Moderate Tropical Safe for pets

Fishbone Prayer Plant

Ctenanthe burle-marxii

A plant with graphic foliage adorned with dark green fishbone patterns on a light green background, with an elegant purple underside.

The essentials at a glance

Watering

Every 5 days
Light

Medium light
Humidity

50–70 %
Temperature

16–27 °C

How to care for your Fishbone Prayer Plant

Everything you need to keep your Fishbone Prayer Plant healthy: watering, light, humidity, feeding, repotting and pruning.

Ctenanthe burle-marxii is native to the tropical forests of southeastern Brazil, where it forms dense colonies in the understory. Its oval leaves display a regular, geometric pattern of dark green bands arranged in a fishbone pattern on a pale grayish-green background, with a characteristic purplish-brown underside. Less finicky than its Calathea cousin, it is nonetheless sensitive to water quality and ambient humidity. Like all Marantaceae, its leaves rise in the evening and lower in the morning, adding a living, dynamic character to this decorative plant.

Watering your Fishbone Prayer Plant

Every 5 days

Keep soil consistently moist but not saturated. Use filtered or rainwater to avoid mineral buildup. Water when the top 1–2 cm of soil is dry.

How to know it needs water

Top 1–2 cm of soil feels dry
Leaves begin to curl or fold
Brown leaf edges develop from inconsistent watering

How much light a Fishbone Prayer Plant needs

Medium light

Medium to bright indirect light. Avoid direct sun which fades the leaf markings. Tolerates lower light better than Calatheas but patterns will be less vivid.

Direct sun tolerated: No direct sun
Orientations that suit it: North, North-east, East, North-west

Humidity and misting

50–70 %

50–70% Appreciates good humidity. Regular misting or a humidifier is beneficial. More tolerant of average humidity than Calatheas but thrives with extra moisture.

Feeding and fertiliser

Every 30 days

Feed monthly during spring and summer at half strength. Sensitive to over-fertilizing. No feeding in autumn and winter.

Recommended feed: Balanced liquid fertilizer (10-10-10) · 3-1-2

Repotting your Fishbone Prayer Plant

Every 18 months

Use a moisture-retentive but well-draining mix with peat and perlite. Can be divided during repotting. Handle roots gently as they are delicate.

When: Spring
Potting mix: All-purpose potting mix
Mix in: perlite, coco fibre, pine bark

The tell-tale signs

Roots visible at drainage holes
Plant becomes cramped and crowded
New growth is smaller than older leaves

Pruning your Fishbone Prayer Plant

Year-round to remove damaged or brown leaves. Cut damaged leaves at the base. Remove any completely brown leaves promptly. Thin overcrowded clumps by dividing. New growth emerges from the rhizome.

Through the year

Watering is not set once and for all: it follows the light and the growth. Allow 7 days between waterings in the depth of winter, against 4 in the growing season.

Active growth · Days between waterings

Good to know

This plant is named after Roberto Burle Marx, one of the most famous landscape architects of the 20th century, known for integrating Brazilian tropical flora into modern design.
The leaf pattern of Ctenanthe burle-marxii resembles a fish skeleton, giving it the nickname 'fishbone prayer plant'.

Frequently asked questions about the Fishbone Prayer Plant

How do you care for a Fishbone Prayer Plant?

Water it every 5 days. Give it medium light. Ideal humidity: 50–70 %. Ideal temperature: 16–27 °C. Keep soil consistently moist but not saturated. Use filtered or rainwater to avoid mineral buildup. Water when the top 1–2 cm of soil is dry.

How often should you water a Fishbone Prayer Plant?

Every 5 days Keep soil consistently moist but not saturated. Use filtered or rainwater to avoid mineral buildup. Water when the top 1–2 cm of soil is dry. How to know it needs water : Top 1–2 cm of soil feels dry ; Leaves begin to curl or fold ; Brown leaf edges develop from inconsistent watering.

How much light does a Fishbone Prayer Plant need?

Medium light Medium to bright indirect light. Avoid direct sun which fades the leaf markings. Tolerates lower light better than Calatheas but patterns will be less vivid. No direct sun

Is the Fishbone Prayer Plant toxic to cats and dogs?

No, the Fishbone Prayer Plant is not listed as toxic to cats and dogs. That is still no reason to let your pets chew on it.

Why are my Fishbone Prayer Plant leaves turning yellow?

Yellowing most often comes from too much water: the mix stays wet and the roots suffocate. Check that the pot drains, empty the saucer, and let the mix dry before watering again. Too little light or a cold draught cause the same symptom.

When should you repot a Fishbone Prayer Plant?

Repot every 18 months, ideally in spring. Use a moisture-retentive but well-draining mix with peat and perlite. Can be divided during repotting. Handle roots gently as they are delicate.