Ktenante (Ktenante, Ctenanthe) - indoor plant of the ornamental group, belongs to the Marantova family.
She is often confused with calathea due to the lack of classification of these species.
Description
In the wild, a qutenant is found in the humid tropical climate of South America (Colombia, Brazil, Venezuela), introduced to our continent at the end of the 19th century.
The leaves of the qutenant have an oval, pointed or rectangular shape, with veins, located on small shoots in the form of a fan or scallop, from which the name of the flower originated.
Did you know? Ctenos is translated from Greek as "comb".The foliage of a two-color qutenant: a bright green or light green background and a clearly visible colorful pattern in the form of asymmetrical bands of light green, yellow, light gray or white. The surface of the sheet is velvet. On the reverse side the leaves have a dark red color.
With the onset of the evening, the leaves of the Ctenant rise to the top, closing, lower in the morning again.The height of a room ctenant can reach 90 cm, and in nature - up to 2.5 m.
Ktenanta rarely indulges the owner with flowering, the shape of the flowers resembles a large wheat spikelet of a pale purple, white or yellow color. Lovers of indoor plants in the price of beauty foliage plants.
Kinds
At home, Berl-Marx, Lubbers, and Oppenheim grows up to a companion, although the science knows about 15 types of a tenant.
Ctenante Burl-Marx
View Ctenanthe burle-marxii discovered in Brazil Roberto Burle-Marx. Of all the species of the maranth family, this plant is the shortest, it reaches no more than 40 cm in height. The foliage is light green, gray, with bottled-colored spots in the form of stripes, has the shape of a rectangle with rounded edges approximately 6 to 10 cm in size, and on the reverse side - cherry.
The view is very well taken root in the garden, spread out in the form of a carpet.
There are several varieties of Berl-Marx ctenants: obscura, amagris and dwarf species. They differ in a shade of leaves.
In obscura type (Obscura) the foliage has a wide malachite border.
Ktenanta Burl-Marx Amagris (Amagris) characterized by leaves of pale green with a darker shade pattern in the form of thin streaks. Ctenante Burl-Marx Amagris was artificially bred in Belgium.
Leaves dwarf ctenants reach a height of no more than 20 cm, have a beautiful pattern of stripes of grass color on a light background.
Ktenant Lubbers
Ctenanthe lubbersiana leaves the shape is long, tapering upwards. The color of the leaves is emerald green with randomly scattered large oblong spots of pale yellow color. On the seamy side of the foliage is green. Stems of wine-colored plants. A characteristic feature of this species is the growth of leaves on the trunk. 
On sale there are ktenanta of the types "Golden Mosaic" (Golden Mosaic), "Variegata" (Variegata), "Brazilian Snow" (Brazilian Snow) and "Tropical Dragon". The first is characterized by light green spots of irregular shape on a dark background. "Variegata" is characterized by patches of pale yellow color.
The spots on the leaves of the queen "Brazilian snow" and "Tropical dragon" are milky, but the first one has large spots, almost half of the leaf. On the leaves of the "Tropical Dragon" spots in the form of broad bands. 
In the height of the queen Lubbers reaches from 80 cm to 1 m.
Ktenanta Oppenheim
Ctenanthe oppenheimiana - one of the highest. In the wild, Oppenheim's grower grows to 2 m, at home - up to 1 m. 
Did you know? Oppenheim's Ktenant is called the "giant bamburanta."Its leaves are strong, lead-colored with bright green large spots, crimson on the back side. Rounded at the bottom, long (up to 40 cm) foliage sharpens up.
A common variety in Europe is "Tricolor" (Tricolor), on the leaves there are spots and stripes of pale pink color.
Ktenanta compressed
Leaves compressed ctenants (Ctenanthe Compressa) represent rectangles with round edges of pistachio color with imperceptible strips of a light shade in the form of streaks.
Science is known stubby ctenant, or ctenant cytosis (Ctenanthe setosa) with bristle cuttings. 
Not only calatheas, but also arrowroot, stromant, are very similar to a ctenant; these indoor plants look good next to each other on the windowsill.
Conditions
Ktenanta come from the tropics, especially care and cultivation provide for the creation of a warm and humid tropical climate. Caring for a ctenant at home includes controlling the temperature, humidity of the air and the soil, the degree of lighting.
The most enduring kind of ktenanta is considered to be a ktenanta of Oppenheim.
Temperature
For normal growth and beautiful appearance, a ktenant requires well-warmed air, in summer time - not less than +20 ° C (slightly less at night), in winter - not less than + 12 ° C. Failure to follow these rules can lead to diseases of the plant root system.
Do not leave the queen by the open window, as drafts can destroy the flower. A jump in temperature level differences is also unacceptable for healthy plant growth. To reduce the likelihood of his death, it is desirable to provide a stable high temperature.
You should not move the queen from place to place, it can be detrimental to its beauty.
Air humidity
In the room where the ctenant grows, the humidity should be maintained at a level not lower than 55%, and better - 70%.
Important! During the period of operation of the central heating, the humidity level may drop to 25%, which will destroy the plant. The first sign of insufficient moisture is twisting the leaves on the flower.Leaves should be sprayed with a special sprayer to maintain moisture. The installation of a special humidifier in the room can have a beneficial effect.
Lighting
Under natural conditions, a ctenant grows in the shade of tropical trees, covering it from direct sunlight. Therefore, an excess of bright sunlight can cause leaf burnout.
If the windows of the room where the ctenant stands, face south, it is good to place the flower not on the window sill, but on the stand or table near the window, so that the scattered rays of the sun illuminate the plant a little, since a lack of light will lead to a loss of leaf brightness and poor growth. But best of all this kind of flora feels in rooms in which the windows face out in other directions. 
Ktenanta tolerates artificial lighting, which is important in winter.
Important! The darker the leaves are, the more shade-tolerant it is.
The soil
Ktenanta needs a special soil, not acidified, without lime. In the conditions of home floriculture, the care of a ktenant includes the purchase of a special substrate for maranths. As a substitute, you can use the soil for azaleas.
You can also make a special mixture of your own by mixing 2 parts of leafy ground, 1 part of peat, 1 part of sand and adding a little charcoal. An important condition is to ensure not only nutritious, but also loose soil that is able to retain moisture, so you should definitely check this composition, clenched in a fist. If the ground is loose, you can fall asleep in the pot. 
Breeding
Propagated by a quander when transplanting by dividing a bush or cuttings.
Dividing bush
The essence of this method is to carefully, trying not to damage the rhizomes, during the spring transplant, divide an adult flower that has reached the age of three into several parts and plant in different pots. Flowerpots with parts of the plant should be watered and covered with a polyethylene bag, without tying it, until the qutenant begins to give new leaves (after about a month).
Cuttings
A ctenant stalk is a leaf with a leg on which it is attached to the stalk. Propagation by cuttings can also be carried out in the fall. To do this, cut the petiole dipped in a glass of water for several weeks before the roots. Additionally, you can cover the glass with a plastic bag. When the roots appear, the stalk is transplanted into the pot.
Reproduction by cuttings allows you to get a lot of varietal plants in a relatively short time, having studied the rules of cutting of Calamondin, rose, Terry petunias, currants, blue spruce, streptocarpus, plumeria, Brugmancia, Dieffenbachia, laurel, clematis, chrysanthemums, thuja, grapes, plums - you can decorate the garden and the house is full of beautiful and useful plants.
Care
It is necessary to care for such a flower as a ctenant by watering, fertilizing and transplanting.
Watering
The humidity of the tropics causes a high demand for water in the ctenants, but do not allow the creation of puddles in the pan, otherwise the roots may rot. To prevent this situation can gravel, moss or absorbent cloth, located on the tray with a flower.
Watering is carried out under the leaves, preventing the formation of large drops of water on the foliage, because of which it can change color.
Water for irrigation and spraying should be pre-settled and heated to room temperature. You can also use rainwater.
The optimal interval for watering the plant is 2-3 days, but the dryness of the soil in the pot must be controlled.
Fertilizer
Caring for the soil provides for its mandatory loosening and fertilizing. Fertilizers should be applied at least 1 time in half a month, using special liquid fertilizers intended for decorative leaf. In winter, this interval can be increased. 
Do not overfeed the plant, you can not allow a high content of calcium and nitrogen in the substrate, it can lead to his death.
Transfer
It is recommended to replant the qutenta each spring, especially if it has grown heavily. You should not choose a large-sized pot for a medium-sized plant, it can lead to a halt of its growth.
Flowerpot is better to take from baked unglazed clay with holes at the bottom to remove excess moisture.
Do not forget to provide drainage in a pot for draining excess water. For this purpose, nuts or eggshells, small smooth stones, gravel, wood bark, foam plastic, etc. are placed on the bottom of the pot.
Important! After transplanting the plant for 1 month, you must refrain from fertilizing the soil.
Diseases and pests
In case of improper care, a ktenant may be exposed to diseases or become a victim of pests. 
The following diseases are common:
- Root rot - a disease caused by excessive watering. The roots of the plant darken and begin to rot. This problem can be eliminated by cutting the diseased roots by spraying Bordeaux liquid, colloidal sulfur, cuproxate. Sometimes a solution of potassium permanganate or copper sulfate helps.
- Mealy dew - diseased leaves are powdered with flour. Treatment consists of spraying with benomyl, teofanate-methyl, rarely with soap and soda.
- Black fungus (black) - while the plant seems to be covered with soot. It is possible to neutralize such a fungus by washing the affected areas with soap and treating it with insect repellents.
- Rust - this disease is characterized by the presence of rust-colored pimples with a rash on the reverse side. From this disease can help fungicides or Bordeaux mixture.
- Leaf spot - wet spots with clear boundaries that arise from exposure to direct sunlight or excessive spraying.
Dangerous microorganisms that harm a ktenante are:- Spider mite - cobwebs leaves and stalks. Turning over the sheet, you will see a brown dot. Alcohol, which needs to wipe the infected areas, will help to destroy it.
- Scutellum - round insects of pale brown color, which must be removed by treating it with turpentine, lube or kerosene. The plant should be washed.
- The whitefly is a very small white butterfly that eats the plant. You can get rid of them with a fumigator, adhesive tape, onion or garlic water.
- Mealybug - an oval-shaped insect plastered with white patina. You can get rid of it by wiping with a soap or alcohol solution, or using special chemicals.
- Aphids are small insects that come in different colors, living from the back of the leaves. You can fight them like a mealybird.
Possible difficulties
You may encounter such problems when growing a ctenant:
- The leaves dry out and fold. Perhaps the air in the room is too dry, it is necessary to spray the flower.
- Spots on the leaves. The reason is exposure to direct sunlight or water. Remove the flower from the window or cover the glass with a curtain. When pouring water over the qutennant, avoid water on the leaves.
- Leaf rot - occurs due to drafts. Do not place the plant on the windowsill.
- Curve flower growth due to lack of light. Try to move the queen to another, more lighted room.
