Jan

Ctenanthe pilosa 'Golden Mosaic'

Never-never plant, Prayer plant, Calathea

• 
  Most light conditions

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• Jan likes...

  • 

    Regular watering

    Jan is quite forgiving if you forget to water her from time to time, but she’ll prefer it if you make sure all of her soil is given a good drink when the top two inches of soil feel dry.

  • 

    Most light conditions

    Jan will grow best in medium to bright indirect light, but she won’t mind a shadier spot. Avoid direct sunlight as her variegated leaves are prone to sunburn.

  • 

    Humidity

    Like most tropical houseplants, Jan loves humidity. Mist her regularly or put her in the kitchen or the bathroom.

• Quick facts

  Botanical name

  Ctenanthe pilosa 'Golden Mosaic' 

  Nickname

  Never-never plant, Prayer plant, Calathea

  Plant type

  Indoor, evergreen

  Plant height (including pot)

  30-40cm

  Pet/baby safe

  Toxic of ingested

  Nursery pot size

  12cm

• About Ctenanthe pilosa 'Golden Mosaic'

  Its botanical name might be a bit of a mouthful, but Ctenanthe ‘Golden Mosaic’ is worth making space for. A zingy lime green member of the prayer plant family, its long, oval leaves are striped with yellow and gold variegation, bringing a bit of pattern to your collection of foliage plants. Originally from Brazil, Ctenanthe enjoy tropical conditions like medium-to-bright light and high humidity.

  Keep a close eye on your plant’s delicate leaves, they’ll let you know if something isn’t quite right. Brown leaf tips or crispy edges are a sign your plant needs more humidity or hasn’t had enough to drink, so position yours in the bathroom or kitchen or nest it next to other plants so they can create their own microclimate. Check its soil regularly, it hates to dry out completely and enjoys being lightly moist. Let any excess water drain through the holes at the bottom of the nursery pot after watering.

  If you spot any burn-like marks on your Ctenanthe’s leaves, it’s possibly a little bit sunburnt. It enjoys light but too much harsh direct light, especially in summer, can cause more harm than good. Trim off any affected leaves and move your plant out of direct sunlight. Keep Jan’s leaves clean by rinsing them under room temperature water or gently wiping them with a damp cloth. This will help the plant absorb the light she needs to grow.

  Ctenanthe are largely very low maintenance. Their one request is that you distil tap water before giving them a drink. Just fill your watering can and leave it to stand overnight; any impurities will evaporate away and your plant will thank you for it.

  Did you know?

  Like other prayer plants, ctenanthe fold up their leaves at night.