English (United Kingdom) 
Russian (Russia) Ctenanthe
Ctenanthe plant - family. Marantaceae.
Homeland of the plant. Central and South America.
Description. Ctenanthe is a small genus of 15 species of evergreen herbaceous perennials. The leaves are oval or lanceolate, up to 20 cm, on long petioles, collected in rosettes. The color of the leaves is highly variable and depends on the specific species - from solid green to green with varied, often symmetrical spots and stripes of silver or yellow. There are varieties with burgundy leaves, as well as tricolor ones - when the underside of the leaves is painted red or burgundy. In appearance, the plant often resembles the related arrowroot. The flowers are white or yellow, hidden by green bracts, small and inconspicuous, lost against the background of foliage.
Height. In indoor conditions, the height fluctuates from 60 to 90 cm and rarely exceeds 1.5 m.
Caring at home
Diseases and pests
Leaves curl and become stained when there is insufficient air humidity or the soil is too dry.
Pests - red spider mites, thrips, mealybugs, scale insects, aphids, whiteflies.
When blooms
Small flowers rarely appear in home culture and do not have much significance; they can be removed so that the bush does not waste energy on flowering.
Soil for growing
Moderately acidic or neutral soil with a pH of 6.1 - 7.5, with good drainage and organic matter in the form of peat and leaf humus.
How to care
Ctenanthe is a very delicate indoor plant and is not suitable for inexperienced gardeners, who will find it easier to grow calathea or arrowroot. Remove dead leaves in a timely manner so that the plant looks neat; this species does not have a dormant period, but the growth of the bush slows down in winter.
Transplantation
Transplantation is carried out in the spring, annually.
Reproduction
Propagated by stem cuttings, which should have at least 3-4 leaves, the bases of the cuttings are pre-treated with growth hormones. Cover the young seedlings with a transparent plastic cap or glass and place them in a warm place - at least 25 ° C; rooting will occur within 4-6 weeks. Adult specimens can be divided.
Fertilizer
Feed 2 times a month in spring and summer; in autumn and winter you can feed monthly. Do not feed the ctenanthe immediately after transplantation - start feeding only after 1.5 months.
Lighting
Direct sunlight in the morning and evening should hit the plant in order for it to maintain the attractive color of the leaves. In summer and spring, shade during the day. When grown in partial shade, the leaves fade and eventually become a solid green. Some species do not tolerate direct sunlight, so consult when purchasing about the level of light for a particular plant.
Watering
Watering should be abundant, and the soil lump should be completely wet. Between waterings, dry the top layer of soil about 1 cm thick. During the dormant period, the bush develops slowly, and the frequency of watering should be reduced. Ctenanthes do not like drying out or watering with hard water.
Containment temperature
Normal room temperature is suitable for this plant all year round. The flower does not like sudden temperature changes and can get sick at temperatures below 13 °C.
Spraying
High humidity is very important for maintenance. Place the pot on a tray with water, making sure that the bottom of the pot does not come into direct contact with the water. Use a room humidifier. The higher the temperature of the air surrounding the plant, the higher the humidity should be.
Purpose
When placing several varieties in one pot, the ctenanthe look very impressive.
Note
All parts of the plant are poisonous and can harm small children and pets.
Varieties:
Ctenanthe oppenheimiana
An evergreen perennial herbaceous plant up to 1 m high. The leaves are hard, glossy, oblong-oval or narrow-lanceolate, on high basal petioles. The leaf blades reach a length of 40 cm. The most common indoor plants are tricolor specimens with dark green leaves with white or pink stripes on the surface. The lower part of the leaf layer and petioles of such plants are colored pinkish or burgundy.
Ctenathe lubbersiana
Decorative deciduous, evergreen, herbaceous perennial with oblong-oval, dark green, basal leaves. Plants reach a height of 50 - 90 cm. The surface of the leaf blades is glossy and often has yellow or white stripes of varying widths diverging along the veins.
Ctenanthe burle-marxii
A valuable decorative deciduous perennial with basal oval leaves on long, rounded petioles. The leaf blades have a light, bluish-green tone. Along the veins and along the edges of the leaves there is a dark green edging.
Ctenanthe burle-marxii Amagris
Spectacular, perennial, herbaceous plants with oblong-oval leaves from 15 to 25 cm long. The main tone of the leaf blades is silvery-green, a very light shade. Along the veins on the leaves there are dark green, thin stripes. The lower part of the leaves is painted in a bright, contrasting burgundy shade. Young leaves appear rolled into tight tubes. Instances of this variety often do not exceed 30 cm in height.
Ctenanthe compressa
An evergreen herbaceous plant with a height of 60 to 90 cm. Oval, glossy leaves reach a length of 30 cm, located on high basal carts. The leaf blades are entire, dark green.
