Plants
Fishbone prayer plant care: light, water & problems
Scientific name: Ctenanthe burle-marxii · Common name: Fishbone prayer plant
Oval leaves show a fishbone pattern and often purple undersides; verify the variety against cultivars.
Editorial revision:
Care at a glance
- Light
- Indirect light; harsh sun can fade or mark leaves.
- Watering
- Keep moderate mix moisture with drainage, adjusting for season.
How to identify it
Oval leaves show a fishbone pattern and often purple undersides; verify the variety against cultivars.
Light
Indirect light; harsh sun can fade or mark leaves.
Watering
Keep moderate mix moisture with drainage, adjusting for season.
Conditions vary with pot, season and location. Always check the mix and your plant's response.
Environment and placement
Keep away from very dry air and cold draughts; leaves may shift position during the day.
Potting mix and feeding
Use a draining mix that retains some moisture, matched to pot size and the drying rate in your home.
During active growth, follow a suitable feed label. First check light, water and roots if the plant is declining.
Problems to check
Dry edges call for an air, water and root check before watering more.
How to assess yellow leavesCommon question
Is it a calathea?
It is a different genus from Goeppertia, though both are in Marantaceae.
Botanical source
Related species
Painted prayer plantGoeppertia picturataRead guide →
Nerve plantFittonia albivenisRead guide →
Kris plantAlocasia sanderianaRead guide →