--- title: "Got this rattlesnake plant about a month and a half ago. I was doing…" description: "Got this rattlesnake plant about a month and a half ago. I was doing the same regiment for it as my other Calathea (fishbone prayer plant) — water them 1-2x…" url: "https://getplanta.com/community/lKxUkhzRR_aIJD7o1QvtwQ/WYC7JyH34lKrbnAw09YPsJ" community: "Pests, diseases and problems" author: "abitofbrit" published: "2025-09-12T17:29:18.009087Z" language: "en" image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/17SrAqQj8OyNFHAybODfewSCnqbgQBEM__0Czrcugaw/uP3AalQUT9eWd-_3HUuFig.webp?size=large" --- [Community](https://getplanta.com/community.md) / [Pests, diseases and problems](https://getplanta.com/community/lKxUkhzRR_aIJD7o1QvtwQ.md) # Got this rattlesnake plant about a month and a half ago. I was doing… _Posted by abitofbrit on 2025-09-12_ Got this rattlesnake plant about a month and a half ago. I was doing the same regiment for it as my other Calathea (fishbone prayer plant) — water them 1-2x per week (as needed) with regular tap water; mist them; give them bright, indirect light; and fertilize them every 3-4 weeks. My other calathea is thriving! It's literally popping out new leaves and growth left and right. This one, not so much. 😭 I recently switched to watering it with distilled water, but I'm wondering if that's enough to reverse its slow death. Should I wash off the roots with the distilled water and repot it too? Something else? Thanks in advance! 🪴 \--- Edited to add: This whole time, I thought my other plant was a Calathea. I was today years old when I found out Calathea Burle Marx plants/fishbone prayer plants aren't actually Calatheas. They're Ctenanthes. Please tell me I'm not the only one who didn't know this. 😅 Either way, I still need help with my rattlesnake plant. haha ![Attachment 1 of 2](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/17SrAqQj8OyNFHAybODfewSCnqbgQBEM__0Czrcugaw/uP3AalQUT9eWd-_3HUuFig.webp?size=large) ![Attachment 2 of 2](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/17SrAqQj8OyNFHAybODfewSCnqbgQBEM__0Czrcugaw/4R_WZANTSeqUc_BjB45JYA.webp?size=large) ## 11 comments ### Phil commented on 2025-09-12 But I think their care is identical. So you’re good. #### abitofbrit replied on 2025-09-12 What’s working for the prayer plant isn’t working for the rattlesnake plant. 😕 ### Tom commented on 2025-09-12 Look likes leaves going yellow , normally a sign of over watering, does the pot have drainage, also is that a silver circle, if so check for thrips #### abitofbrit replied on 2025-09-12 The pot does have drainage, and the silver spot is actually a hole in the leaf – the color you’re seeing is my kitchen’s backsplash through the hole. 😆 Thankfully, no thrips! Overwatering is definitely a possibility. I was reading that the soil should be kept consistently moist, and I may have overdone it. I’ll try swapping out the soil to see if that helps. #### Tom replied on 2025-09-12 Glad it’s not thrips, Yes they like moist but top 1 to 2 inches needs to be dry before watering, mite be best to cut down to around 6 days before watering/ or less water, they don’t like tap water ,or change to a better draining soil mix although soil mix looks ok from pic, maybe just add a bit more perlite , bit of orchid bark and some coco choir #### abitofbrit replied on 2025-09-12 Awesome! Thank you for the advice! I’ll give it a go. ☺️ ### Amie206 commented on 2025-09-13 I would say you need to downsize the pot at this point. When you repot, checking the roots for rot. As a CHRONIC over waterer myself, I add a lot of additional amendments to my soil - coco chips or medium sized orchid bark plus perlite #3. Also, these like humidity! This is my smaller rattlesnake plant. I also have a larger one that is 4 (?) years old and BIG! ![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/rLkdsfZry_mmttY12utbuWXEpkypn5xdaSt3fFIquCc/z0zeTqG7RLW7i3dfIt0b2Q.webp?size=large) #### abitofbrit replied on 2025-09-13 Thank you for the tip on what to add to the soil! I just bought some coco chips on your recommendation. ☺️ #### abitofbrit replied on 2025-09-13 Your plants are beautiful, btw!! ### Amy commented on 2025-09-13 I have a white fusion Calathea that almost died from overwatering and other pests issues. It was down to one leaf but the rhizome was still alive so I rehabbed it and it’s doing great now. My rattlesnake plant didn’t make it through. If the rhizome of your plant is Okay and you find the correct water schedule, I think the plant will make it. I would downsize the pot until more growth comes in. My plant went from 4” pot to 3” and now is in a 8” pot. Good luck. ![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/lWTjWGwwun1muSeAQxsoBCK67Od3_D1F554RFf3AQ7o/a8buCoz2TcCqVv4pF_xq3g.webp?size=large) #### abitofbrit replied on 2025-09-13 What a comeback! It’s gorgeous!!! I repotted mine in another 4” pot, but I’m thinking 3” probably would’ve been better. I have to see if I have one I can move it to. I’m determined to get this plant to live!! 😂 --- _Source: the Planta community (https://getplanta.com). Reading is open to everyone. To post, comment and like, get the Planta app: https://getplanta.com/download_