Description
About: This species is native to the rainforests of Brazil and gets its common name from the distinctive decorative markings that are displayed on its leaves. The plant can grow up to 30 inches tall, and the large leaves have a variegated pattern with various shades of greens and a wavy pattern along their edges. Even the undersides of the foliage are eye-catching with their beautiful purplish-red tones.
Rattlesnake plants have very particular requirements in terms of heat, light, and moisture. However, it can be worth the extra effort when you see the beautiful ornamental leaves the plant produces. Because this plant has large leaves, you may be tempted to use leaf shine to give the foliage an extra boost. This can cause browning of the tips of the leaves, so you should stick with a simple damp cloth to remove any dust or debris instead.
This tropical native needs lots of heat and humidity to thrive. Filtered light is the best option. If you want to have your rattlesnake plant in a window, select one that doesn’t have intense afternoon sun streaming through it, or diffuse the light with drapes. A bright spot in a well-lit room away from the direct light in a window can work well, too. When it comes to soil, it needs to be one that drains well. Although these plants can’t handle standing water, they do still like to be kept moist. A light sandy soil or a potting mix of two parts peat moss and one part perlite could work well. They also respond well to slightly acidic or neutral pH levels, but alkaline soils should be avoided. Over the summer period, when your rattlesnake plant experiences the most growth, it will need to be watered frequently to keep the soil or potting mix moist. During the winter season, allow the top layer of soil to dry out before watering again. Rattlesnake plants don’t tolerate waterlogged conditions, though, and if the leaves start to turn yellow, this could be a sign that you are overwatering. Conversely, the leaves can begin to curl unattractively when they don’t receive enough water.
Frequent small watering’s are required rather than deep irrigation. Water the plant until it just starts to slightly trickle out of drainage holes (do not water so much that it is quickly streaming out of the bottom). Do not let the plant sit in the excess water. Pour the excess water out and do not pour it back into the plant.
Plant Size: 4″ with cover
Additional information
| Size | size L, size M, size S |
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