Why Is My Never Never Plant Dying? Tips for Rescuing Your Dying Ctenanthe Setosa

If you have fallen in love with your never never plant, of course you’ll be devastated if it is showing signs of dying.

“Wait!” You want to shout. “How do I keep my never never plant from dying?”

Fear not.

Please note: Some of the links in my posts are affiliate links. I get commissions for purchases made through those links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases when you buy something from those links. 

While never never plants are not necessarily easy to care for, they are not super difficult, and they are easy to rescue once you get a feel for this plant’s needs.

The never never plant is a symbol of wealth and prosperity, it will clean your air, and it will start conversations.

It’s a plant that takes up space and is worth saving.

So, let’s get to it.

Table Of Contents - Click To Expand Or Hide -->

A Never Never Plant Is a Great Choice for Your Home or Office

The Ctenanthe setosa is a lovely addition to a bright corner, a big open spot under a large bay window, or as a centerpiece surrounded by other tropical plants.

If you have a warm, humid room or home, this plant will thrive with its variegated yellow and green leaves with purple undersides.

And if you’ve been working on building meditation into your life, the never never plant is also known as a prayer plant because it folds up its large leaves at night and opens them up again in the morning light, reminding you of your meditation routine.

Signs of a Dying Never Never Plant

If you are worried that your never never plant is dying, you might have noticed any of the following signs:

Root rot
Curling leaves
Yellowing leaves
Spider mites
Brown leaf edges
Falling-off leaves
Browning tips and yellow halos on leaves
Moss on the soil

Common Causes of a Dying Never Never Plant

Common causes of the dying never never plant include:

Underwatering
Overwatering
Too much light
Pests
Too low humidity
Too little light

The never never plant is not too difficult to care for once you understand its rhythms.

Watering Needs of a Never Never Plant

The never never plant needs to maintain a moist soil that never dries out but also never gets soggy. Take a look at this article on watering mistakes that might be killing your plant.

To be sure your plant is well-watered but not overwatered, learn to check its soil. Stick your fingers into the topsoil of the plant. If the top 1 inch is not fully dry, it is fine. If that top inch of soil has completely dried out, you can water it again.

With a prayer plant, you want to prevent it from drying out, but not water it too much, so you’re riding a fine line.

Am I Underwatering My Never Never Plant?

You will know your never never plant is dehydrated if the leaves start falling off and growing crispy.

Restoring Water to Your Underwatered Never Never Plant

To restore your underwatered never never plant, simply water it until it is draining through to the bottom, then place it in a location with bright, indirect light.

Be sure to check your plant more frequently to stay on top of its water needs.

Am I Overwatering My Never Never Plant?

The classic signs of overwatering are root rot and pests. You will notice your soil not drying out and pests starting to live in the soil in abundance.

Restoring Balance to Your Overwatered Never Never Plant

If your soil is soggy, but you don’t notice mushy stems or leaves, you can simply place your plant in a brighter location with enough humidity.

If the soil seems to be forming mold on top or the stems feel mushy, you are likely dealing with root rot, and you will need to repot the plant.

To repot, simply remove the plant by its root ball from the pot and break the roots up, cutting off any mushy parts.

Empty the pot of the old soil and replace it with fresh houseplant potting soil.

Place your root ball in the soil and cover it with more fresh soil. Water the plant and place it in a bright location with plenty of indirect light where it can stay warm and moist but also have enough light to dry out.

Then maintain a watering schedule.

Soil Needs of a Never Never Plant

The never never plant calls for a well-drained, nutrient-dense soil. You can choose a simple indoor houseplant soil and include a basic plant nutrient once a month.

Soil Drainage Needs for a Never Never Plant

If you notice your never never plant is not draining well, you can place rocks or pebbles at the bottom of the pot. Also make sure your pot sits on a saucer so it can fully drain water out of the pot.

Resolving Soil Drainage Issues for a Never Never Plant

Once you have made the above changes, you can also place your never never plant in a brighter space with more indirect light to ensure the plant dries out well.

Lighting Needs of a Never Never Plant

The prayer plant is sensitive to direct light, which can burn the leaves. It needs plenty of bright, indirect light. Imagine the never never plant under much larger foliage in a tropical garden in Brazil, its native home.

Resolving Lighting Issues for a Never Never Plant

The easiest way to tell if your plant is getting too much light is the yellowing or browning of your leaves. Too little light will cause the plant’s leaves to turn a darker shade of green and lose their high-gloss sheen.

To resolve lighting issues, simply your never never plant is in a bright location with indirect light. Finding the perfect balance may take a bit of experimentation.

Pests or Diseases that Can Cause Issues with a Never Never Plant

You may also notice spider mites on your never never plant, typically on the undersides of the leaves, forming small webs.

To rid your plant of the mites, spray the plant liberally with neem oil, including the soil, at least once a week until the mites die off or go away.

Fake Never Never Plants Are an Additional Consideration

And in the end, if you find the never never plant is just too hard to care for, you can always opt for an artificial version of this gorgeous plant.

With its high-gloss sheen and the large, almost unreal look of the tropical foliage, the never never plant can look just as real when it is fake.

Because it is such a showstopper, a high-quality never never plant, even an artificial one, will make a great addition to your home or office space.

Wondering if fake plants are trendy right now? Check out my article on whether artificial plants and flowers are tacky.

Do you have a never never plant you’ve nursed back to life? What worked for you? Leave your tips and tricks in the comment section below.