root rot on Ctenanthe
Quick answer
If your Ctenanthe has root rot, the most likely cause is: Ctenanthe oppenheimiana ‘Tricolor’ tolerates generous summer watering but is highly vulnerable when the potting mix stays wet at low temperatures; if the room dips to 50–54°F (10–12°C) during winter and the medium is kept soggy, the roots suffocate and rot, which can quickly collapse an otherwise healthy plant.
Start here:
- 1. Allow the top of the potting mix to dry out during the cooler months so the roots are never sitting in cold, saturated soil, and remove the plant from decorative cache pots or saucers that trap runoff water.
- 2. If rot is suspected, unpot the ctenanthe, cut away any blackened or mushy roots with a sterile blade, dust the healthy roots with cinnamon, and repot into a fresh, well-draining humusy mix.
Why Ctenanthe gets root rot
Ctenanthe oppenheimiana
Ctenanthe oppenheimiana ‘Tricolor’ tolerates generous summer watering but is highly vulnerable when the potting mix stays wet at low temperatures; if the room dips to 50–54°F (10–12°C) during winter and the medium is kept soggy, the roots suffocate and rot, which can quickly collapse an otherwise healthy plant.
How to reverse root rot on Ctenanthe
- 1
Allow the top of the potting mix to dry out during the cooler months so the roots are never sitting in cold, saturated soil, and remove the plant from decorative cache pots or saucers that trap runoff water.
- 2
If rot is suspected, unpot the ctenanthe, cut away any blackened or mushy roots with a sterile blade, dust the healthy roots with cinnamon, and repot into a fresh, well-draining humusy mix.
Keep root rot off this Ctenanthe
Keep winter night temperatures above 64°F (18°C), use a light, humusy growing medium that drains freely, water only when the top of the mix begins to dry, and move the plant away from cold window panes where the root zone could chill.