How to grow ctentanthe (never never plant)
Find out how to grow and care for a ctentanthe, in our guide.
Never never plants, Ctenanthe, are tropical jungle plants, native to Central and South America. They're grown as house plants for their decorative oval leaves, which are striped, sometimes in a herringbone pattern, in dark or light green, yellow or silver, often with a purple or red underside. There are 15 species in the Ctenanthe genus, with plants ranging from the compact Ctenanthe burle-marxii and Ctenanthe setosa to the towering Ctenanthe oppenheimiana, which can grow to a metre tall.
Ctenanthe (pronounced ten-an-thee) are part of the Marantaceae family, which also includes Calathea and Goeppertia. Both Ctenanthe and Calathea have the common name prayer plant, because their leaves fold up at night and unfold in the morning. It's not known exactly why plants do this but there are a few theories, including to protect their leaves from predators or to conserve water.
Ctenanthe is not considered harmful to humans or pets.
How to grow Ctenanthe
Never never plants grow best in temperatures from 16-25ºC in bright, indirect light. They will tolerate temperatures down to 10ºC but need high humidity.
Where to grow Ctenanthe
Avoid growing ctenanthe in a spot that gets direct sunlight, because this will scorch their leaves. They can cope with some shade, but the best place for them is a light room with high levels of humidity, such as a steamy bathroom or kitchen.
How to plant Ctenanthe
Ctenanthe need repotting around every two years – go up one pot size and plant into a peat-free house plant compost.
How to care for Ctenanthe
If the room your ctenanthe plant is in doesn't have high humidity, mist regularly to prevent your plant developing brown tips at the end of its leaves. Alternatively, to increase humidity, put your plant on a tray of moist pebbles or gravel. Wipe the leaves every so often to remove dust.
Water once the top couple of inches of compost are dry. You can test this by sticking your finger into the compost. If the leaves have curled up (during the day, rather than folded up at night), this could mean that your plant is lacking in water.
Ctenanthe does not require pruning but remove any dying or yellow leaves.
How to propagate Ctenanthe
The easiest way to propagate ctenanthe is to repot any small plants growing around the parent plant, making sure you remove each offset with its roots intact. It's also simple to divide the root ball, by removing it from the pot and gently pulling it apart into sections – making sure that each section has a shoot and roots. Repot sections into individual pots of house plant compost.
Pests and diseases
Ctenanthe are generally disease-free but can be susceptible to mealybugs. Look out for small, white insects that look like woodlice. They feed on the plant's sap, producing a sticky substance called honeydew which can result in sooty mould on the leaves.
If there are not many insects, remove them with tweezers. Alternatively, put the plant outside during good weather to let birds eat the insects. There is a biological control available, a predatory ladybird, which is best applied in summer.
Advice on buying Ctenanthe
- Check you are definitely buying a ctenanthe as some nurseries sell ctenanthe under the name calathea, while others will be a genuine calathea
- Always check plants for pests, and signs of damage or disease before planting
Where to buy Ctenanthe
Ctenanthe varieties to grow
Ctenanthe burle-marxii – this popular house plant has striking foliage – pale green upper leaves with dark green markings and a purple underside. Height x Spread: 60cm x 35cm
Ctenanthe oppenheimiana – rich green leaf markings on a tall plant make this a stand out variety. H x S: 1m x 60cm
Ctenanthe 'Compactstar' – silvery green leaves with a darker green herringbone pattern and a purple underside. H x S: 50cm x 30cm
Year Planner 2025 on sale
Starting to plan your gardening year? The Year Planner 2025 is packed with expert advice from the Gardeners’ World team, to ensure you have your best gardening year yet.
New podcast series
Join Monty and the team for advice on winter gardening, tulips, caring for birds, house plants and more in the new BBC Gardeners' World Magazine podcast series.
