Marantas, also known as Prayer plants, are one of the most beautiful indoor plants you'll ever see. They are velvety plants that have a fun mix between reds, greens, and yellows in their leaves. They are often grouped with Calathea but are not the same type of plant. It's rewarding to watch this plant grow because Maranta leaves sprout outwards from existing leaves and appear to be rolled up until they’re ready to bloom.
Marantas thrive in water and shoot out so many leaves once they've settled roots in their planter! One thing to keep in mind is that they are super sensitive to sunlight and need a lot of humidity to avoid any damage to their leaves. We notice that much sunlight will lead to brown spots or crispy ends.
It's also normal for their leaves to flop, but be mindful of their health if the leaves appear to droop more than usual or lose variegation.
Brazil, Asia, and Africa
Marantaceae
The botanical name for this plant is Maranta leuconeura. However, Marantas are most commonly known as Prayer plants. Some other names are Herringbone plant and Maranta prayer plant.
The most common type of Maranta is the Red prayer plant. Other varieties include the Black prayer plant, Green prayer plant, Kim prayer plant, Marisela prayer plant.
Non-toxic to pets and humans.
For healthy plants, we recommend that you add water to the glass every 1-2 weeks (or if you see that water levels have lowered) to replenish the water that evaporated or absorbed from the plants. Then, replace the water every 2-4 weeks.
Most tap water works great but distilled or filtered waters are recommended if available.
We recommend adding 1-2 of liquid nutrients to your plant’s water every month. If you see a new leaf or flower forming, you should add an additional drop of nutrients to further encourage and support new growth.
Prayer plants are their happiest and healthiest when kept moderate to bright indirect lighting. This plant can be quite sensitive to sunlight levels, so try to play around with where you place your plant (like higher on a wall or semi-shaded corner).
Like most tropical plants, we notice that Marantas loves warm temperatures (65-85 degrees Fahrenheit). A general rule of thumb for many houseplants is that if you are comfortable, then they will be comfortable too!
The key to beautiful Prayer plant is to keep humidity levels high! We recommend that you invest in a humidifier and run it for at least 1-2 hours a day to keep the humidifier levels balanced. Of course, you could always regularly mist your plant multiple times a day (depending on the dryness of your space).
You can also set a container of water near the prayer plant, as the evaporating water will increase the humidity.
When propagating maranta in water, we recommend that you take a cutting just below a node, then submerge the node in water. You want to cut right below where the branches sort of separate from each other. If you look closely, maranta have these folds in their branches where leaves shoot out from. A proper cutting would have about 2-4 leaves still attached.
After about 4-8 weeks, you should see your maranta sprouting thin, hair-like roots! With the proper care and attention, you'll be sure to see new leaf growth in no time.
Identification: leaves are curling (even in the daytime), leaves may be brown and crispy at the tips
Cause: Not enough humidity, Too much exposure to bright light
How to treat:Examine the root system to make sure that your plant is healthy and try to move your Prayer plant away from a bright light source. If your plant is experiencing brown tips and/or spotting, we recommend a daily misting that will replenish the humidity levels that your plant needs.
Identification: Brown spotting on leaves, Color on leaves may also look washed out
Cause: Too much exposure to bright light
How to treat:Move your Prayer plant further away from a direct sunlight source (i.e., a bright window). You may have to play around with different areas to find the perfect lighting for your plant to thrive in.
