Fishbone Prayer Plant (Burle Marx Calathea) care

Light

In the wild fishbone prayer plant grows on the bright edge of a forest canopy, not in the canopy and not in the open. Indoors, that translates to within a metre of an unobstructed window, sheer curtain optional. Bright, indirect light is ideal; an east- or west-facing position suits it well. Direct sun scorches and bleaches the patterned leaves, while too little light dulls the silvery markings. RHS classes it as a partial-shade, sheltered plant. The fastest test: a hand held at the leaf casts a soft-edged shadow at noon — sharp shadow means too much sun, no shadow means too little light.

Watering

Aim for when the top 1-2 cm (about half an inch to an inch) of soil feels dry, roughly weekly in summer for fishbone prayer plant, but treat that as a starting point rather than a rule. A south-facing summer windowsill will dry the pot twice as fast as a north-facing winter room. Lift the pot; if it feels noticeably lighter than it did wet, water it. Keep the soil consistently moist but never waterlogged; water once the top inch begins to dry, then reduce watering in winter. Like most Marantaceae, it is sensitive to salts, chlorine, and fluoride, so use filtered, distilled, or rainwater and let tap water stand if needed.

Soil and pot

Fishbone Prayer Plant grows best in rich, moisture-retentive but free-draining potting mix. Use a peat-free, loam-based mix amended for drainage, e.g. quality potting compost with added coir or peat substitute plus a little perlite or coarse sand. It tolerates acidic, neutral, or alkaline pH but resents soggy, compacted soil. A pot with a working drainage hole is non-negotiable for this species — even free-draining mix will turn soggy in a closed planter. If you love the look of a decorative pot without a hole, use it as a cachepot around an inner nursery pot you can lift out to water.

Humidity and temperature

Fishbone Prayer Plant sits happiest at around 50-60%+ (the higher the better) humidity and 18-24C, with a minimum around 10-15C (65-75F, with a minimum around 50-59F). High humidity is the make-or-break factor. Below roughly 50% the leaf edges brown and crisp. Group with other plants, stand the pot on a tray of moist gravel, or run a humidifier; a bright bathroom or kitchen often suits it. Avoid cold draughts and dry forced-air heating. If you keep the room above 18 year-round and avoid placing the plant near a cold draught, a hot radiator, or an air-conditioning vent, you have already handled the two biggest indoor stressors.

Fertilising

Feed fishbone prayer plant sparingly. Feed monthly during the growing season (spring through early autumn) with a balanced liquid houseplant fertiliser at half the recommended strength. It is sensitive to fertiliser salt build-up, so flush the soil occasionally and stop feeding in winter when growth slows. Skip fertiliser entirely on a stressed, recently-repotted, or actively wilting plant — fertiliser salts make damage worse, not better. Wait for a round of healthy new growth before resuming a feeding rhythm.

Common problems

Below are the issues we see most often on fishbone prayer plant in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

• Crispy, browning leaf edges — Almost always low humidity or mineral build-up from tap water. Raise humidity (pebble tray, grouping, humidifier) and switch to filtered, distilled, or rainwater.
• Yellowing leaves — Usually overwatering or soggy, poorly drained soil; can also follow cold draughts. Let the top inch dry between waterings and ensure the pot drains freely.
• Faded or washed-out leaf markings — Too much direct sun bleaches and scorches the patterning, while very low light flattens the contrast. Move to bright, indirect light.
• Curling or limp leaves — A sign of underwatering or very dry air; the plant curls to conserve moisture. Check the soil and water if dry, and increase humidity.
• Leaves not opening, staying closed — Persistent closed leaves can indicate stress from inconsistent watering or too little daytime light; some night-folding is normal nyctinastic movement.
• Spider mites — Dry indoor air invites spider mites, seen as fine webbing and stippled leaves. Raise humidity, rinse the foliage, and treat with insecticidal soap or neem if needed.

Propagation

Propagate by division, ideally in spring or early summer when repotting a mature, clumping plant. Ease the rootball apart into sections, each with healthy roots and several leaves, and pot up individually in fresh moist mix. Keep warm, humid, and out of direct sun while the divisions establish. Propagation is the cheapest, most satisfying way to expand a collection — and it doubles as insurance against losing a mature plant to an accident. Take a backup cutting once the parent is established and healthy.

Toxicity to pets

Fishbone Prayer Plant is mildly toxic to pets. Fishbone Prayer Plant (Ctenanthe burle-marxii) is a prayer plant (family Marantaceae). It is not individually listed in the ASPCA database, and the ASPCA 'Prayer Plant' entry is filed under the related Calathea (Goeppertia), a different genus, so true Maranta/Ctenanthe is not ASPCA-confirmed. It has no known toxic compounds and is generally kept safely around pets, but treat it as mildly toxic and check with your vet to be sure. If you keep cats, dogs, or curious children in the house, weigh placement carefully — a high shelf or a hanging planter is enough for casual safety. For severe ingestion incidents, call your local vet and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (in the US, 888-426-4435).

Pet-safety status is sourced from the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, which catalogues the most-asked-about plants for cats, dogs, and horses.

Fishbone Prayer Plant deep-dive guides

Every aspect of fishbone prayer plant care, each with its own calibrated guide:

• Fishbone Prayer Plant watering schedule
• Fishbone Prayer Plant light requirements
• Best soil mix for fishbone prayer plant
• Fishbone Prayer Plant fertilizing guide
• When to repot fishbone prayer plant
• How to propagate fishbone prayer plant
• Fishbone Prayer Plant growth rate & size
• Fishbone Prayer Plant cold hardiness
• Fishbone Prayer Plant temperature & humidity
• Is fishbone prayer plant toxic to cats & dogs?

Related guides

Fishbone Prayer Plant is also known as Fishbone Prayer Plant, Burle Marx Calathea, Fishbone Calathea, and Never Never Plant.

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