General description of the plant and the etymology of its name, place of natural growth, agricultural technology when growing ktenants in indoor conditions. Ktenantha (Ctenantha Eichler) is also sometimes referred to in literary sources as Ktenante, and belongs to the Marantaceae family. It is a perennial with a herbaceous form of growth. The native area of distribution of this sample of the green world of the planet falls on the territory of South America, mainly in the regions of Brazil, but often the ctenants "move" across the lands finding refuge in Central America, which includes the regions of Mexico and Costa Rica. In different sources, the number of "natural" ktenants in the family ranges from 15 to 20 units.
This plant acquired its name due to the translation of the Greek name, meaning "comb flower" due to the fact that the observant Greeks noted the asymmetry of the leaf plates of the plant.
In natural growing conditions, the height of ktenants usually grows up to 2 m in height and has a branched rhizome. Forms oval or oval-elongated leaf plates that grow up to 30-40 cm in length. The color of the foliage can acquire a variety of shades of green color (from light to dark). On the surface, there is a pattern of stripes or strokes covering its entire area, which picturesquely diverge from the central vein to the edge. The color of such elements includes whitish, yellowish or light green color. The surface of the leaf is velvety to the touch, and its reverse side casts a purple tint.
The leaf plate is solid, with asymmetrical outlines, vaginal at the bottom. The distance between the nodes is small, so from the side it seems that the ktenanta is a bush gathered at the base. Due to such shortened internodes, it seems that the leaves are collected in a bunch, and the internode that follows it is quite developed, it has a vertical orientation or can grow slightly obliquely. Such an internode ends with a new bundle of very close foliage, forming, like a second tier. The third tier is organized in the same sequence for the ktenanta. The foliage is attached to elongated petioles, the stems are bamboo-like.
The flowers of this "comb flower" are of no value, as they look rather plain against the background of foliage. Inflorescences are formed in the form of a spikelet, from small flowers with densely spaced bracts. The color of the petals is whitish or reddish. Often, flower growers recommend removing inflorescences so that the plant does not waste energy and juices on it. Under natural conditions, after flowering, the fruit usually ripens, which takes the form of a pubescent oval box contour.
Under the conditions of home cultivation, the ktenant does not exceed 20–40 cm in height. If you do not violate the rules of care, the plant will delight you with the beauty of its foliage for a long time.
Agrotechnics for growing ktenants, home care
- Lighting and location selection. The plant can grow well both in diffused light and in partial shade. The windows of the east, west and north orientation will do. In bright light, the foliage becomes shallow and loses its color.
- Air temperature when growing, ktenants in spring and summer should be 22–25 degrees, and in autumn and winter, it should be reduced to 16–18 units. The plant is afraid of temperature changes and drafts.
- Air humidity when caring for a ktenant, it should not fall below 70%. In order for this plant to feel comfortable, it is placed in greenhouse conditions, or they try to increase the humidity in all available ways. These are year-round spraying of deciduous mass, and wrapping a bush with a plastic bag at night, and placing peas with a plant in a pallet with expanded clay (pebbles or chopped moss) at the bottom and a small amount of poured water. When spraying, it is recommended to use only purified and warm water. Spraying should be done with a fine spray gun. If the humidity becomes too low, then the ktenant will respond by curling the foliage, and when a very large drop of water falls on the leaf plate, then an ugly dark spot will remain from it.
- Watering the plant. This inhabitant of the tropical zones simply adores water and in the spring and summer time feels comfortable when the soil is abundantly moistened. But watering is carried out only when the top layer of soil in the pot is already dry. In the autumn-winter period, the moisture content is somewhat reduced. It is recommended to water only with soft and warm water, it is better when boiling tap water after filtering it, and then the liquid settles for several days. Then the water should be drained, trying not to scoop up the sediment - the water is ready for irrigation. The best way out is to use distilled water, since it is already difficult to guarantee the quality and purity of river or rain water in urban conditions. When caring for a ktenant, it is important to ensure that the soil is not overdried, but the bay is not recommended either. If the substrate becomes waterlogged and the root system can be cooled, this will lead to decay.
- How to fertilize a ktenant? It is clear that any plant that is grown indoors does not receive the nutrients that it provides in nature. Therefore, it is recommended during the period of activation of the growth of the "comb flower", which has to be applied to the soil in the spring-summer period. It is necessary to use liquid preparations with the whole complex of trace elements that are necessary for ornamental deciduous plants. The frequency of fertilization is once every 14 days, but the dose is used half of that indicated on the package. This is necessary due to the fact that the ktenanta is very sensitive to fertilizer overdose. During the autumn-winter period, feeding is not applied.
- Transplant rules ktenants. If the plant is still young, then you will have to change the soil (to a newer one) and the pot (with its increase) annually. And when the bush takes on large outlines, then such manipulations can be performed only once every 3 years. The best time to transplant is from May to the end of summer. A new pot is chosen not deep, but wide, since the ktenanta prefers to take up more space with its roots. Before placing the plant in a new container, it is recommended to remove any damaged or dead root shoots. At the bottom of the new pot, holes need to be made to drain the liquid that has not been absorbed during watering. It is also imperative to place a layer (2-3 cm) of drainage material on the bottom. After the transplant, the plant is not fertilized for the next month. When choosing a soil, you should pay attention to soil mixtures for azaleas or representatives of arrowroot. In any case, the substrate should be loose, with good permeability to water and air, with an approximate acidity of pH 6. You can also compose such soil yourself from leafy soil, river sand and peat (in a ratio of 2: 1: 1) and add a little crushed charcoal.
- General information about leaving. Over time, the foliage begins to turn yellow. If such changes concern only the lower leaf plates, then the owner of the plant should not worry - this is a natural process. Old leaves, dying, make room for new leaves.
Recommendations for breeding do-it-yourself ktenants
Get a new variegated plant with asymmetric foliage, possibly by dividing an overgrown bush or by rooting cuttings.
Usually, the ktenants try to combine the division with the transplant, so as not to disturb the plant once again. The overgrown bush is carefully removed from the pot, and then, using a sharpened and disinfected knife, it is divided into 2-3 parts. In this case, you must try not to damage the root system. Delenki are planted in pre-prepared containers with drainage at the bottom and peat substrate. After planting parts of the plant, the soil is thoroughly moistened with slightly warmed water and the next watering is carried out after it is completely dry on the surface. Pots with delenki are placed in a plastic bag and tied loosely. In this case, it is recommended to put the containers in a warm place so that the plants are guaranteed to take root. The signal that the process is proceeding normally is the appearance of new leaves on the bush.
If the decision is made to cut the ktenants, then the blanks for this should be cut from the tops of the stems in spring or summer. The length of the branch to be cut should not be shorter than 7-10 cm and 2-3 leaf plates from new shoots should remain on it. You need to cut the stalk slightly lower than the leaf is attached to the stem. It is recommended to place the cuttings in a vessel with water and provide the conditions for a mini-greenhouse - that is, wrap the branches with transparent plastic wrap or place them under a glass vessel. It is important to periodically air the cuttings. After 5–6 weeks, the cuttings already show root processes. When rooting, it is necessary to maintain elevated heat indicators (23-25 degrees) and high humidity. When the roots reach a centimeter in size, then transplant is carried out in separate containers with a substrate suitable for growing a "comb flower".
Diseases and pests ktenants, methods of dealing with them
Scabbards and red spider mites are the most problematic for the plant. The first pest manifests itself by the formation of brown or brown plaques on the surface of leaves or stems. Due to the fact that the scale insect begins to suck the juice from the leaves, they lose their color, begin to dry out and subsequently fly around. To free the ktenant from a harmful insect, it is recommended to wipe the leaf plates with a soft sponge soaked in soapy water. Then you will need to carry out treatment with actellic with a concentration of 15%. To do this, dissolve 1–2 ml of the drug in a liter of water.
The spider mite is clearly visible due to the fact that the entire leaf edge is as if pierced by punctures from needles, subsequently a thin cobweb forms on the leaves and in internodes and stems, the foliage becomes pale yellow or light in color. Whitish spots appear on the surface of the damaged leaves, and they fly around prematurely. Usually this pest infects the plant when the humidity in the room where the ctenant is kept is very low. In order to get rid of the pest, spraying with insecticidal preparations is used: Fitoverm, Fufan, Aktellik or Aktara, other means with a similar effect are suitable.
Also, the following troubles may arise when growing a "comb flower":
- if the air humidity is too high at low thermometer readings (below 15 units), then the stems first begin to become sluggish, and then rot;
- also with increased dry air in the room or with a spider mite, the tips of the leaf plates take on a brown color and dry out, the growth of the plant slows down;
- when both an excess and a deficiency of nutrients occur in the substrate, a yellowish-brown tint appears at the tips of the leaves;
- if the watering for the ktenants is insufficient, then the foliage begins to roll up and it is covered with spotting;
- a plant placed in direct sunlight has a loss of color, and they gradually dry out;
- at low humidity, but excessive watering, the foliage falls off the "comb flower";
- if the soil in the pot is too dry or the heat readings have dropped very much, then the leaf platinum begins to roll up into a tube, the stems bend down and to the sides.
Facts to note about the ktenant's flower
Like many representatives of the Maratnov family, and not only they, the ktenanta helps her owners to gain inspiration and attract real friends into their lives. Along with this representative of the flora are: Maranta, Stomanta, Cataleya, Dracaena, Krestovnik, Callistemon, Reo variegated, as well as Pausettia, Kokkoloba, Coleus, Abutilon and Jatropha, Alokazia Sendera, Bokarnia. You can read information about all of them on our website.
Types of ktenants
- Ctenantha burle-marxii is a perennial with a herbaceous growth and a rhizome. The height ranges from 20-40 cm. The length of the leaf plate does not exceed 10 cm with a width reaching 5-6 cm. veins are dark green stripes, the reverse side casts a purple tint. When flowering, small flowers are formed, from which the apical inflorescence is collected, the color of the petals is creamy white. The flowering process falls on the February days. After flowering, the fruits ripen, which are an elliptical box with pubescence. This species grows in Brazil.
- Ctenantha Lubbersiana a rhizome plant with a long-term growing cycle. In height, it does not exceed the parameters of 75 cm. The color of the oblong leaf plates of green color, the entire surface from above is covered with spectacular strokes of a yellowish or whitish tone, resembling feathers, the reverse side is shaded with green color.
- Ctenantha oppenheimiana. In height, this perennial reaches up to meter sizes, has a rhizome and large leaves. The leaf plates are attached to long petioles, the foliage is oblong, the length of the leaf reaches 20-40 cm. The surface has a thin pubescence and velvety to the touch, has a pattern of light green, silvery-white and cream stripes that originate from the central vein and spread out to the sides. The back has a magenta or bright red color. The inflorescence is spicate, consisting of whitish small flowers. This plant is the most popular of the genus. There is a variety of "Tricolor", which, due to the pattern on the foliage, is often confused with Calathea striped, but the first plant differs in that the leaf plate has a narrowing towards its base, and the stripes on its surface can be not only light green, but also effectively shaded back side of the leaf.
- Ctenantha compressa. A plant with a rhizome, a herbaceous form of growth and a long-term life cycle. If it is grown in a spacious pot, then its height will approach meter indicators. The shoot is rather long and has a bare surface; its top is crowned with a bundle of a knot and four leaves. The leaf plate is distinguished by oblong or oblong-ovoid outlines, its dimensions reach 40 cm with a width of about 10 cm. There is a sharpening at the apex, there is a rounded shape at the base, and a squeezed sheath with a pubescent surface is formed there. The foliage is green. When blooming from small flowers, inflorescences-ears are collected, the length of which ranges from 20-30 cm.
For more information on how to grow a ktenant, see below:
