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An illustration of a Maranta with colorful leaves and distinct textures, featuring vibrant shades of green, red, and mint on a light beige background

Maranta

SCENTIFIC NAME: Maranta leuconeura

KNOWN AS: Prayer Plant, Herringbone Plant

CLIMATE (LOCATION): South America | Tropical

DESCRIPTION: This prayer plant has green leaves with red veins and undersides. There is also a variant with green leaves that have neon green veins. This low creeping plant does well on high shelves or hanging planters.

moderate difficulty & pet safe

Maranta Plant Care

Lighting

Light Requirement: Medium Light (Medium Indirect Light) to High Light (Bright Indirect Light)

Maranta plants, also known as prayer plants, prefer bright indirect light. They can tolerate low light conditions, but their leaves may become less vibrant and colorful. Direct sunlight should be avoided as it can burn the leaves. A good location for a Maranta plant would be near a north or east-facing window, or in a well-lit room without direct sunlight. They can also thrive under LED grow lights, making them a great option for offices or indoor spaces with limited natural light.

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Watering

Quick Tip: Water until water comes out of drainage holes. Allow soil to completely dry between waterings. This plant prefers distilled water.

The maranta plant favors constantly moist yet well draining soil. When the top inch of soil seems dry to the touch, water the plant with room temperature water. Avoid leaving the plant sit in standing water as this can lead to root rot. Instead, water the plant well and let any extra water drain out of the bottom of the pot. Reduce watering over the winter, but don't let the soil get completely dry. Maranta enjoys somewhat higher humidity levels, so spraying the leaves or using a humidifier can help the plant grow. Avoiding either overwatering or underwatering is crucial because both can result in leaf curling or yellowing. Your Maranta will develop and stay healthy if you keep the soil continuously moist but well-draining, provide an acceptable amount of humidity, and refrain from watering it excessively. The prayer plant prefers distilled water to remove contaminants that might affect its leaves.

Temperature

Preferred Temperature: 65º - 80º

The maranta plant, which is also called the prayer plant, grows best in a warm, moist place. This plant does best in temperatures between 65 and 80°F (18 and 27°C) during the day and between 60 and 65°F (15 and 18°C) at night. It is best to keep the plant away from temperatures below 55°F (13°C) or sudden changes in temperature, which can cause the plant stress and damage. Also, the plant does best in a place with a lot of humidity. You can help make this happen by misting the plant often or putting it on a pebble tray filled with water.

Humidity

Preferred Humidity: 50 - 60%; Moderate Humidity

Marantas, which are also called prayer plants, are popular houseplants with beautiful leaves that are easy to care for. But, like many other plants, they need a certain range of humidity to grow well. Marantas like places with a lot of moisture in the air. The humidity level should be between 60 and 70%. You can do this by putting a humidifier next to the plant or grouping it with other plants to make a moist microclimate. You can also mist the plant often, but don't overwater it or let the leaves stay wet for too long, as this can cause fungus to grow. You can also put your Maranta on a tray with pebbles and water. This will make the air around it more humid. As the water evaporates, this will make the air humid. Just make sure the water level isn't too high, because you don't want the roots of the plant to be sitting in water. If you live in a dry area, you might want to buy a hygrometer to measure how much moisture is in the air around your Maranta. This will let you change the humidity as needed and make sure your plant has the best conditions to grow and do well.

Additional Plant Care

Propagation
You can make more maranta plants by dividing them or cutting off pieces of their stems. To spread a plant by division, carefully take it out of its pot and cut the roots and stems into smaller pieces, each with a few roots and leaves. Plant each piece in its own pot with fresh soil, give it a lot of water, and put it in a place with bright but indirect light. Take a stem cutting from a healthy plant and make sure it has a few leaves and nodes. This is how you can spread the plant. Cut the stem just below a node and remove any leaves from the bottom of the cut stem. Put the cutting in a jar of water or soil that drains well, making sure to bury the node in the soil. Regularly water the soil or change the water, and put the pot somewhere with bright but indirect light. After a few weeks, the cutting should start to grow roots and send out new shoots. After the cutting has grown roots, you can move it to a bigger pot or garden.
Toxicity
Maranta, also known as prayer plant, is generally considered non-toxic to humans and pets and does not contain any known toxic compounds that pose a significant risk if ingested or touched. However, while prayer plants are generally safe, individual sensitivities and allergies can vary. Some individuals may still experience mild reactions if they come into contact with the plant or its sap. If you or your pet have a known allergy or sensitivity to plants, it's advisable to exercise caution and monitor for any adverse reactions. When it comes to pets, maranta plants are generally considered safe for cats, dogs, and other animals. Ingesting the plant or coming into contact with its foliage should not typically cause significant issues. However, as a general precaution, it's always a good practice to discourage pets from chewing on any houseplant to prevent potential digestive upset or choking hazards.
Repotting
People often call maranta plants "prayer plants" because their beautiful leaves fold up at night to look like hands in prayer. The best time to repot your Maranta plant is when it starts to grow new leaves in the spring or early summer. To repot, choose a pot that is just a little bit bigger than the old one and has holes for drainage. Put some fresh potting mix in the bottom of the new pot, and carefully take the plant out of its old pot without hurting the roots. If the plant's roots are too close together, gently pull them apart with your fingers. Put the plant in the new pot, fill in around the roots with new soil, and gently press down. To help the plant get over the shock of being moved, water it well and put it in a place with bright, indirect light for a few days.
Pruning
Maranta plants, which are also called prayer plants, can grow healthier and keep their bushy look if they are pruned regularly. When pruning, make clean cuts just above a healthy leaf node or bud with clean, sharp pruning shears. Take off any leaves that are broken or turning yellow, as well as any branches that are getting too long or twisted. This will help the plant look nicer and more balanced, and it will also encourage new growth. Don't cut more than a third of the plant at once, because that can stress the plant and slow its growth. Maranta plants can also stay healthy and strong if they are fertilized and repotted every so often. You can prune the plant whenever you need to, but don't prune it in the winter when the plant is sleeping. With the right pruning and care, Maranta plants can continue to grow and add a touch of bright greenery to any indoor space.
Fertilizing
Maranta plants, which are also called prayer plants, are popular because their leaves look nice and they are easy to take care of. It is best to use a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer with an NPK ratio of 20-20-20 or 10-10-10 to feed a maranta plant. During the plant's growing season, which is usually spring and summer, fertilize it every two weeks. In fall and winter, fertilize it only once a month. Before putting the fertilizer on the plant, it's important to dilute it as directed by the manufacturer, since too much fertilizer can hurt the plant. Also, you shouldn't fertilize the plant when the soil is dry because that can cause fertilizer burn. Lastly, the soil should be flushed with water every few months to get rid of any salts that may have built up from the fertilizer.
Soil
Maranta plants, which are also called prayer plants, like to grow in soil that drains well and has a lot of organic matter. A good choice can be a soil mix that is made for tropical plants or that has peat moss, perlite, and vermiculite in it. It's important that the soil isn't too heavy and packed down, because that can cause water to stay in the soil and cause the roots to rot. Maranta plants also like soil that has a pH between 5.5 and 6.5. When you water maranta plants, you should not use hard water because the minerals can build up in the soil and hurt the plant.

Hanging Heights

Maranta Lighting Requirements: Medium Light (Medium Indirect Light) to High Light (Bright Indirect Light)

Chart showing recommended hanging heights for Soltech Aspect and popular plants for each range.

Aspect Hanging Heights - Maranta

-

Soltech's Recommendation -

24" to 48"

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VIEW ASPECT GROW GUIDE

Vita Hanging Heights - Maranta

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Soltech's Recommendation -

36º Narrow Beam Vita : 24" to 60"

60º Wide Beam Vita : 12" to 36"

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VIEW VITA GROW GUIDE

Highland Hanging Heights - Maranta

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Soltech's Recommendation -

36º Narrow Beam Highland : 30" to 66"

60º Wide Beam Highland : 18" to 48"

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VIEW HIGHLAND GROW GUIDE

Grove Hanging Heights - Maranta

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Soltech's Recommendation:

  • 1" to 12"

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VIEW GROVE GROW GUIDE

Lighting guide for plants with Soltech Aura and potted plants on a neutral background

Aura Light Distances - Maranta

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Soltech's Recommendation:

  • 0" to 8"

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VIEW AURA GROW GUIDE

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