Ctenantha: How to Succeed in Growing a Beautiful But Demanding Plant. Ctenant Oppenheim (Ctenanthe oppenheimiana)
Plants with variegated decorative foliage are gaining more and more attention from lovers of indoor crops. No exception - the ctenant shown in the photo, care for which at home will require some knowledge, but it will bring a lot of pleasure and interesting observations.
Ctenant or, as the name of the culture in Latin Ctenanthe sounds, comes from the tropical regions of the South American continent. A herbaceous plant with oval leaves, sitting on elongated petioles and surprisingly variegated colors, belongs to the Marantov family.
Due to the similarity in appearance and conditions of detention, confusion often occurs when identifying a room culture. Xenante, in the photo, is called, which is not surprising, because the plants are the closest relatives. It is not possible to find differences immediately, since they appear in the structure of the crown and flower.
Descriptions and photos of ctenant species
Like most plants of the family, the ctenant has large, whole leaves of an oval or slightly pointed shape. An adult plant forms a herbaceous powerful bush, consisting of erect or decumbent stems. The leaves are attached to the shoots with the help of long petioles, and due to the structural features, they grow unevenly, but in bunches. Sheet plates are rarely monophonic.
Most types of ctenant, as in the photo, are variegated. They can be recognized by the original light green, silvery or yellow-green strokes, ornaments or stripes that radiate from the middle vein to the edges.
When caring for a ctenant, many flower growers note not only the beauty of the foliage, but also its mobility. Depending on the illumination, the leaves of this tropical species are able to fall or rise.
If the foliage of the plant is undoubtedly decorative, then the flowering of the ctenant, in the photo, may not be noticed. Medium-sized spike-shaped inflorescences, which reveal white, yellowish or lilac flowers, appear from the leaf axils.
In nature, there are 17 species belonging to the genus Ctenanthe. These crops differ in size, habitat and leaf patterns, but they have similar preferences for growing conditions and care. Today, only a few of the most spectacular species are used as indoor and garden, ornamental crops.
Quite elegant, up to half a meter high, Ctenant Burle-Marx (Ctenanthe burle-marxii) fell in love with flower growers thanks to oval light green or silver leaves, the pattern on which resembles a branch running along the central vein. The leaves themselves are oval, about 10 cm long and 4 to 6 cm wide. If their upper side is patterned, then the back has a beautiful but uniform purple color.
The inflorescences appearing on the tops of the shoots are colored in the tone of the foliage, and small flowers are light cream in color.
Significantly larger than the previous species of Lubbers ctenant (Ctenanthe lubbersiana). Fans of large house plants will appreciate well-leafy bushes up to 70–80 cm high.
The leaves of this type of ctenant, as in the photo, have an oblong-oval shape and a double-sided green color, on which chaotic yellow or light green strokes from the midrib at the edge of the leaf plate stand out brightly.
In pot culture, Ctenanthe oppenheimiana grows up to a meter tall, forming beautiful wide bushes with many oblong-pointed leaves. This type of ctenant, as in the photo, has the most unusual foliage of all the described plants.
Not only is there a pattern of dark and light green stripes on the upper side of the leaf plate, but bottom surface dyed in burgundy hue. In some plants, asymmetric white or pinkish, wide strokes also extend to the patterned side.
The compressed ctenant, or compressa, shown in the photo, has green leaves up to 35–40 centimeters long.
This is one of the most powerful species, so the plant is used in landscaping greenhouses, winter gardens or halls of public buildings. The culture blooms, forming spike-shaped, almost non-decorative inflorescences long.
Caring for a ctenant at home
Like all green inhabitants of the tropics, ctenants love warmth and are sensitive to temperature changes. When caring for a ctenant, it is enough to maintain a comfortable room temperature for them within 22–25 ° C during the day, and a couple of degrees cooler at night. In winter, plants also do not need special conditions. Ktenanta winters well at 18-20 ° C with a slight decrease in temperature at night.
If in the warm season the plant is taken out into the open air, it is necessary to ensure that the culture does not suffer from frost at night, and it is also worth taking care of protection from the cold wind.
Caring for a ctenant at home will not give positive results if the plant is in the wrong place. In nature, this culture grows under the canopy of more than tall plants, therefore, the house should not be exposed to bright direct rays of the sun. But even in deep shade, you should not expect decorative foliage and crown density. The best place for a ctenant, in the photo, is a transparent penumbra, and the daylight hours should not be less than 14–16 hours. In the middle lane, the last condition for caring for a ctenant can be fulfilled only with the help of.
Ktenante needs high humidity, if the room is too dry, the plant signals the twisting and wilting of foliage. Therefore, in the care of the ctenant at home, as in the photo, it is imperative to irrigate the crown with water and treat the leaves with a damp cloth.
Watering is carried out as the surface of the soil dries. In the summer, it is necessary to moisten the soil more often and more abundantly, and from autumn to spring, when the life processes in the plant slow down, watering is limited. For the same reason, in winter, the ctenant does not need top dressing, and excess water is extremely dangerous for the roots and the entire plant as a whole.
With the advent of spring, except for watering, indoor culture be sure to feed using complex formulations. When caring for a ctenant in room conditions it is convenient to apply liquid products along with irrigation, using half the concentration of fertilizer.
The root system of young plants always develops more intensively than in adults, so such specimens need an annual transplant. Larger plants should not be disturbed in vain, they are transferred to a new pot as the roots grow and they develop the entire volume of soil. The procedure is carried out in the second half of spring, choosing wide containers for transplantation and providing powerful drainage to the tenant.
The best soil for an inhabitant of the tropics is a nutritious moderately loose mixture of garden soil and two smaller volumes of peat and sand. It is useful to add pre-shredded sphagnum and charcoal to the substrate.
With proper care at home, the ctenant, as in the photo, pleases the owner for a long time with the brightness of the color of the leaves, their constant growth and abundance.
Amazing Ctenant - Video
Ctenant (ktenante, Ctenanthe)- a group of ornamental leaves, belongs to the Marantov family.
Did you know? Ctenos is translated from Greek as "comb".
The foliage of the ctenant is of two colors: a bright green or light green background and a well-visible variegated pattern in the form of asymmetric stripes of light green, yellow, light gray or white color. The leaf surface is velvety. On the reverse side, the leaves have a dark red color. 
With the onset of evening, the leaves of the ctenant rise up, closing, and fall again in the morning.
Indoor ctenant can reach a height of 90 cm, and in nature - up to 2.5 m.
Ktenanta rarely indulges the owner with flowering, the shape of the flowers resembles a large wheat spikelet of pale purple, white or yellow color. Lovers appreciate the beauty of the foliage of the plant.
Kinds
At home, the ctenant of Burl-Marx, Lubbers, Oppenheim and compressed is grown, although about 15 types of ctenant are known to science.
View of Ctenanthe burle-marxii discovered in Brazil by Roberto Burle-Marx. Of all the species of the arrowroot family, this plant is the shortest, it reaches no more than 40 cm in height. The foliage is light green, gray, with bottle-colored spots in the form of stripes, has the shape of a rectangle with rounded edges about 6 by 10 cm in size, and cherry on the reverse side.
The species takes root very well in the garden, spreading out in the form of a carpet.
Several varieties of Berl-Marx ctenant are known: obscura, amagris and dwarf species. They differ in the shade of the leaves.
Obscura Ctenant The foliage has a wide border of malachite color. 
Ctenant Berl-Marx Amagris (Amagris) characterized by leaves of pale green color with a pattern of more dark shade in the form of thin strips. Ctenanta Berl-Marx Amagris was bred artificially in Belgium. 
Leaves of a dwarf ctenant reach a height of no more than 20 cm, have beautiful drawing from grass-colored stripes on a light background. 
Leaves of Ctenanthe lubbersiana long in shape, pointed upwards. The color of the leaves is emerald green with chaotically scattered large oblong spots of pale yellow color. The reverse side of the foliage is green. Stems of wine-colored plants. characteristic feature of this species is the growth of leaves on the trunk. 
On sale there are ctenants of the Golden Mosaic, Variegata, Brazilian Snow and Tropical Dragon varieties. The first is characterized by light green spots. irregular shape on the dark background. "Variegata" is characterized by spots of pale yellow color. 
The spots on the leaves of the ctenant "Brazilian Snow" and "Tropical Dragon" are milky, but the first of them has large spots, almost half the leaf. On the leaves of the "Tropical Dragon" spots in the form of wide stripes. 
The height of the ctenant Lubbers reaches from 80 cm to 1 m.
Ctenanthe oppenheimiana- one of the highest. IN wild nature Ctenant Oppenheim grows up to 2 m, at home - up to 1 m. 
Did you know? Ctenanthu Oppenheim is called the "giant bamburantha".
Its leaves are strong, lead-colored with bright green large spots, crimson on the back. Rounded at the bottom, long (up to 40 cm) foliage is pointed upwards.
The most common variety in Europe is "Tricolor" (Tricolor), on the leaves there are spots and stripes of pale Pink colour.
Ctenanthe Compressa leaves represent rectangles with round edges of pistachio color with imperceptible stripes of a light shade in the form of veins. 
Science knows bristly ctenant, or cytosis ctenant (Ctenanthe setosa) with bristly cuttings. 
Terms
Ktenanta comes from the tropics, the features of care and cultivation provide for the creation of a warm and humid tropical climate. Caring for a ctenant at home includes temperature control, air and soil humidity, and the degree of lighting.
Oppenheim's ctenant is considered the hardiest type of ctenant.
Temperature
For normal growth and a beautiful appearance, the ctenant requires well-heated air, in summer - not lower than +20 ° С (slightly less at night), in winter - not lower than +12 ° С. Failure to follow these rules can lead to diseases of the root system of the plant.
You should not leave the ctenant at open window because drafts can destroy the flower. A jump in temperature differences is also unacceptable for healthy plant growth. To reduce the likelihood of his death, it is desirable to provide a stable high temperature.
You should not rearrange the ctenant from place to place, this can have a detrimental effect on her beauty. 
Air humidity
In the room where the ctenant grows, the humidity should be maintained at a level not lower than 55%, and preferably 70%.
Important! During the period of central heating, the humidity level can drop to 25%, which will destroy the plant. The first sign of insufficient moisture is the twisting of the leaves on the flower.
Leaves to maintain moisture must be sprayed from a special sprayer. The installation of a special humidifier in the room can have a beneficial effect.
Lighting
Under natural conditions, the ctenant grows in the shade tropical trees covering it from direct sunlight. Therefore, an excess of bright sunlight can cause the leaves to burn out.
If the windows of the room where the ctenant stands face south, it is good to place the flower not on the windowsill, but on a stand or table near the window, so that the scattered rays of the sun illuminate the plant a little, since a lack of light will lead to a loss of brightness of the leaves and poor growth. But this type of flora feels best in rooms in which windows face in other directions. 
Ktenanta tolerates well, which is important in winter.
The soil
Ktenanta needs special soil, not without lime. In the conditions of home floriculture, caring for a ctenant includes the purchase of a special substrate for arrowroot. Azalea soil can be used as a substitute.
You can also make a special mixture yourself by mixing 2 parts of leafy earth, 1 part, 1 part of sand and adding a little. An important condition is to provide not only nutritious, but also loose, capable of retaining moisture, so be sure to check this composition by squeezing it in your fist. If the earth is loose, you can fall asleep in a pot. 
reproduction
Ctenant is propagated during transplantation by dividing the bush or cuttings.
By dividing the bush
The essence of this method is to carefully, trying not to damage the rhizomes, during a transplant in the spring, divide an adult flower that has reached the age of three into several parts and plant them in different pots. Flowerpots with parts of the plant should be watered and covered with a plastic bag, without tying it, until the ctenant begins to give new leaves (about a month later).
cuttings
The stalk of a ctenant is a leaf with a stem on which it is attached to the stem. Propagation by cuttings can also be done in the fall. To do this, the cut petiole is dipped in a glass of water for several weeks until the roots appear. Additionally, you can cover the glass plastic bag. When the roots appear, the cutting is transplanted into a pot.
Care
You need to take care of such a flower as a ctenant by watering and transplanting. 
Watering
The humidity of the tropics causes a high need for ctenant water, but a puddle in the pan should not be allowed, otherwise the roots may rot. Gravel, or a moisture-absorbing napkin, located on a pallet with a flower, can prevent this situation.
Watering is carried out under the leaves, preventing the formation of large drops of water on the foliage, because of which it can change color.
Water for irrigation and spraying should be pre-defended and heated to room temperature. You can also use rain water.
The optimal interval for watering the plant is 2-3 days, but the dryness of the soil in the pot must be controlled.
Fertilizer
Soil care provides for its obligatory loosening and top dressing. Fertilizers should be applied at least once every half a month, using special liquid fertilizers intended for decorative leaves. In winter, this interval can be increased. 
Do not overfeed the plant, do not allow high content and in, this can lead to its death.
Transfer
It is better to take a flowerpot from burnt unglazed clay with holes at the bottom to remove excess moisture.
Be sure to provide drainage in the pot to drain excess water. For this purpose, a walnut or eggshell, small smooth stones, gravel, tree bark, styrofoam, etc.
Important! After transplanting the plant, it is necessary to refrain from fertilizing the soil for 1 month.
Diseases and pests
At improper care a ctenant may be subjected to or become a victim. 
The following ctenant diseases are common:
- - a disease caused by excessive watering. The roots of the plant darken and begin to rot. This problem can be eliminated by cutting diseased roots, spraying, cuproxate. Sometimes a solution or helps.
- - diseased leaves powdered with flour. Treatment consists of spraying with solutions based on benomyl, theophanate-methyl, rarely - household and soda.
- - at the same time, the plant seems to be covered with soot. It is possible to neutralize such a fungus by washing the diseased areas with soap and treating with remedies for
It's perennial herbaceous plant arrived in our country from South America and Brazil where it grows in tropical forests. At home, Ktenante reaches a height of two meters, at room conditions growth is limited to 80-90 cm.
Ktenante has large oblong leaves, decorated with bizarre patterns on a green background, which also complement pink and white streaks or blotches of beige or silver. The reverse side of the leaves is burgundy. It becomes visible in the evenings when the ctenanta lifts the leaves up and folds them into a dense bouquet.
The beauty of the leaves compensates for the inconspicuous flowering of the ctenant. It blooms in summer with large spikelets covered with bracts.
A photo
Home grown species
In nature, there are dozens of plant species, the following varieties are grown in indoor floriculture:
- Burle Marx. The leaves of this species are light green with sharply prominent dark green stripes in the form of a Christmas tree. The reverse side of the sheet is lilac-violet. It blooms with small flowers collected in scallops.
- Lubbers. Height - up to 75cm. Light green leaves, on which cream strokes are applied as if with a wide brush. The underside of the leaves is dark green.
- Oppenheim. The most popular variety in home floriculture. Grows up to a metre. The leaves are pointed, oblong, velvety, with green and silver stripes, purple from the inside.
- Compressed. Ovate, large leaves with pointed ends. The most hardy and resistant to some errors in the content.
Growing Rules
Ktenant care at home does not require special care, however, some features of cultivation must be taken into account.
At home, "Ktenanta" grows in a forested, marshy area, where it is warm and damp. Therefore, to grow it at home, you need to create approximately similar conditions.
temperature and light
In summer, a flower needs temperature 22-25, in winter - 16-20. Ktenanta tolerates cold, but not below 10 degrees.
The plant needs bright diffused light. Ktenante tolerates a light shadow. But it is not recommended to grow it in the rooms of the northern direction. It is optimal to keep it in rooms with a west-east direction.
IMPORTANT! If you keep the plant in the south, keep it out of the sun, otherwise the leaves will start to burn.
Watering and humidity
Ktenanta is moisture-loving, so you need to water it regularly. But do not make a swamp in a pot, the soil should be slightly damp. In winter, watering is not stopped, but only reduced in frequency. Water for irrigation is taken soft, filtered or settled.
The humidity of the air is necessary for the plant in the range of 70-80%. To maintain it, it is advisable to use humidifiers, spraying. If the room is hot and dry at the same time, the plant will die.
Leaves folded in the daytime can signal a lack of moisture in the air. All arrowroots lift and fold their leaves in the evening hours.
But if your flower does not lower them during the day, then it does not have enough moisture. In this way, your Ctenant is trying to keep moisture in the leaves.
top dressing
Every two weeks during the growing season, Ktenantu is watered with mineral mixtures for decorative leafy plants. In winter, top dressing is reduced to once every 50-60 days.
IMPORTANT! Avoid fertilizers with high content nitrogen and calcium, their plant does not tolerate.
Soil requirements and transplant rules
The plant will thrive only in loose, slightly acidic soil. For planting take an equal amount of leaf, sod land and peat.
IMPORTANT! Make sure that there is no lime in the soil, Ktenanta does not tolerate it.
Young plants need to be transplanted in mid-spring annually, adults - once every 3-5 years. The roots of the plant are very fragile, so care must be taken when transplanting. Before removing the flower, the earth in a pot must be well watered so that it is soaked and the roots are easily released. When extracting from the ground, it is important not to cut off small roots, otherwise the plant will not take root well.
The pot for planting should be chosen wide and not too high. For young specimens the new pot should be 3-4 centimeters wider than the previous one. For an adult plant with a rare transplant, choose a more spacious container so that the roots have enough room to grow for several years. At the bottom of the pot, be sure to put a high drainage layer (1/4 of the height).
ADVICE! It is better to give preference when landing ceramic dishes, because thanks to the porous material it is easier to protect the plant from waterlogging. True, and watering will need to be more frequent than when using plastic dishes.
Cover the surface of the soil fine sand. Do not feed her for 30 days.
IMPORTANT! Do not rush to transplant Ctenant immediately after purchase, let her acclimatize in the house for a couple of weeks. If the purchase took place in the winter, then it is better to postpone the transplant until March.
pruning
Ktenant does not need to form a crown. It is only necessary to periodically remove dry and dying leaves.
Let's talk about whether it is necessary to put supports for Ktenanta.
Indeed, when growing high species to maintain the shape, you can use special flower supports and trellises. The stems are carefully tied to them so that they do not lean, and the bush does not fall apart.
reproduction
There are two ways to breed Ktenant:
- Cuttings. Produced by apical shoots 10 centimeters long. auspicious time- Spring. A stalk with two leaves is placed in water and covered polyethylene film. Roots will appear after about 6 weeks, after which the sprout can be planted in the soil.
- Division. An adult bush during transplantation is divided into two or three parts and seated. Until the appearance of new leaves, the plants must be kept under transparent caps.
Growing from seeds
Sowing seeds of Ktenanta is a rather troublesome task. In order for them to germinate, you need to create special conditions for them. Sow them in a flat dish in a peat-sand mixture. For germination, the seeds need a constant soil temperature of at least 20 degrees, so the containers need heating.
Also, crops should always be in a wet state, but there should not be excess moisture in the container, otherwise mold will appear and the crops will die. The container must be covered with glass and placed in a bright place.
IMPORTANT! Make sure that the direct rays of the sun do not fall on the crops, otherwise the seeds will overheat and die.
Sprouts should appear after 25-30 days. They can be planted in separate pots and soil at the age of 30-40 days.
Diseases and problems in the content
All diseases and troubles that arise during cultivation are due to the fact that Ktenant is kept in unsuitable conditions:
- low temperature and high humidity manifested by the fact that the stems begin to sag.
- lack of moisture- twisting of the leaves and the appearance of spots on them.
- If the flower is missing nutrients, the leaves will turn yellowish brown.
- Lack of sunlight will manifest itself in the form of a loss of the picturesque color of the leaves. If there is not enough lighting, the leaves become small.
- From dry air in the apartment leaves begin to turn yellow and fall off. As soon as you notice the first yellowness on the leaves, immediately begin to moisten the air, spray the plant. Place the pot in a tray filled with rocks or moss. Pour water over them, but make sure that it does not reach the bottom of the pot.
Pests
The Ktenante flower can be affected by such pests as:
- Shchitovka. appear on the leaves brown dots. You need to fight insects by washing the leaves with soapy water. After that, the plant must be treated with an insecticide.
- Spider mite. Appears if the plant is kept in a dry room. A white, thread-like coating appears on the leaves. Leaves should be wiped with a weak alcohol solution and treated with Fitoverm or Fufanon.
Ktenante- a great decoration for any interior style. To admire its original leaves, follow all the rules for caring for it.
Ktenanta is a worthy representative of the Marantov family, which delights with luxuriously painted leaves. This plant will become the pride of your collection if you can find the right approach to it. It is not easy to grow a ctenant, as well as its other relatives, at home, but many flower growers successfully cope with this task. The more arrowroots in your home, the easier care will become.
Ctenant origin and appearance
The birthplace of all plants of the bright family Marantovye - South America. Ktenanta (or ktenante) is no exception. It comes from the humid and warm Latin American jungle. There, the ctenant feels great in the lacy spots of the sun under the shade of tall trees. In its natural environment, this herbaceous perennial plant lives in Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru, Colombia and Brazil.
Ktenanta is translated from Greek as a comb flower. It is believed that the name was given to her due to the fact that unevenly spaced leaves resemble a comb from a distance.
Ctenant is often confused with the closest relatives: arrowroot, stromant, and especially with calathea. Some varieties are difficult to recognize even by a specialist. Plants have a similar appearance and the same preferences. All of them are afraid of the burning sun and cold, and rejoice at high humidity. However, ctenants differ from other arrowroots in the longer petioles and in the oval-elongated shape of the leaf plate.
The flowering of the ctenant does not impress, its paniculate pale pink or white inflorescences are small and dull. But she does not need lush flowers. Flower growers appreciate the ornate foliage of this plant. It is velvety and painted with whimsical ornaments, symmetrical or chaotic. The top of the sheet may be different shades green, silver with stripes, spots, streaks of white or pink. The bottom is most often purple-burgundy.
The beauty of the ctenant will require from the grower, of course, not sacrifices, but the creation of special conditions and increased attention to his person. Those who assure that arrowroots are easy to home care are slightly disingenuous. Or they have been growing these plants for a long time and have studied all the habits thoroughly. For example, spraying should become a daily procedure, dosed watering is necessary, the hot sun burns, and the lack of light kills the beauty of the leaves. But despite all the difficulties, ktenants are popular, flower growers are ready to spend time and effort for them.
The Charm of Prayer
Maranth plants are popularly called praying for the fact that in the evening, at sunset, they raise and touchingly fold the leaves. So they try to get more light, sometimes prayer anticipates changes in the weather, indicating imminent rain.
In the ctenant, this generic feature is very well expressed. And since the leaf plates are quite large and the petioles are long, the plant emits a characteristic rustling. Most flower growers are delighted with such a "charging". Their flower smiles and waves. Ctenant owners know that leaf movement can also indicate problems. If the plant lowered them and almost pressed them against the petioles, it is most likely hot and dry. Then it is worth checking the soil, moisten the leaves.
Video: ktenanta lifts leaves
Names of species and varieties: ctenant Oppenheim, Burle-Marx, Lubbers and others
The genus ctenant has approximately 15 species. In indoor floriculture, five of them have become widespread, as well as varieties bred by breeders.
- Ktenant Oppenheim - the most popular and tall (more than 1 meter) species. Fine-haired and large (about 45 cm) leaves have the shape of an elongated oval with sharp end. They are located on high petioles and are decorated with light green, silver or cream stripes. The underside is purplish.
- Tricolor (Tricolor) - a form of Oppenheim's ctenant with even more variegated leaves. They combine different shades of white, pink, green.
- Ktenanta Lubbers is a well-known species in home floriculture. The height of the bush can reach up to 80 cm, but there is also a stunted form - about 30 cm. The leaves are painted on top with a yellow pattern over a green field. The underside is light green.
- Ctenanta cultivar Lubbers Brazilian Snow is noted for leaves with cream streaks. They are very wide and can take up to half of the leaf plate.
- Ktenanta Burle-Marx - a compact view, not higher than 40 cm. Oval leaves without sharpening are painted in different tones of green, from silver-greenish to dark swamp. The spots are not randomly scattered, but create an ornament. The reverse side of the leaf plate is wine-burgundy.
- The Burle-Marx ctenant variety Amagris is an even smaller bush, no more than 30 cm. Silver-green leaves are decorated on top with contrasting veins. The reverse side is light purple.
- Ctenant pubescent (or bristly) is very similar to Oppenheim's ctenant. But the growth is slightly lower - about 80 cm. The leaves at the base are wider, and the decorating stripes on them are narrower than those of Oppenheim's ctenant. But the main difference between the pubescent variety is that the petioles are covered with small villi.
- Ctenanta pubescent of the Gray Star variety is distinguished by pointed leaves of a bluish hue, a dark green pattern is traced along the veins. The underside is burgundy purple.
- Ctenant compressed - also a tall species, about 1 m. On the tops of smooth shoots there are four leaves. They are shiny and not as brightly colored as other ctenants. Leaf plate of different shades of green.
- Ctenantha marantolista - a species that was formerly called Ctenanthe pilosa. Differs in elongated-oval leaves (about 20 cm long). The main color is dark green, the spots are yellowish-light green.
- Pleasant ctenant (amabilis) prefers to develop in breadth, and not up, like arrowroot. The leaves are oval-elongated, silvery-green. Florists note that this species prefers more abundant watering than others.
Varieties of ctenants in the photo
The leaves of the compressed ctenant are aged with green tones 
Ktenanta pubescent differs from others in fleecy shoots 
Ktenanta pleasant forms whole leafy "pillows" 
The Tricolor variety has richly colored leaves. 
Ktenanta Burle-Marx - a compact bush with wide oval leaves 
Lubbers ctenant leaves with green-gold painting 
On oval leaves, light green stripes and spots 
The original form of Oppenheim's ctenant has leaves with a green pattern on top and a purple bottom. 
Amagris variety is the smallest bush 
Brasilian Show is characterized by wide cream stripes. 
Grade Gray Star - these are elongated silver-green leaves
Video: acquaintance with the pubescent ctenant in the natural environment
Conditions for a moisture-loving tropican
When choosing where to put a pot with a ctenant, remember her innate habits: love for warmth, humidity and diffused light. Direct sun, hot, air-drying battery, gusts of cold air - this is not for a tropical plant. Yes, and the windowsill is not the best place for a ctenant: in spring and summer - too bright light, harmful to the leaves, in autumn and winter - cold, destructive to the roots.
Seasonal conditions (table)
| Season | Lighting | Humidity | Temperature |
| Spring | Ctenants prefer diffused light, feel good in light partial shade. The best place to grow is the east and west sides. Or south, but not at the window, but in the back of the room. Shade off midday sun. The direct sun will discolor the elegant foliage and make it smaller. | Very high, 80–90%. Take care of hydration.
| Moderate, + 20–22 0 C. Protect from drafts. Ctenanta does not tolerate sudden fluctuations in temperature. |
| Summer | Moderate and slightly higher, +20–26 0С. Protect from heat and temperature fluctuations. |
||
| Autumn | |||
| Winter | Well-lit places, but away from direct sun. Add artificial lighting. Daylight hours for a ctenant should last 14–16 hours. | High, 80–90%. Do not place the plant near heating appliances. Spray the leaves and stems at least 3 times a week. Humidify the air in all available ways. | Moderate, 18–20 0 C, slightly cool. Below +15 should not fall. |
About florarium for indoor flower
The younger the ctenant, the higher the air humidity should be, flower growers noticed. Miniature varieties are also more moisture-loving than tall ones. Beauty from tropical swamps often lacks moisture in apartments where the air is dry heating appliances. She likes greenhouse conditions, which can be created in an open florarium, or an aquarium garden.
However, tall ctenants can be grown there until a certain age, as long as size allows. And compact slow-growing varieties will become permanent residents of the jungle in the aquarium. Select plants with the same environmental requirements and plant them together. You almost never have to take care of them. The inhabitants of the florarium themselves create the microclimate that they like.
How to make an open florarium
- Take a transparent container or aquarium.
- Fill the bottom with drainage material, and top with a porous soil substrate.
- Plant moisture-loving miniature plants.
- Moisten the plantings, close the florarium with a lid or just glass.
- Place it in a warm and bright place, out of direct sun.
- If condensation occurs, ventilate the mini-jungle.
- Water the plants every few months and clean up the aquarium garden.
Neighbors of the ktenant in the florarium
If you decide to plant an aquarium or bottle garden, choose plants with similar preferences. Together with ctenant, you can plant other arrowroots, royal begonia (small-leaved), calamus, ferns, peperomia, beautiful neanthus, pilea, fittonia, crotons, reo.
The smallest ctenants, such as the Amagris variety, can be grown in a bottle garden, as an indoor florarium is sometimes called. Unlike an open (aquarium) container, they take it with a rather narrow neck, which is tightly closed with a lid. After planting, the bottle garden is watered only once, and then clogged and not opened. Plants live in closed ecosystem providing itself with air and moisture. A garden in a bottle looks very original, it does not need to be looked after. However, it will take taste and skill to place the green inhabitants picturesquely and accurately.
Video: master class on planting a florarium
Planting: soil, pot, drainage
Young ctenants recommend transplanting annually, adults - on demand, when the roots have no room for development and the plant has stopped growing. Transplantation is carried out in the warm season: in May or June. Usually, this operation is combined with the reproduction of the plant by dividing the root.
A flower that has just been bought should be transplanted, keeping it in quarantine for a couple of weeks. In stores, they are kept in a depleted substrate to limit growth. Therefore, try to remove almost all of this soil, but it is not necessary to wash the roots so as not to injure.
A wide plastic pot, slightly larger than the previous one, is suitable for ktenante. Too voluminous should not be taken, undeveloped land easily turns sour. The plant has superficial roots and they do not need depth. And plastic, in comparison with ceramics, retains heat better - this will appeal to a southerner-ktenant.
The tropical beauty will be grateful for the nutritious, loose and slightly acidic soil. Composition options:
- ready-made store mix for arrowroot or azaleas, enriched with crushed charcoal;
- on 3 parts of garden land, one and a half - peat and one sand;
- equally humus, leaf and peat land with the addition of a small amount of coniferous land and pieces of charcoal;
- on 2 parts of leafy soil, one part of peat, half of humus and sand, for airiness cut sphagnum moss and pine bark;
- equally leaf ground, peat, sand and cut moss;
- universal earth, 1/3 of the soil for cacti;
- peat substrate, compost and leafy soil in equal proportions.
Test the soil substrate before planting. Squeeze a handful of soil in your fist, hold for a minute, and then unclench. The substrate crumbled easily - which means that the mixture is prepared as it should.
We transplant the ctenant
- Sterilize (calcine or steam) the soil mixture and drainage, scald the pot with boiling water.
- Place a drainage layer on the bottom of the pot (large expanded clay or broken brick mixed with river sand), it should take up about ¼ of the volume.
- Pour some soil on top of the drainage, moisten it.
- Remove the plant from the old pot carefully without disturbing the root ball.
- Explore above-ground part, remove dried and diseased leaves.
- Inspect the roots, if there are rotten ones, carefully remove them. If necessary, separate part of the bush for propagation.
- Move the plant to a new pot.
- Gradually fill the earthen ball with new soil, compacting the void between it and the wall of the pot. In the process, shake the container slightly so as not to leave unfilled areas.
- Water the plant lightly, spray it and put it in a slightly shaded place.
Ktenanta, like other arrowroots, painfully endures changing the pot. To help her, add a rooting preparation (kornevin, zircon, ecogel) to the irrigation water once a week. It can be sprayed from a very fine sprayer with a solution of epin (2-3 drops per glass of water).
About support
Most ctenants are tall plants. Very large leaves are located on long, sometimes more than a meter, and thin grassy shoots. Therefore, over time, the bush may fall apart ugly. To keep the ctenant in shape, install a support in the pot. It can be a design from a store or independently made. For example, place around the circumference of the pot bamboo sticks and connect them with flexible wire or twine. Ctenant leaves do not need heavy-duty support, they are quite light. The main thing is not to let the shoots deviate from the vertical.
Caring for a ctenant at home
Many people think that caring for a demanding ctenant is difficult. She really does not fit the forgetful and too busy grower. But if not only cacti live in your house, but also moisture-loving ones, for example, arrowroot plants, the ctenant will not add much trouble. Place it next to ferns, begonias, fittonias and other moisture lovers. Then care will be much easier.
Watering and feeding
Ctenantha prefers very humid air. And the excess moisture at the roots is not always good. With too much watering in a flower pot, pests and pathogens can appear. You need to find a middle ground when watering the plant. The top layer between waterings should be slightly dried, and moisture should be kept inside the coma. In summer, the ctenant is watered often, about every other day. In winter - 2 times a week or less. The top layer of soil should be kept dry for 4 days. The frequency depends on the temperature of the content. The warmer, the more abundant watering. Sometimes it can be replaced by bathing in the shower or spraying.
Ctenanta is sensitive to water quality and temperature. It should be desalted, filtered or settled, always lukewarm, 5 degrees higher than the temperature in the room.
Ktenanta does not tolerate excess fertilizer. During growth (spring-summer), it can be fed with mineral complexes for ornamental plants, but dilute them more than recommended in the instructions. Be especially careful with nitrogen nutrition, because of it the leaves turn green. Fertilize once every two weeks after watering. After transplantation, it is not worth feeding for a month. In winter, fertilize every six months.
Features of flowering
The beautiful-leaved ctenante was not lucky with flowers. They do not add beauty to her. Small white or pale pink flowers appear on the spikelet inflorescences. So that the plant does not spend strength on growing them, some flower growers remove them immediately, preventing them from blooming. But the stubborn ctenant instead releases new flower stalks, wasting energy. And sometimes it becomes so weak that it can die. Therefore, it is better to let it bloom for the first time, after removing the peduncle.
Rest period, winter care and lighting
Ktenanta does without a cool rest in winter, but still slows down growth, sometimes loses some of the leaves. She is content with room temperature, more scarce watering, occasional top dressing. But the humidity of the air should still remain high, and the plant needs bright light.
Usually small ctenant bushes that reach for the light hibernate on the windowsill. In this case, be attentive to the air temperature, do not open the window nearby and do not allow tender leaves to dry hot batteries. And be sure to insulate the roots of the ctenant. Place the pot on a thick styrofoam or other heat-retaining support. Wrap it in cloth.
Wintering on a cold windowsill the best way, the tenant will feel better in the back of the room. But then you need to artificially increase the length of daylight hours. The plant really likes the light of fluorescent or LED lamps. Ideally, they should be placed on both sides at a distance of at least 15 cm. Then the ctenant bush will be even and will not lose its beauty even in winter.
Formation
If the ctenant grows uncontrollably, over the years it may lose its decorative appearance. A weak growth is formed, leaves that do not have enough space become smaller and turn yellow. In particular advanced cases can be done radically. Cut the plant completely, place the pot in partial shade and water very sparingly. After some time, the roots will give a new, healthy growth.
But it is better not to take it to extremes, but to regularly devote time to formation. It is necessary to remove deformed, elongated shoots, to prune dried or sluggish foliage. The place of the cut ones is quickly taken by new leaves.
When trimming a ctenant, try to cut branches with articular knots. Then they can be used for cuttings. New roots will grow from these thickenings.
Growing and care mistakes: leaves curl, turn yellow + other signs
The mobile leaves of the ctenant serve as an indicator of her well-being. Often their turns are a defensive reaction to adverse conditions. For example, a ctenant may place the leaves edge-to-edge to the sun to reduce moisture evaporation. And in the heat, press them to the petioles. Sometimes the foliage is lowered on one side of the bush, and raised on the other - this is the effect of hot air that comes from the battery or a craving for light. Watch the ctenata, and she herself will tell you what is best for her. By the way, if the leaves stopped rising every night, it means that the plant is unwell.
Issues and their fixes (table)
Video: a story about caring for a ctenant
Diseases and pests (table)
Video: an unusual way to heal a ctenant
Ctenant breeding
Ktenanthu is usually propagated by cuttings and dividing the bush during transplantation. From seeds, this plant, like other arrowroots, is practically not grown. They are difficult to obtain at home, since insects are needed for pollination. And why a long and complicated sowing campaign, if there are more effective ways.
cuttings
The cuttings of the ctenant are usually combined with the formation of the plant. Cuttings can be rooted from spring to autumn.
By dividing the bush
This type of reproduction is combined with plant transplantation in late spring, early summer.
Such a plant as a cronian leaf is known to many flower growers who cultivate species. The ctenant flower at home has a huge potential for growth and development of an attractive deciduous mass with a wide variety of color options. Belongs to the Marantaceae family, is a native of the jungles of Brazil. Some species of ktenante are found in the dense forests of Costa Rica. In room conditions, it does not bloom often, this period lasts for the summer months. Ktenanta requires certain conditions for growth - the plant is demanding on the level of illumination. Burns may develop if exposed to direct sunlight. And the question arises as to why the leaves curl and the decorative value of the plant is lost. You can organize proper care in conditions of fairly bright, but diffused light. It is recommended to place the pot next to the south or west window, but behind a transparent curtain. Look at the views of the ktenante in the photo and continue the conversation about it exotic plant:
Description of the botanical culture of ktenante and a photo of a flower
Ktenante has an average height of a deciduous bush, excellent for decorative landscaping of residential premises and offices. Description of a flower should start with requirements temperature regime cultivation, since even a short-term decrease in ambient temperature leads to decay of the root system. The ideal temperature in summer days- from +18 to +25℃.0 in winter, a slight decrease to + 20℃ is required. It is necessary to water with caution, only after the soil in the container has dried out 3 cm deep. In winter and autumn, watering is carried out once a week, in summer - as needed. Look at the photo of a flower that was properly and timely cared for:
Growing a botanical culture ktenante should start with a choice right kind. The fact is that some varieties of plants reach, as they grow older, simply gigantic sizes. There are instances of 3 meters in height and up to 5 meters in diameter. In most varieties intended for indoor floriculture, the leaves do not reach a length of more than 30 cm. They have a regular oval shape, sometimes with pointed ends. The color of the deciduous mass depends on the type of ctenant - most often it is a saturated dark green background and stains along the central axis of white, cream, yellow, light green and burgundy. Crocodile leaf grows fast enough. For 1 vegetative season, the bush can reach an increase in height up to 10 cm. 
A feature of culture is the dependence on the position of the sun in the sky. Toward evening, with sunset, the deciduous mass gathers in a bundle and stretches upwards. And in the early morning, during sieving, they diverge and fall along the pot. At the same time, if you listen closely, you can hear a distinct rustle. Sometimes it seems that the plant is alive and lives some kind of life of its own. 
Despite the fact that the ktenante looks like a typical bush, this botanical culture does not have such a form. There is a rather thick loose trunk along which foliage is densely planted. 
We organize care for ctenante at home: watering, spraying, fertilizing
So, caring for a ctenante at home includes several mandatory agrotechnical measures. This is timely watering, daily spraying of deciduous mass with warm, settled water and mineral supplements. We organize all these procedures in a strictly allotted order, otherwise we risk making gross mistakes. Let's start with watering. For it, only well-filtered, settled water with a neutral pH is used. The water temperature for irrigation should be 2-4 degrees higher than the ambient temperature. It is not recommended to pour liquid into the pan. If after watering the glass there is water, it should be immediately drained and the pan dried with paper towels. Spraying of deciduous mass is a crucial moment. Even a two-day absence of this procedure can lead to twisting of the deciduous mass and its subsequent death. Spray with warm water from a spray bottle, morning and evening. In winter, when the air in the room is dry, spraying can be carried out 3-4 times. Reduce the amount of necessary procedures possible if provided natural process air humidification next to the ctenante. For these purposes, wetted sphagnum moss is used, laying next to gravel, which is wetted with water. You can also put a flower next to an aquarium or indoor fountain. Feeding ktenants begin in early February. At this time, the plant begins its rapid growth. A complex of fertilizers with a high content of nitrogen and phosphorus is required. Closer to mid-March, fertilizing is carried out with a divorced mullein or any other organic composition. Then the introduction of mineral liquid complexes is carried out 1 time in 2 weeks until the end of September. From October to January, top dressing is carried out once a month with a low level of nitrogen. Regular removal of dry leaves is a good prevention of infections and plant diseases. Use a pruner to remove or sharp knife. Cut points should be powdered with crushed charcoal or ash. An annual transplant is carried out in the first 5 years of a flower's life. Then the pot is increased only if necessary. For this, the transfer method is used. In other cases, in the spring they only change upper layer soil on fresh soil. For reproduction, apical buds and the method of dividing the bush are used. This procedure should be carried out in early spring, until the end of April.Types of ktenant (Oppenheim, Burle, Lubbers and compressed) with photo
The types of ktenant are so diverse that botanists have already lost count. Most of them claim that approximately 120 varieties are found in nature. In fact, there are even more of them. But not all are suitable for home breeding. The following are the most popular types of ktenant with a photo: burle and Oppenheim, Lubbers and compressed.
Widespread ctenatna Berl-Marx, whose homeland is tropical Brazil. It has a small height, only 40 cm and optimal length leaf - up to 10 cm. Ctenanthe burle-marxii H. A. Kenn is a compact houseplant with an unusual burgundy color on the underside of the leaf blade. On the upper side, a light green color prevails, framed by rich dark stripes located longitudinally. Can successfully bloom at home. This usually happens in February. A large panicle with small white inflorescences is thrown out. 
Ktenanta Lubbers also came to us from Brazil. It develops more powerful growth and in adulthood can reach 80 cm. Its main advantage is decorativeness due to stains on the leaves. They are yellow or cream color, depicted as large strokes or bird feathers. The main background of the deciduous mass is light green. 
Ct. oppenheimiana (Ktenante Oppenheim) exceeds the previous species in its growth by 1-20 cm and can grow up to 1 meter at home. The leaves have rather long petioles, with which they are attached to the central trunk. The velvety leaf blade reaches a length of 40 cm. It has a rich light green color with white stripes. The reverse side is painted purple.
Ctenanta Burle maxi and compressed are similar in many ways. These are low plants with oval green leaves. In the second type, the leaves are slightly pointed. 