Ctenanthe Setosa

Ctenanthe setosa, also called the Never Never Plant, is a striking Ctenanthe with greyish-green leaves that have darker green striping. The leaves fold up at night, displaying the purple undersides. 

Ctenanthes can be finicky but will grow well if you meet their needs. They like medium to bright, indirect light. Too much light will burn the foliage, but too little will cause the leaves to lose colour. The soil should be well-draining, but remain consistently moist without being soggy or waterlogged; good drainage is important. Ctenanthes will not tolerate dry soil for long; if the leaves are curling, they should have been watered the day before. 

The two most difficult aspects of owning Ctenanthes are water and humidity. They need moderately high humidity to thrive, at least 50%, if not 60%. They also tend to dislike our tap water; the fluoride, chlorine and excess minerals cause brown tips and spots on the foliage over time. We recommend distilled, deionized, or rainwater.