The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
Never never plant (Ctenanthe spp.)
This phenomenon is known as nyctinasty.
They prefer indirect light, high humidity, and moist, rich soil with good drainage.
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
Put them in anorth-facing windowor aneast-facing windowthat gets weaker morning light.
Never never plants can also grow well several feet from a south-facing or west-facing window that gets stronger sunlight.
Keep them out of direct sun, which can burn the leaves and harm the plant.
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
Soggy soil can cause yellowing leaves or evenroot rot.
Standard potting mix can work well if it’s loose enough to promote drainage.
A good indication is that the top inch or so of the soil feels dry.
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
You may need to water less frequently in winter.
Temperature and Humidity
Never never plants prefer conditions similar to their tropical native habitat.
Dry air can make never never plants more susceptible to pests likespider mites.
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
The types of never never plants include:
Pruning
Never never plant doesn’t typically need pruning.
Propagating Never Never Plant
Never never plant is easy to propagate by division or stem cuttings.
Both methods are best done in the spring when the plant’s growth is the most vigorous.
Johanna Svennberg/Getty
Here’s how to propagate never never plant.
Potting and Repotting Never Never Plant
A never never plant benefits from being a bit potbound.
Use a glazed ceramic or plastic pot with drainage holes for never never plant.
Terra cotta or unglazed ceramic will wick away much-needed soil moisture.
Let the top of the soil dry out between waterings to minimize the risk.
Watch for these signs of common problems and act quickly to keep your plant looking healthy and beautiful.
Check the soil moisture and placement in your space, then adjust accordingly.
Leaves Turning Yellow
A few different issues can make your never never plant’s leaves turn yellow.
Overly wet soil and root rot are common causes, as the plant is sensitive to overwatering.
If overwatering isn’t the issue, yellow leaves may be brought on by a lack of fertilizer.
Trim away any yellow leaves.
A dehydrated plant will get crispy and let go of its leaves in severe cases.
Yes, never never plant is easy to keep as a houseplant with the proper conditions.
Never never plants and calatheas both belong to theprayer plant family(Marantaceae).
Species may have similarly shaped leaves, striped or variegated markings, and care.
Never never plants fold up their leaves at night the same way calatheas and marantas do.
Along with calatheas, marantas and stromanthes are also in the prayer plant family with never never plants.
The cultivar Ctenanthe ‘Tricolor’ looks very similar to another popular houseplant, Stromanthe ‘Triostar’.
