HI Luke This is such a helpful video. I have had my Calathea/Rattle snake plant for about 5 years and in the autumn it took a turn for the worse. I have never really worked out how to look after it properly and the fact it made it to 5 years old and thrived till now was a miracle. I think it was very root bound and then got badly infested by fungus gnats when I last potted it up. The multi purpose compost I used was probably a bit old. I am going to try again using your potting mix suggestions and move it to a slightly less draughty place and fingers crossed it will bounce back in the spring. It does already look happier since I treated the fungus gnats and gave it a prune.
Thanks Dawn, I appreciate that! It sounds like you’ve had quite the journey with your Rattlesnake plant, fair play on getting to the 5 year mark! That sounds like a solid plan, I think it will bounce back nicely. Good luck, I have my fingers crossed for you. Feel free to reach out if you run into any problems!
Thank you so much Luke, I really really enjoyed watching you take us all through the dos and dont’s to know about the Rattlesnake plant. Very useful and helpful information.
hi, mine dried last summer from very hot weather .. since then there were no leaves, last week i had one new leaf.. i only have short stems.. do u have a tip about what should i do to help grow new leaves??? many thanks
This is the only Calathea I've tried that hasn't turned brown & dried up, so I wonder if the change in its identity to a different genus accounts for my success with it.
I thought the same, it does seem much easier to avoid crispy tips on the Rattlesnake plant. Having said that, some of my other Calatheas have also been renamed to Goeppertia, and are still drama queens!
I have had this plant for over 15 years, it is HUGE, it measures about 40 inches across, the leaf portions are 20 inches long. It has never been repotted and now I'm afraid to mess with it after hearing that it is a finicky plant. Should I attempt it if the plant seems to be fine?
👋 It sounds like it could be time for a repot, root bound plants can cause the pot to be pushed out for shape. Also, if roots are emerging from the drainage holes or visible at the soil surface it’s a good idea to consider repotting. Good luck 🪴
I would like to make my own soil but haven't had time so I ordered some that I thought would work. Do you think Molly's Aroid Mix is a good fit for this plant? Thanks!
Molly’s aroid mix will be ok as it’s advertised for use on Calatheas. However, the roots are relatively delicate, and using a chunky aroid mix might not be the best option. If you want to very best for your Rattlesnake plant I would use a dedicated Calathea mix, I use the Calathea & Maranta Blend from Soil Ninja (discount code in the description). Good luck! 🪴
Sounds like that could be due to overwatering, here’s what you can do: Poke a few holes into the soil with a stick (chopsticks work well) to let it air out a little more, just be careful not to damage the roots. You can also take the plant out of its container to help it air out. To prevent it from happening again only water when the top inch of soil is dry. Also, make sure you’re using quality soil and your pot has drainage holes. Good luck!
👋 You can continue growing it in water, just make sure you change the water once a week and use a water-soluble fertiliser. This method minimises overwatering risks and pests but requires nutrients since the plant won't get them from soil. Alternatively, you could transfer and acclimatise it to soil. Hope this helps!