Ctenanthe lubbersiana ‘Golden Mosaic’ is a beautiful foliage houseplant, also known as the ‘Never Never’ plant due to its ability to rarely flower. This tropical perennial is celebrated for its vibrant, patterned leaves with irregular splashes and stripes of golden yellow on a bright green background. As a member of the ‘prayer plant’ family, its leaves exhibit a unique movement, folding upwards at night and opening again during the day. It has an upright, clumping habit, making it an excellent feature plant for tabletops or sheltered, frost-free garden beds.
Care Tips:
- Light: Prefers bright, indirect light. Direct sunlight can scorch the leaves and cause the golden colour to fade. It can tolerate lower light, but the variegation may become less pronounced.
- Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy. Water when the top couple of centimetres of soil feel dry. It’s sensitive to tap water chemicals like fluoride and chlorine, which can cause brown leaf tips, so using rainwater or filtered water is recommended.
- Humidity: This plant loves high humidity. To keep it happy, consider placing it in a naturally humid room like a bathroom or kitchen, misting the leaves regularly, or using a pebble tray with water.
- Temperature: Thrives in a warm environment, ideally between 18-26°C. Avoid cold drafts and sudden temperature changes. It is not frost tolerant.
- Soil: Use a high-quality, well-draining potting mix that retains some moisture, such as a mix with peat moss and perlite.
- Maintenance: Remove any yellowing or damaged leaves. Fertilise with a half-strength liquid fertiliser once a month during the growing season (spring and summer).
