves will burn; and if it is in the shade, it will not perform photosynthesis well and will suffer.
Therefore, locate it in an area that is very well lit but without direct sun (it can tolerate a little sun early or late in the morning, as long as it is not very intense).
Temperature
As for the temperature, you should know that it usually adapts to everything. But it is true that it has a slight problem with frost. In winter, when the temperature drops below 10 degrees, the plant begins to suffer. Your ideal would be between 15 and 25 degrees Celsius.
The heat does support it better, although you must bear in mind that when that happens the environment dries out more and needs an extra supply of moisture to keep its leaves intact (with the heat the leaves will wrinkle, turn black and appear completely dry) .
Substratum
Ctenanthe burle marxii is a plant that loves loose, well-drained soil. For this reason, it is recommended that you choose a soil that has a pH of 6 and that it be mixed with perlite or simulated, almost almost 50% of both. Thus the roots will have good air circulation and will be able to develop much more easily.
Irrigation
The irrigation of the Ctenanthe burle marxii must be moderate. But you don’t have to go too far. In fact, it is preferable to provide it with good constant humidity than to water it. It is best to check the land. If by sticking your finger in it you notice that it is wet, you should not water it. Only when you notice that it is dry. Another option is to see the leaves, since these tend to bend down when they lack water.
Usually, irrigation will depend on the climate you have and the temperature. But more or less, in summer, you will have to water it 2-3 times a week and in winter, once every 10-15 days might be enough.
Now, humidity is important and you have to control that the environment in which the plant is is like that. To do this, you can group it with other plants that require humidity, put it on a plate with pebbles or perlite, or place a humidifier next to it to provide it with the humidity it needs.
Subscriber
The Ctenanthe burle marxii needs a subscriber at least 1-2 times a month in its growth period, from spring to summer. It is advisable to add a little less than the dose recommended by the manufacturer. And the results you will get will be quite good.
Plagues and diseases
One of the most common, and the one that can cause you to lose your plant, are the mealybugs. It is perhaps the plague that will affect you the most. But if you clean the leaves often and maintain good humidity, lighting and watering they should not appear.
As for diseases, the normal thing is that you have problems with excess or lack of irrigation, and with lack or excess of light. Controlling these factors should not develop any problems.
Multiplication
To reproduce your Ctenanthe burle marxii the best thing you can do is divide the kill It is normally made up of bulbs that reproduce among themselves in such a way that if you divide them you will have several plants in a short time (it is fast growing).
As you can see, the Ctenanthe burle marxii is a very easy plant to care for and maintain. Do you have it at home or do you dare to include it in your plant collection?
