Rattlesnake Plant Care: A Complete Guide For Beginners

A tropical evergreen perennial, the rattlesnake plant is native to Brazil and is a great indoor plant. This plant is known for its unique foliage, which is visually appealing because of its wavy patterns, which resemble those on the skin of rattlesnakes. Also known as the ‘Prayer Plant’ this unique specimen has a wake-and-sleep cycle, meaning the leaves of this plant move upward during the night and downward in the day.

However, this plant isn’t ideal for beginners as the rattlesnake plant care can be tricky. These plants also produce beautiful small yellow flowers in their natural habitat but are exclusively grown for their striking foliage in indoor gardens.

Even though rattlesnake plant care is tricky, with the right knowledge you can grow these beautiful plants at home, just provide the right conditions to this plant to ensure continuous growth. So, let’s get started with this guide and understand everything about rattlesnake plant care.

Benefits Of The Rattlesnake Plant

Here are some of the benefits of the rattlesnake plant, that makes this plant special-

• Low-Light Tolerance: This shade-tolerant plant hates bright light and can be grown in low-light areas.
• Aesthetic Appeal: The beautiful foliage of this plant creates a very appealing display in any indoor garden setup.
• Pet-friendly: Unlike rattlesnakes, the rattlesnake plant is non-toxic to humans and animals making it a pet-friendly plant.
• Improves Air Quality: This is a great air-purifying indoor plant that removes harmful toxins from the air.

Rattlesnake Plant Care

Light

The rattlesnake plant prefers filtered light. So place your plant near a window that doesn’t get harsh sunlight. Direct and bright light can cause leaf scorch and other problems. Moreover, too much shade can cause these plants to stop growing. Therefore, for better rattlesnake plant care try to provide these plants with the right amount of sunlight.

Water

Keep your rattlesnake plant consistently moist but make sure that the soil is not soggy. Prioritize watering the plant frequently rather than deeply. Reduce watering in winter and allow the top layer of the soil to dry.

For better rattlesnake plant care you can place the pot on a water tray. Also, keep in mind that the rattlesnake plant is sensitive to chemicals like chlorine and fluoride that are found in regular tap water. So use filtered or distilled water.

Similar read – How To Water Plants?

Soil

For rattlesnake plants use a well-draining and nutrient-rich potting mix. Adding peat and perlite to the mix can help increase the soil quality. Make sure that the pot has a drainage hole to prevent water-logging of the soil. Repot your rattlesnake plant every 1-2 years to replenish the soil.

See also – Repotting Plants.

Temperature & Humidity

This plant prefers high humidity, therefore, for better rattlesnake plant care keep the humidity around your plant high using a humidifier or by grouping the plants. Moreover, the rattlesnake plant thrives in a temperature range between 65-75℉ (18-24℃). Avoid keeping the plant away from drafts and air conditioners or heating vents for better rattlesnake plant care.

Fertilizing 

You can fertilize the plant once a month during the growing season using a balanced and water-soluble fertilizer diluted to half strength. Reduce or stop fertilizing during fall and winter when the plant enters dormancy. Make sure to avoid over-fertilization as it can cause root burn and harm the health of the plant.

Pruning 

Regularly prune the rattlesnake plant to keep it neat. Remove dead and decayed branches and clean the leaves using a wet cloth. Pruning and cleaning regularly can keep your plant away from plant diseases and pest problems.

How To Propagate The Rattlesnake Plant?

The rattlesnake can be propagated easily by division. For propagating the plant you can follow the below-given instructions-

• Before propagating the plant water it so that it can prevent stress in plants.
• Choose a pot for your new plant. It should be big enough to accommodate the root ball of the new plant.
• Use a potting mix with perlite and fill it in the container.
• Gently take the rattlesnake plant out of its pot and start separating a healthy plant from the plant. Try not to break off excess roots and trim only the part that comes off easily.
• Place the divided section in the new pot carefully and backfill it with the potting mix.
• Water the new plant deeply for better rattlesnake plant care.

Common Problems With The Rattlesnake Plant

The rattlesnake plant is quite hardy and robust, however, it is still vulnerable to some common plant problems such as –

• Pests: This plant is susceptible to many common houseplant pests such as aphids, mealybugs, spider mites, etc. Regularly monitor your plants for any sign of pest infestation. Use insecticidal soap or neem oil to remove the pests from the plant.
• Spots: Overexposure to light can result in the formation of green spots on the leaves. And too little light causes the vibrant green markings on the leaves to fade.
• Brown Leaf Edges: Lack of humidity results in plant leaves turning brown from the edges. So for a better rattlesnake plant care increase the humidity around the plant.

These are some of the common problems that can affect your rattlesnake plant. Therefore, regularly monitor your plant for any sign of such issues and take better care of your plants to avoid such problems.

Conclusion

Growing and caring for the rattlesnake plant can be tricky, however, it can be a great choice for beginners who are looking to improve their gardening skills. With this blog, you can know everything about rattlesnake plant care and the benefits of this amazing plant. So make sure to add this plant to your collection and explore more such blogs on Plantora to learn about how to care for a variety of plants.

FAQs

Can I grow rattlesnake plants outdoors?

The rattlesnake plant is well-suited for indoor environments because of its specific temperature, humidity, and light needs. However, you can grow this plant in your outdoor garden if you live in a humid and tropical climate.

How frequently should I water my rattlesnake plant?

This plant prefers indirect light so it is better to place them in a location that gets indirect and bright sunlight. Also, make sure to keep this plant away from vents.

Where should I place my rattlesnake plant?

In summer the rattlesnake grows quickly and needs regular watering. In autumn and winter, the plant goes through its dormant stage so for a better rattlesnake plant care reduce the watering to once every 2 weeks and allow the soil to dry out before watering.