How to care for Fishbone Prayer Plant
Ctenanthe burle-marxii · Marantaceae
Named for Brazilian landscape designer Roberto Burle Marx, this compact prayer plant carries pale leaves with a dark fishbone pattern and purple undersides. Leaves fold up audibly at dusk. It is one of the easier Marantaceae, tolerating average home conditions better than most calatheas. Water roughly every 6 days while it's growing (about every 10 in winter), give it a bright room away from the window, kept above 59°F (15°C) — average room humidity suits it.
Care at a glance
Water when the top few centimeters dry; it prefers even moisture but forgives brief lapses better than calatheas.
Medium indirect light; the pattern stays crispest out of direct sun.
Quarter- to half-strength balanced feed monthly in spring and summer.
Mistakes that kill this plant
- Waterlogged soil that rots the shallow crown.
- A cold winter windowsill with wet feet.
- Ignoring mites until the pattern is speckled away.
Seasonal tips
- It spreads by runners — divide in spring to refresh crowded pots.
- Modest humidity boosts in winter keep the foliage pristine.
- Reduce watering as growth slows in autumn.
Is it safe for pets?
We couldn’t place Fishbone Prayer Plant on a toxic or a non-toxic list, so its toxicity is unconfirmed — which is not the same as safe.
Full pet-safety details for cats & dogsCare for your Fishbone Prayer Plant on autopilot
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Toxicity here is informational, not a safety guarantee. Those are our own records, compiled by following the ASPCA's published toxic and non-toxic plant lists and Pet Poison Helpline's plant poison list rather than copied from them — confirm anything that matters against those lists or with your vet. If your pet ingested this plant, contact your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.