Calathea lancifolia, or the rattlesnake plant, is native to Brazil. It’s a popular household indoor plant that adds beauty to any room. Even though it doesn’t bloom much when grown indoors, people still grow it as an ornamental plant because of its beautiful leaves that close at night.
Our article will show you how to grow and spread the beautiful Calathea lancifolia plant from divisions and seeds, which are the best ways to do it. We’ll also discuss the necessary conditions to guarantee a healthy growth. So, let’s dive in.
With their striking striped leaves in shades of green, rattlesnake plants (Calathea lancifolia) make a gorgeous addition to any indoor plant collection. Their vibrant foliage adds a pop of jungle flair.
If you’re lucky enough to already have one of these tropical beauties, you may be wondering if you can make more plants to expand your collection.
The good news is propagating rattlesnake plants is totally doable! You can create new plants both through division and stem cuttings
Follow this complete guide to propagating your rattlesnake plant successfully. We’ll cover everything from how to prepare cuttings to the best soil mix for new plants.
Division Method for Rattlesnake Plant Propagation
Division is one of the easiest ways to propagate many houseplants, and rattlesnake plants are no exception Here’s how to divide your plant into new starts
When to Divide Rattlesnake Plants
- Early spring just as plants enter a new growth phase is ideal. But division can be done year-round if needed.
Selecting a Mature Plant for Division
- Choose an overcrowded plant or one with several offshoots around the base. Avoid small, young plants.
Preparing for Division
- Water the plant thoroughly a day before dividing to minimize transplant shock. Have new pots and fresh potting mix ready.
Carefully Separating the Plant
- Gently loosen the root ball and divide into pieces, each with some roots, stems, and leaves attached.
Potting and Caring for Divided Plants
- Plant divisions in small pots using a well-draining mix. Keep moist and out of direct sun until established.
With some patience for new growth, dividing rattlesnake plants will give you multiple new plants for free!
Propagating Rattlesnake Plants from Stem Cuttings
You can also propagate rattlesnake plants from stem tip cuttings. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
Choosing a Healthy Mother Plant
- Select a vigorously growing plant. Avoid weak or stressed plants as poor-quality cuttings.
Preparing the Cutting
- Use a sharp, sterile knife or scissors to take a 4-6 inch stem tip cutting below a node.
Removing Lower Leaves and Flowers
- Strip off the bottom leaves and any flowers or buds from the cutting.
Applying Rooting Hormone (Optional)
- Dip the bare end of the cutting in rooting powder to encourage root growth. Tap off excess.
Potting the Cutting
- Stick the cutting into a small pot filled with moist propagation mix. Cover with a plastic bag.
Caring for the Cutting
- Place in indirect light and keep mix moist but not soggy. Remove bag once roots establish.
With proper care, your cutting will root within 4-8 weeks into a brand new rattlesnake plant!
Providing the Best Conditions for Rattlesnake Plant Propagation
Rooting new rattlesnake plants from divisions or cuttings requires providing just the right environment. Follow these tips:
Choosing the Right Potting Mix
- Use a loose, fast-draining mix like peat moss, perlite, bark chips or vermiculite. Avoid dense soil.
Providing Bright, Indirect Light
- Place new plants or cuttings near an east or west window out of direct sun. Avoid intense southern exposure.
Maintaining High Humidity
- Propagation requires humidity levels between 60-80%. Place pots on a pebble tray or use a humidifier.
Watering Correctly
- Keep the soil consistently moist but not soaked. Allow to dry slightly between waterings.
With the right mix of soil, humidity, light, and moisture, you’ll have the best success propagating new rattlesnake plants.
What to Expect as New Rattlesnake Plants Develop
It takes patience and proper care for new plant divisions or cuttings to establish. Here’s what to look for:
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Initial signs of root growth in 2-4 weeks from propagation date.
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Tiny new leaves emerging within 6-8 weeks as roots become established.
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A fully rooted, actively growing new plant in 3-4 months.
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Slow growth at first as the plant directs energy toward root development.
Don’t get discouraged by slow initial progress. Establishing a whole new plant from a division or cutting takes time.
Troubleshooting Propagation Problems
Sometimes issues pop up when rooting new plants. Here are some common propagation problems and solutions:
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Rotting stem or leaves: Overwatering. Allow cuttings and divisions to dry out more between waterings.
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Leaf yellowing/dropping: Too much or too little water. Check soil moisture and adjust watering habits.
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No new growth: Insufficient humidity or light. Increase levels and monitor for improvement.
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Shriveling/wilting: Underwatering or transplant shock. Gradually increase watering frequency and amount.
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Mold or fungal disease: Excess moisture. Allow soil to dry out further between waterings. Remove affected parts.
Don’t hesitate to trim off any rotted or yellowed parts to keep cuttings and divisions healthy. Propagating plants is a learning process!
Enjoy an Unlimited Supply of Gorgeous Rattlesnake Plants
With the right techniques, propagating rattlesnake plants is totally doable for any indoor plant parent.
Dividing overgrown plants and rooting stem cuttings lets you expand your collection for free. Follow the steps in this guide, and you’ll soon have baby rattlesnake plants sprouting up everywhere.
Propagation does require patience and diligent care. But the end reward of more vibrant, striped foliage is well worth it.
Before you know it, you can fill your home with these eye-catching beauties without spending a fortune. So go forth and propagate!
When Should You Propagate Calathea Lancifolia?
Your Calathea lancifolia is easy to divide at any time of the year, but spring is the best time to do it. Since this is the growing season, now is the best time to divide your rattlesnake plant so that it has the best chance of living.
It’s recommended to propagate your plant if you feel that it’s becoming too big for its current pot, as it can become root bound, and this will stunt its growth. If your plant has also been subject to root rot, you might want to examine the root ball and remove any infected roots before moving it into a new pot. You can repot the plant once every two years to keep it healthy.
How Do I Propagate Calathea Lancifolia from Root?
This is the most successful way to divide and grow the rattlesnake plant. If you grow the plant from root clusters, you can keep the mother plant healthy and help it grow faster before its roots get too big.
You can easily propagate this plant by division as long as you have an established root ball. Here are the proper steps to follow.
- Calache lancifolia has roots that are easy to break, so be careful when handling the root ball.
- To keep the plant from getting transplant shock, which could slow its growth, water it the day before you plan to divide it.
- Pick a big pot that can fit the new root ball. This will help the plant stay healthy. To keep root rot from happening, make sure there are enough holes for water to drain.
- Use potting soil and perlite to fill about a third of the pot. This will help the water drain better.
- Flip the plant over on its side to take it out of its pot.
- Get rid of the dirt around the roots with a fine-bristled brush. Then, use your fingers to gently separate them.
- Cut any damaged roots with sterile pruning shears.
- There are different parts of the root ball that will grow into different plants.
- To lessen the shock of the move, put the split root balls into new pots and fill them up with some of the old soil.
- Keep the soil moist and water the new plant until the water runs out of the holes.
- To make a greenhouse, put a plastic bag over the pot. This plant does best in damp places.
How to Grow and Care for Rattlesnake Plant
How long does it take to propagate a snake plant?
Snake plant propagation is simple and is as easy as its care. However, the propagation process can take a couple of months before rooting or seeing new pups sprout. If propagating by seed, it could take even longer. The division method is ideal when you have a large, mature plant with many stems you’d like to split up.
Can snake plants be propagated from individual leaves?
Snake plants (*Sansevieria*) can be propagated from individual leaves using a few different methods.Here are some ways you can propagate snake plants: 1.**Division Method**: – This method is ideal
How do you grow a snake plant from a cutting?
Roots should be just over an inch long before you move them to soil. You can also leave your cuttings in water until new snake plant pups sprout. Prepare a small pot with drainage holes and a sandy, well-draining potting mix. Plant the rooted cuttings or pups in the soil, fully burying the roots.
How do you care for a rattlesnake plant?
Although these plants can’t handle standing water, they like to be kept moist. A light sandy soil or a potting mix of two parts peat moss and one part perlite works well. Rattlesnake plant prefers slightly acidic or neutral pH levels, but alkaline soils should be avoided. Water your rattlesnake plant frequently in the summer to keep the soil moist.
