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4.5 out of 5 (58 experiences)


About Rattlesnake Plant
Many of the houseplants we used to know as Calatheas now belong to the genus Goeppertia (say that three times fast). These plants have delightfully patterned leaves that come in all sorts of colors and shapes! Commonly known as prayer plants, the leaves of some species fold up at night through a process called nyctinasty meaning night movement! 😴
Taxonomy
Goeppertia lancifolia
Goeppertia
Marantaceae
Zingiberales
Also known as
Calathea lancifolia and Calathea insignis

How to care for Rattlesnake Plant

How often to water your Rattlesnake Plant

every 9
Rattlesnake Plant needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.
Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.
Water 0.5 cups every
9

Check the growing potential in your area
A plant's growing potential is determined from its location, the time of year, and current local weather.

Select a city to check sunlight intensity

Finding light for Rattlesnake Plant in your home

a window
Rattlesnake Plant may have difficulty thriving, and will drop leaves 🍃, without ample sunlight.
Place it less than 3 feet from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.
Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Rattlesnake Plant in your home 🏡.

How to fertilize Rattlesnake Plant

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.
By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.
To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Rattlesnake Plant after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

Rattlesnake Plant can be challenging to care for, according to some plant parents. Check out the reviews down below to learn from their experiences!
Water Needs
Rattlesnake Plant prefers for the soil to dry out between waterings and should be watered regularly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.
Sunlight Needs
Rattlesnake Plant may have difficulty thriving and will drop leaves 🍃 without ample sunlight. Place it less than 3 feet from a window to maximize the potential for growth. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.
Toxicity
Rattlesnake Plant is not known to cause harm to humans or pets. Regardless, if you, a family member, a cat, or dog has ingested any plant material, please consult a doctor or a veterinarian.
Humidity
Rattlesnake Plant doesn’t require additional humidity. Plants absorb most water through their root system rather than their leaves, so the best way to provide humidity for your plants is through watering the soil.
Soil
Rattlesnake Plant does best in well-draining soil. A good soil will contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir as well as perlite or vermiculite to help with drainage. Adding a handful of perlite to regular store-bought potting soil should do the trick!
Fertilizer
Rattlesnake Plant should be repotted after it doubles in size or once a year, whichever comes first. Fresh potting soil has all the nutrients your plant needs, so as long as it’s refreshed yearly, you shouldn’t need to use fertilizer. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!
Native Region
Rattlesnake Plant is native to Tropical Americas.
Flowers
Yes, you may see your Rattlesnake Plant bloom with the right amount of sunlight and water.
Growth Pattern
Rattlesnake Plant is a clumping plant, meaning new growth will emerge from the soil around the parent plant.
Growing Outdoors
USDA Hardiness Zone
Rattlesnake Plant can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 11a-12b. Find your local hardiness zone here.
Propagation
Rattlesnake Plant can be propagated by division into new individual plants.
- Check to see if there is more than one plant. In some cases they may still be beneath the soil surface. If you feel confident, you may remove the soil to check for baby plantlets below!
- If there are multiple plants growing, unpot the plant and gently tug the plants apart, being careful not to disturb too many of the roots. They may be connected by large root segments which you may need to break to free the plantlet.
- Pot up the new plant in well-draining soil
- Repot the parent plant back into its original pot
Yellow Leaves
Yellow leaves aren’t always a reason to panic, and can be a normal part of a plant’s life cycle. Unless brand new leaves are turning yellow or all the leaves change color at once, it’s likely just your plant shedding old leaves.
Overwatering and root rot are the most likely cause of problems in Rattlesnake Plant, since they are sensitive to wet soil. The leaves may also appear to be curling or drooping. Less often, yellow leaves are caused by underwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or pests.
Replace soggy soil with fresh, dry soil and download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!
Care Summary for Rattlesnake Plant
Rattlesnake Plant
Greg recommends:

0.5 cups every 9 days

< 3ft from a window

Repot after 2x growth
Based on the 4” pot your plant is in, and that it doesn’t get direct sunlight.

What other plant parents say












One of my lower maintenance marantaceae! Thrives in a north window - avoid direct sun, but give bright indirect light. Water only with rainwater or distilled water and fertilize sparingly. Keep soil moist, but not soggy. In a north window this means watering every 1-2 weeks or so, depending on your substrate. Mine has tons of new shoots coming up! If I forget to water it for too long, it starts to brown & crisp up the edges of a few leaves. Don’t be surprised when it moves its leaves to collect more light and “prays” at night. So much personality in this plant family.







My favorite thing about the Rattlesnake Plant is that it keeps time. During the day, the leaves stretch outward, and during the night, they stand tall.
Care tip: Unlink other prayer plants, this one does prefer the soil to be nearly dry before watering.



