Rattlesnake Plant Care Guide – Calathea Lancifolia

The Rattlesnake plant is a beautiful tropical plant. Its botanical name is Goeppertia insignis, previously Calathea lancifolia.

The long oval leaves have wavy edges, a dark green pattern, and deep purple undersides.

The Calathea rattlesnake plant moves during the day. As a prayer plant, its leaves open in the morning, and, as a response to changes in sunlight, fold and point up at night like praying hands.

Want to buy a Rattlesnake Calathea lancifolia? Check out the plant growers that have them for sale on Amazon! 

Indoor Rattlesnake Plant Care

The Calathea lancifolia is native to the jungles of Brazil. It is not the easiest plant to grow indoors. These are not your best choice if you prefer low-maintenance plants. Rattlesnake prayer-plants can be a bit fussy and don’t like to be neglected.

Prayer plants belong to the Marantaceae family, which includes, amongst others, the Maranta, Calathea, Stromanthe, and Ctenanthe plants. These are all different types of plant species but are closely related and require mostly similar care.

Need a plant care refresher? Check out the Beginners Guide to Houseplant Care.

Rattlesnake Plant Light Requirements

In the rainforests of South America, the rattlesnake plant grows in dappled or shaded light under the canopies of tall trees. Indoors, place your rattlesnake Calathea where it gets low to medium bright, indirect light.

Don’t put your plant in complete shade, it needs some light to open its leaves during the day.

At the same time, avoid too much direct sunlight. If the light is too strong, it can fade and burn the leaves. Brown, crispy spots on the leaves can be a sign of sunburn.

Watering

Water your Calathea rattlesnake plant regularly to keep the soil damp, but never completely saturated. Soggy soil will drown and rot the roots. You want the soil to feel like a well-wrung-out sponge. 

In fall and winter, when growth slows down, your plant needs less water. Wait until the surface of the soil is dry, but make sure to not let the soil dry out completely.

Having a good watering regime is crucial in keeping your rattlesnake prayer plant happy and healthy. If you are uncertain you can use a moisture meter to tell if it’s time to water. Extended periods of dryness can result in drooping leaves and brown tips or edges.

Related reading: How to use a plant moisture meter.

When to Fertilize?

Begin a regular fertilizing schedule in early spring. Use a diluted liquid fertilizer once every two to three weeks throughout the growing season.

Be sure the soil is damp before fertilizing and don’t fertilize in winter.  

Also never fertilize if your plant is recently repotted or is having issues. Fertilizer is not a plant medicine. It will only stress out an already stressed-out plant. Analyze, adjust, and when your plant recovers, continue your normal care routine.  

Humidity

Like many tropical plants, the rattlesnake plant is used to a very humid environment. Brown, crispy leaf tips indicate that your plant needs more humidity. 

Keeping the humidity high is especially important in winter when the heaters go on and the air indoors is usually drier.

Regularly mist the leaves of your plant, put your plant on a humidity tray, or place a humidifier nearby.

A good place for an indoor rattlesnake plant is in a bathroom or kitchen with a bright window. The steam from the shower or cooking will provide the humidity it loves. 

When to Repot

Every two to three years repot in spring when the plant is actively growing. The soil will have lost its nutrients and will need to be replaced with fresh well-draining potting soil. Pumice or perlite can be added to help aerate the soil and improve drainage.   

If your rattlesnake plant has outgrown its pot, repot it in a pot one size bigger than the original. Too large of a pot will keep the soil wet for too long for the roots to absorb.  

As with all planter pots, make sure yours has drainage holes on the bottom. If yours doesn’t, use it as an outer cache pot and place a planter with drainage inside it.

In need of a repotting reminder? Follow the steps on how to repot your plants.    

Rattlesnake Plant Propagation

Calathea rattlesnake plants are easily propagated by water propagating stem cuttings. Cut a stem right below a node and place the cuttings in water until roots develop.

Another super simple way to propagate prayer plants is by division.

Remove the soil from the roots and divide your plant into two or more smaller parts. Gently pull sections apart, making sure each has a portion of the roots attached. Repot the parts in separate, smaller containers.  

Want to learn more about plant propagation? Read the complete guide explaining the 6 different ways to propagate all your plants. 

Why are the Rattlesnake Plant Leaves Curling?

Curling leaves are a common problem. It usually means that the plant is thirsty. If you haven’t watered your plant in a while, water it. It will quickly recover once it had a thorough drink. 

Leaves also tend to curl if the humidity is too low or if the plant is getting too much light. Increase humidity and, or move away from the light.

Yellow Leaves

It is normal for older, lower leaves to yellow. But if more leaves turn yellow at once, it most often indicates the rattlesnake plant has been overwatered and/or overfertilized.

Why are the Leaves Not Moving Up and Down?

If the leaves of your rattlesnake prayer plant are not pointing up at night, it is probably getting too much light. There needs to be a noticeable difference in light and dark for the leaves to open and close.

On the other hand, if your plant isn’t opening its leaves during the day, it is probably not getting enough light.

Further reading: Prayer plant care problems, and fixes!

Plant Pests

Watch out for common houseplant pests like aphids, spider mites, and mealybugs.

Keep the leaves clean and dust-free and inspect your plant regularly for signs of pests to catch a possible infestation before it becomes severe. Check under leaves and in axils where insects like to hide. 

Learn more about common houseplant pests and what you can do to get rid of them. 

Toxic to Cats and Dogs?

Prayer plants are considered not toxic. The rattlesnake Calathea lancifolia is safe to grow at home around your cats or dogs.