Maranta leuconeura, a prayer plant with colorful foliage
Maranta leuconeura
- Exposures
- Half-shade, Shade
- Hardiness (USDA)
- 12a (10°C ≤ T° < 12.8°C)
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Family
- Marantaceae
- Genus
- Maranta
- Species
- Maranta leuconeura
Other names:Calathea leuconeura, Maranta massangeana
Does Maranta leuconeura unfurl its leaves in the morning to soak up the sun or to let us admire its foliage? No one knows. We also don't know why this Marantaceae native to the tropical forests of Brazil raises its limbs towards the moon in the evening.
How to recognize Maranta leuconeura?
Maranta leuconeura is a rhizomatous perennial with a bushy habit. It measures 15 to 30 centimetres in height and the same width.
Its leaves grow in rosettes on short stems. They have a long, sheathing petiole. The leaf blades have a bulge, the pulvinus. Thanks to this, they can change their inclination: they spread out during the day and stand upright at night, like hands clasped in prayer. This characteristic has earned Maranta leuconeura the nickname of "prayer plant" or "sleeping plant".
The elliptical leaves with their blunt apex measure around ten centimetres long. Light or dark green, they display different patterns depending on the variety. Maranta leuconeura 'Tricolor' is ribbed with pink, maranta kerchoveana has brown spots and maranta Lemon Lime has lime-green mottling. The underside is purple or silver.
The privet plant is cultivated for its decorative foliage. Flowering is rare indoors and of little interest. Small white flowers bloom in spikes. Ephemeral, they last no more than 24 hours.
Maranta leuconeura is non-toxic. You can adopt it without worry, even if you live with pets or young children. Some even claim it has pollution-removing properties.
Our care tips
Not very demanding, your Maranta leuconeura is content with a location without direct sunlight and plenty of humidity.
Watering
Maranta leuconeura fear excess water. To prevent root rot, allow the substrate to dry between waterings and remove any stagnant water from the saucer.
Water the soil preferably with rainwater. The soil should be moist but not soggy.
Misting
Dry air favors the appearance of mites and other pests. Mist the foliage of your Maranta leuconeura to prevent invasions and improve hygrometry.
Use non-calcareous water, such as reclaimed rainwater. Tap water is often too hard and leaves marks on the leaves.
Repotting
Every year in the spring, repot your Maranta leuconeura to give it more space.
Obtain a pierced pot of a larger size than the previous one. Don't hesitate to choose a ceramic or plastic model. These materials retain moisture and allow you to space out watering. Your Maranta leuconeura also prefers a wide pot to a deep container to give it room to grow.
Line the bottom with gravel or clay balls for drainage. Then pour in potting soil for green plants. You can lighten it by adding perlite.
Plant your subject in the middle and fill in with substrate. Water for the first time to eliminate air bubbles and encourage rooting.
Fertilization
To promote the growth of your Maranta leuconeura, apply fertilizer in spring and summer.
Give your Maranta leuconeura a green plant fertilizer to support its growth.
Follow the instructions on the product! If you overdose, you could damage its foliage.
Cleaning
The dust that accumulates on foliage hinders photosynthesis and the growth of your Maranta leuconeura. You can remove it with a damp cloth or clean sponge.
Prune
You can remove the yellowed leaves.
Taking cuttings
Propagation by cuttings is carried out during the strong growth phase, generally in spring and early summer.
Maranta leuconeura are rhizomatous plants. They multiply by dividing clumps.
Take your Maranta leuconeura out of its pot. Using your hands or a clean, sharp tool, separate a shoot with at least four leaves and a rhizome. The more developed your young shoot, the greater your chances of a successful cutting.
Get a pot with holes to suit the size of your seedlings. Line the bottom with clay balls or gravel to improve drainage.
Pour in a rich, light substrate, such as potting soil, and plant your cuttings. To help you, you can use a pencil to form a pilot hole.
Water to encourage rooting and eliminate air bubbles.
Diseases / Threats
Information
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Exposures
- Half-shadeShade
- Substrate
- Humus soil
- Planting method
- In pots
- Categories
- IndoorRhizomeHerbaceous
- Tags
- Cold-sensitiveThirsty
- Origin
- South America
- Hardiness (USDA)
- 12a (10°C ≤ T° < 12.8°C)
- Leaf colors
- Dark greenLight greenRedRoseBrownPale greenGlaucous greenChartreuse
- Flower color
- White
Discover plants from the same family
Maranta leuconeura tricolor
Maranta leuconeura 'Tricolor'
Maranta kerchoveana
Maranta leuconeura 'Kerchoveana'
Maranta Lemon Lime
Maranta leuconeura 'Lemon Lime'
Zebra Calathea
Goeppertia zebrina
Find all our tips in the Monstera application
