Maranta leuconeura Plants Indoor Care, Propagation, Common Problems & Remedies
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Maranta leuconeura Plants thrive in partial light, warm and humid enviroment and consistently moist, rich, well-drained soil coupled with monthly feeding in the growing season.
Maranta leuconeura are low growing plants with long leaves known for their curious habit of folding and raising at night and hence their common name, 'Prayer Plants'.
With their uniquely colored and patterned leaves, Maranta are an excellent addition to any plant collection. They are some of the popular tropical foliage plants for a magnificent splash of color in any space.
Botanical name: Maranta leuconeura
Family: Marantaceae
Common name: Maranta Plant, Prayer Plant
Origin
Maranta leuconeura are native to tropical Central and South America and the West Indies. Maranta are named for Bartolomeo Maranta, an Italian physician and botanist of the 16th century.
How big does Maranta leuconeura grow indoors?
Maranta leuconeura are low-growing plants which rarely exceed the height of 8 inches The leaves are about 6 inches long. These characteristics make Maranta perfect for growing in limited spaces.
On account of their compact size and high requirement for warm and humid conditions, Maranta Plants are some of the best plants for a closed terrarium where these conditions can be maintained.
Varieties
Many varieties and cultivars of Maranta are available. Some of the common ones include Maranta tricolor commonly called Herringbone Plant whose leaves bear prominent red veins.
Other common varieties include Maranta leuconeura kerchoveana commonly called Rabbit's Tracks whose leaves bear brown blotches which turn green with age and Maranta leuconeura massangeana whose leaves are blackish green with silvery veins among others.
Related Plants
Maranta are closely related to the Calathea, Ctenanthe and Stromanthe. These groups of plants are sometimes commonly called Prayer Plants in reference to their curious characteristic of closing their leaves at night.
Is Maranta leuconeura toxic?
No. Maranta leuconeura Plants are non-toxic to both humans and pets as indicated by ASPCA. They are safe to grow in a home with children, cats, dogs and other pets.
Where to Buy
Maranta leuconeura are a beautiful plants to add to your collection. You may acquire these plants online from Etsy (Link to Etsy) or from Amazon (Link to Amazon).
How to Care for Maranta leuconeura Indoors
To care for Maranta leuconeura Plants indoors, give them partial light, warmth of 16-280C, humidity of 60-80% and consistently moist, fertile, well-drained soil coupled with monthly feeding during the growing season.
Maranta leuconeura requires regular pruning to keep it neat as well as rejuvenate growth. Repotting is needed every 2 years to keep the plant thriving. Keep reading for more on these growing conditions and how to achieve them.
Light requirements
Maranta grow best in partial light (bright indirect light) as colors fade in very bright light. Keep the plant away from direct sunlight as it can lead to sunburn on leaves.
Too little light will cause the leaves to close like they do at night, slow growth and yellowing of leaves. If the natural light is inadequate, use full spectrum grow lights to complement it.
Regularly rotate the pot to ensure that the plant receives light on all sides for uniform growth and also avoid leggy growth.
Watering
Water Maranta liberally in spring and summer while allowing the top 1-2 inches of soil to dry out between waterings. Keep the soil consistently moist but avoid overwatering to prevent rotting, yellowing and loss of the plant.
Decrease watering in fall and winter as growth is minimal at this time but do not allow the soil to dry out completely to prevent wilting, drooping and yellowing.
Being a tropical plant, water the plant with water that is at room temperature to avoid cold shock which can result in reduced growth and eventual death of the plant.
Maranta Plants are sensitive to chemicals dissolved in water, therefore, water with water that is free of chlorine and flourides.
Ensure the pot has a drainage hole and the soil is free-draining to prevent waterlogging as it can lead to root-rot and eventual death of the plant.
Avoid wetting the foliage during watering or water from the bottom instead to prevent fungal infestations.
Temperature & Humidity
Maranta prefer a warmth of 16-280C. Keep it away from sources of drafts and sudden changes in temperature as they can cause stunted growth and leaf drop.
Maranta Plants require high humidity of 60-80% to thrive. To increase humidity, group the plants together, set the pot on a wet pebble tray or use a cool mist humidifier.
You may also grow the plant in a terrarium or a well-lit bathroom and other moist areas which remain constantly humid. Ensure a good air circulation to reduce fungal diseases infestations.
Fertilizer
Feed your Maranta Plant with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer once monthly through out the growing season to promote a lush growth. Withhold feeding in the cold season to prevent fertilizer buildup and death of the plant as growth is minimal at this time.
Potting Mix
The best potting mix for Maranta Plant should be a rich, free-draining soil to prevent it from getting soggy while providing the required nutrients. A mix of 2 parts of all purpose potting mix and 1 part perlite is ideal for this plant.
Repotting
Repot your Maranta Plant every 2 years at the beginning of the growing season (spring to early summer). Use a pot with a drainage hole and free-draining soil that is rich in organic matter.
Marantas do not like to sit in soggy soil can lead to root-rot and loss of the plant. Therefore, ensure the soil is free-draining and the pot has a drainage hole.
You may divide the large plants at the time of repotting and use the splits to propagate new plants. Check out these pots with drainage holes on Amazon.
Pruning & Grooming
Pruning Maranta involves removal of dead and yellow foliage to maintain the plant neat and attractive. Cutback the stems at the beginning of the growing season to rejuvenate growth.
Clean the leaves regularly by damp-wiping with a soft cloth to keep them clean and neat as well as discourage pest and disease infestation.
Maranta leuconeura Propagation
Maranta leuconeura propagation is best done at the beginning of the growing season by plant division or from stem-tip cuttings which can be rooted either in water or in soil.
1. Propagating Maranta Plants from stem-tip cuttings in water
- Take a stem-tip cutting from a healthy plant by cutting the stem just below a leaf node.
- Dip the cut end of the cutting in rooting hormone to promote rooting.
- Place the cutting in a glass jar of plain water.
- Place the set up in a well-lit spot and change the water at least every 5-7 days to prevent fungal growth.
- When the roots are about 2 inches long, gradually add soil into the water to acclimate the cutting roots to growing in soil.
- When the roots are about 4 inches long, pot the cuttings into individual pots.
- Keep the soil moist and mist the plant regularly until new growth emerges.
- Allow the new plants to be well established before transplanting afterwhich you can begin routine care.
2. Propagating Maranta Plants from stem-tip cuttings in soil
- Take a stem-tip cuttings from a healthy plant by cutting the stem just below a leaf node.
- Coat the cut end of the cutting with a rooting hormone to hasten rooting.
- Insert the stem cutting in moist rooting soil.
- Place the set up in a warm, semi-shaded place and maintain the soil moist through out until new growth emerges.
- Allow the new plants to be well established before transplanting afterwhich routine care can begin.
3. Propagating Maranta Plants by plant division
- Carefully slip the plant from its pot and divide it into several sections. Ensure each section has some roots inorder to hasten rooting.
- Pot each section into it individual pot in moist, free-draining soil. Ensure the pots have a drainage hole to prevent rotting
- Cover the pots with clear polythene to create a greenhouse effect and maintain warm humid conditions which hasten establishment.
- Place the pots in a warm, brightly-lit place away from direct sunlight until new growth has emerged in the sections.
- Gradually remove the polythene cover over a period of two weeks to acclimatize the new plants.
- Move the set up to a warm, well-lit place and maintain the soil moist until the new plants are well established afterwhich you can begin routine care.
Maranta leuconeura Problems & Solutions
Maranta leuconeura problems are yellow leaves, drooping leaves, brown leaf tips, curling leaves, pests and diseases among others. Keep reading for more details on these problems and how to fix them.
Yellow leaves
The main causes of yellow leaves on Maranta leuconeura are too little light, dry air, inconsistent watering, soggy soil and aging.
How to fix it
Too little light: Position the plant in bright indirect light or use a grow light if the natural lighting is not adequate.
Dry air: Set the pot on a wet pebble tray, group the plants together, use a cool mist humidifier or grow the plant in a well-lit bathroom.
Inconsistent watering: Water only when the top 1-2 inches of soil dry out. Do not water on a schedule.
Soggy soil: Use well-draining soil and a pot that has a drainage hole.
Aging: It is natural for the old leaves to turn yellow and drop as the plant matures.
Drooping leaves
Drooping leaves on Maranta Plants are caused by underwatering, dry air or temperature stress.
How to fix it
Underwatering: Water when the top 1-2 inches of the soil dry out and never allow the soil to dry out completely.
Dry air: Set the pot on a wet pebble tray or use a cool mist humidifier to elevate humidity.
Temperature stress: Keep the plant from sources of drafts like hot air vents, heat sources, AC units among others.
Brown leaf tips
Brown leaf tips on Maranta are caused by dry air, salts buildup or spider mite infestations.
How to fix it
Remove the dead growth to keep the plant neat and tidy.
Dry air: Set the pot on a wet pebble tray or grow the plant in the humid areas of the home like a well-lit bathroom, laundry area among others.
Salts buildup: Regularly, leach out excess salts by running a stream of water through the soil until it drains through the drainage hole.
Spider mite infestations: Regularly inspect the plant for these pests and take timely control measures.
Curling leaves
Curling leaves on Maranta are caused by underwatering, dry air or temperature stress.
How to fix it
Underwatering: Water the plant when the top 1-2 inches of soil feel dry but do not let the soilball dry out completely.
Dry air: Group the plants together, set the pot on a wet pebble tray or use a cool mist humidifier to increase humidity.
Pests
Common pests on Maranta are mealybugs, aphids, scale insects and spider mites which are prevalent in dry conditions.
How to fix it
- Isolate the affected plant to reduce spread to the other plants.
- Treat the plant with neem oil or an insecticidal soap as indicated by the manufacturers'.
- Maintain the plant well pruned to discourage the pests.
- Set the pot on a wet pebble tray or group the plants together to heighten humidity to depress the pests infestations.
Diseases
Maranta is prone to leaf spot disease due to the humid conditions that it prefers. The disease is characterized by brown, soft leaf spots.
How to fix it
- Remove the affected leaves immediately to prevent further spread.
- Treat the affected plant with neem oil as per the manufacturer's recommendations.
- Avoid wetting the leaves during watering.
- Maintain good air circulation for the plant to discourage the disease.
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