Marantaceae family (Ctetanthe,Goeppertia,Maranta, andStromanthespp.)
If you ’re on a seeking to add together a houseplant with strickle foliage to your collection , appear no further – you may take your pick from an array of gorgeous folio patterns among the prayer industrial plant .
These dazzling plants – marantas , calatheas , stromanthes , and ctenanthes – have colourful , patterned leaves that lift upward in the eventide , giving them their vulgar name .
We link to vendors to help oneself you find relevant products . If you buy from one of our links , we may realize a commission .
Photo by Kristina Hicks-Hamblin.
While these specie are not unity you ’d place into the “ low upkeep houseplant ” category , as a plant life parent , you may find their stunning foliage and fascinating daily rhythms worth the slightly increased efforts expect to keep them prosper .
And they do come with certain advantages : they are both non - toxic to pets and do well in lower light conditions .
On the other hand , one of the very real likely disadvantages to get one of these is that you may not be able to quit with just one .
Photo by Kristina Hicks-Hamblin.
There ’s something about them that makes you require to start a collection . Imaybe speaking from experience . Maybe …
Whether you think you ’d be felicitous to have just one , or are quick to join me in the ranks of prayer plant accumulate fanatics , I ’m perish to guide you through everything you involve to know about grow these lovelies in your home , so you could keep them salubrious and allow their beautiful foliage shine .
Here ’s a trailer of what ’s to come :
What You’ll Learn
What Are Prayer Plants?
“ Prayer plant ” is a name given to many different species of herbaceous evergreen perennials in the arrowroot sept , Marantaceae .
Also often key out as “ the prayer works family unit , ” this taxonomic group is made up of 31 different genera , and roughly 550 different species .
In this article , I ’ll focus on those members of the arrowroot family that are normally grown as ornamental houseplants , including species from theCtetanthe , Goeppertia , Maranta , andStromanthegenera .
If you ’re look for attention instructions forCalatheaspecies and are disappointed not to see them included here , do n’t worry – they will be ! These have been reclassified as member of a different genus , and I ’ll explain this shortly .
Many of the specie in these different but intimately related genera have very similar characteristic and growing requirements .
So , whether you come here look for entropy on how to growCalathea orbifoliaorMaranta leuconeura , the basic attention guidance provide will work for your specific houseplant .
The Great Calathea Reclassification
If you have a calathea of some sort , you may – or may not – be aware that these mintage have more current official aliases .
It all happened during the Great Calathea Reclassification of 2012 . Okay , that claim is my own invention , but the reclassificationdid indeedhappen .
In 2012 , Finn Borchsenius , Vice Dean for Education , Science , and Technology at Aarhus University in Denmark , along with colleagues Luz Suarez and Linda MacKechnie , published a newspaper entitled “ Molecular Phylogeny and Redefined Generic Limits ofCalathea(Marantaceae ) ” in the journalSystematic Botany .
The authors of this paper explain that after their desoxyribonucleic acid analysis of the species in this genus , they actually found two distinct “ clades , ” or groups , among the calatheas – and they concluded that this genus necessitate to be redefined .
“ Goeppertia ” was an sure-enough , abandon genus name for these species , so , as the authors of this paper write , “ the genusGoeppertiais resurrected and redefine to let in all members of the secondCalatheaclade . ”
That second calathea clade comprised a radical of approximately 248 metal money , leaving around 37 metal money behind in theCalatheagenus .
Now renamedGoeppertia , that second calathea clade chance to containallof the calatheas that are popular houseplants .
So formally , your endearing calathea houseplant is now a goeppertia .
But just so you know , houseplant enthusiasts and garden nursery have n’t taken up the new taxonomic designation universally .
onetime habit decease severely , and this is not rare in the epoch of desoxyribonucleic acid analytic thinking and reclassification , wherein many works have been given new name in recent years .
When looking for any of these species or cultivars , you ’ll still detect them most commonly called calatheas rather than goeppertias .
Nyctinastic Movement
While the majority of calatheas may have , in name at least , moved to a different genus , they and their extended prayer plant family relatives are known for a different variety of movement , one that ’s called “ nyctinasty . ”
No , this is n’t some too significative course dance you have n’t take heed of yet . Nyctinasty is a scientific term used to delineate plant movement in response to darkness .
These nyctinastic species have the quirkiness of folding up their leaves for the nighttime , and then lowering them again when the sun returns in the morning .
It was the nighttime lifting of their leave of absence that made horticulturalists cogitate of hands harbour vertically in entreaty and inspired their vulgar name .
However , these species don’tfollowthe centering of the Sunday throughout the day , likesunflowersdo . Instead , they exhibit a different type of movement .
During the day , their foliage is stretched out horizontally .
When the sun goes down , their leaves raise upwards – and in some species , the underside of the leaves are exposed .
This movement follow a circadian regular recurrence , one that endure over the class of 24 hr .
In case you ’re wonder , members of the arrowroot family are n’t the only plants that move in reaction to the daily form of sunset and sunrise .
Papaya Tree and mimosa , aka sensitive plant life – as well as many other types of legume , such asgarden peas – exhibit movement as part of their circadian rhythm method .
There are unlike hypotheses about why Marantaceae species have evolved this daily cycle . Some recollect this is a way for these specie to protect their foliage from fungal and bacterial ontogenesis at nighttime .
Bacteria and fungi have an well-heeled time getting a foothold in glum , cool , dampish conditions .
Since body of water does n’t seat on leaves that are arrange vertically like it does on horizontal ones , raising their leaves would allow water to run off and keep them ironic at Nox when conditions are dark and coolheaded .
Another interesting hypothesis as to the reason for this daily rhythm is that it might be a strategy these tropical species have evolved to protect themselves from nibbling herbivores .
Lifting their leaf may give nocturnal piranha a boost , cater less cover for herbivore population seeking nutrient on the rain forest floor . The predator have an easier clip find their prey , and the plants get a break from being nibble on in commutation .
Whatever the evolutionary reason behind this daily rhythm , it ’s a lot of fun having a houseplant that does n’t just sit there – and it is perhaps a good reminder to keep an early bedtime !
Cultivation and History
While some member of the Marantaceae family are native to Africa and Asia , the I we are travel to focus on in this article are all native to tropical zones in the Americas and the Caribbean .
In their native range , they grow in dappled light on the moist rain forest floor – these conditions should give you a clue about what they ’ll want once they ’re know in your home .
The arrowroot family is part of the taxonomic order known as the Zingiberales .
This order let in some other ornamental members you have probably heard of before , such asbirds of paradiseand canna lily , as well as some tropic members commonly used for food , includingbananas , turmeric , andginger .
In fact , some fellow member of the Marantaceae house have heyday that bear a potent resemblance to ginger peak .
One species belonging to this family , Maranta arundinacea , iscultivated commercially as a food cropin the West Indies , China , and and southeast Asia for its edible rhizomes that are used to get a gluten - costless baking ingredient that goes by the name of “ arrowroot starch . ”
While arrowroot starch does facilitate us gluten - costless home cooks lather up some toothsome parched goods , I would make bold to say that these sweetness can not equate to the fantastic ornamental value of the plants in the arrowroot family . And from someone with a wicked sweet tooth , that ’s suppose a mickle !
The Marantaceae family was name after a figure from the Italian Renaissance by the name of Bartolomeo Maranta , who was a literary critic , physician , and botanist – a true Renaissance humankind .
It was n’t Bartolomeo Maranta himself who named this works house , but rather Carl Linnaeus , the founder of modern taxonomy , who chose it in honor of him .
Members of the Maranta arundinaceae family were first maturate as specimen and cultivated in homes and greenhouses in Europe toward the conclusion of the 1800s .
In fact , Charles Darwin was fascinated by flora in the Marantaceae family unit , perform experiments on them , and write about them in his book , “ The Power of Movement in Plants . ”
Fellow science eccentric person , you may get a transcript of this lesser - lie with volume of Darwin ’s oeuvreonAmazon .
Most of the prayer plant specie that are grown as houseplant have hit coloring and symmetrical patterns – with grade insignia , blotches , and run in spectre of disconsolate light-green , weak unripened , gray , ash grey , pinkish , blank , and emollient .
In add-on to their intriguing pattern , most of these offer textural interest as well . Some species have foliage with raised texture to equal their pattern , while others have crinkly leaf margin .
And as new leaf unfurl , the undersides – oft colored in royal or burgundy hues – are exposed , adding an extra visual pleasure that contrasts with their upper dowry .
While the leaves of these plants are quite cosmetic , most of the coinage and cultivars enjoyed as houseplants make flyspeck , invisible flowers .
InUSDA Hardiness Zones11 - 12 , members of the Marantaceae crime syndicate can be featured outside in the landscape year around , but those of us in regions with cold winters must enjoy these beauties as houseplants .
quick to find out how to grow and wish for them in your home ? Let ’s start with propagation .
Propagation
One matter to regard before embarking on a prayer flora multiplication undertaking ( say that three metre tight ) is that some intercrossed varieties are protected under patent , and it is therefore not sound to distribute them byanymeans .
In other words , be careful to only propagate unpatented varieties or specie plants .
Once you have determined that your take cultivar is not protect under patent law , you may have a couplet of different options when it comes to propagating these houseplant , depend on the eccentric of appeal works that you ’re working with .
get from seed is not the easiest way to propagate these ornamental . And it ’s rare that they bloom when kept indoors , which means seed are hard to come by .
That leave us with generation from stem turn newspaper clipping and through part . Let ’s take on part first .
By Division
Prayer plant produce underground rootstock or tuber . When you divide these beginning structure , you may turn one specimen into two or more plants .
The best time to propagate through division is when you ’re ready to repot – preferably in early spring .
Since youthful specimens do n’t live on class as well as more mature specimen , rent your plant mature before separate it . assure your plant recording label for the expected mature size of the type you are grow .
encounter a good berth to separate one cluster from the others may be reasonably easy and obvious , or they may be tightly packed , requiring you to work them apart .
Do this lightly . You are basically performing surgery on your plant , so seek to be as gentle as you would care a operating surgeon to be with you .
Repot the shared clump into a new container . You ’ll obtain more detail on how to do this in the repotting part below .
you could repot the parent plant into a new pot as well if it is now significantly small , or put it back into its old pot if it still fit nicely .
From Stem Cuttings
Marantaceae species that have a spreading maturation substance abuse can be propagated easy through shank cuttings . These includeMaranta , Ctenanthe , andStromanthespecies .
spread types have node where they can grow raw origin and anchor into the soil as they scatter .
We can take advantage of this to make more houseplants . In fact , propagating from stem cuttings is how most maranta are raise commercially .
While the pros typically rout these works in potting medium of some sort , for most home gardeners , the most successful method for rooting a newspaper clipping of this eccentric is to place the cold shoulder death in a glass of water and wait for roots to grow .
After several week or months , whenever your clipping have established a palmy root organisation , you may pot them up by postdate the instructions in the repotting plane section of this clause below .
You may be capable to root someGoeppertia / Calatheaspecies from cuttings as well , if they have a spreading habit .
None of the species I have meet personally have node , which means they do n’t have a built - in way to settle down along a stem . part is probably your most honest option for propagating these plants .
How to Grow
These green companions need a bit more attention than other houseplants , particularly regarding watering , humidness , and temperature .
Choosing a Plant
permit ’s start before you even bring your maranta , calathea , stromanthe , or ctenanthe home , by choosing a healthy specimen .
Here are a few backsheesh on what to look for :
And when purchasing these houseplants from an online vendor , verify a heat energy plurality is included during winter if you be in a cold-blooded climate , so your leverage arrives without any chilling injury .
Light
As I mentioned earlier , these species grow on the rainforest base in dappled light . In our homes , that interpret better to medium to bright collateral twinkle .
They can alsohandle low light condition , but their leave will miss the bold diversification that certain cultivars are known for if they do n’t get enough light .
On the other hand , too much direct sunlight can cause attenuated food color , as well as singe parting .
In general , placing prayer industrial plant on windowsills will provide either too much light , too much heat , or too much of a chill as night fall .
So it ’s good to posit them at least a few substructure away from a bright window . If the windowpane is south facing , you may demand a semitransparent pall to help make the light source more soft .
My maranta and calatheas are all several feet from south - facing windows – they get destiny of indirect light , and are only touched by unmediated sun re for brusque stop when the sun is scummy in the sky in winter , at a time when this does n’t pose a risk of overheating them .
Temperature
Coming from tropical areas as they do , Marantaceae mintage like it on the strong side . Their favorite temperature lie in the 65 - 80 ° F ambit . temperature below 55 ° F are too chilly and can injure these tropical houseplants .
Avoid locate your orison plants in areas that get very warm . As mentioned , a position too close to a south - face window may overheat your houseplants , and scorch their leaf .
Also avoid situate them next to fireplaces or radiators , where temperature are likely to be too utmost .
Since my home has a single heating plant source in the middle of the family and the temperature in the kayoed suite is colder , I keep a thermometer near my calatheas , so I can keep my optic on them and check that they are n’t cause too much of a iciness .
Water
Watering is believably the country of caution where you will have to be the most open-eyed . These houseplant are n’t ones you’re able to amaze in a corner , forget , and expect to be fine and slap-up when you lastly think them a month by and by .
They farm in moist soil in their aboriginal range , and they would greatly prefer to continue doing so in the confines of our homes .
And they will countenance you know when they are n’t felicitous with your tearing routine . They are prone to get dark-brown leaf steer when tearing is either insufficient or inconsistent .
So keep these tropical houseplant in soil that is damp – but not soggy . That have in mind they require well - enfeeble soil and frequent lachrymation . It ’s a good idea to chequer their soil twice a week .
In other source you may find direction to water when the top half in or the surface of the soil is ironical . Since these houseplant are normally acquire in a very peaty rise medium , I find that the surface of the stain does n’t always dry out out by the metre they necessitate to be water .
I favor to lift the tummy my houseplant are farm in to influence when they are hungry – you’re able to get to know yours as well and make a genial note on how the pot should feel when it ’s clip to water .
Whatever you do , do n’t get them go bone dry between lachrymation .
When you water , do n’t irrigate overhead – instead , pour water just over the soil .
Another crucial tearing tip is to keep off frappe stale body of water , and water your plant life baby with room temperature or lukewarm pee or else .
Also , remember to remove any saucers or decorative slew covers and permit the water drain out of the drain holes of their baby’s room hatful after watering . Letting them sit in a dish aerial full of water can do their soil to become waterlogged .
And since municipal piddle can arrest contaminants and well - water system is often mineral - heavy , manipulation rainwater , filtered , or distilled water to give your prayer plants the gentle hydration they want .
sign that you are n’t watering enough admit brown leaf allowance or leafage tips , and mature leaves may curl up at the leaf margin – but this is not to be confused with new foliage unfurling .
However , there are also other rationality these houseplants ’ leaves can turn brown . Check out our clause for trouble-shoot tips when entreaty plant leaves turn brown .
Humidity
One of the reasons for chocolate-brown leaf crest on Marantaceae species is insufficient humidness .
Being creatures of the rainforest as they are , prayer plants do best when the humidness is fairly in high spirits , between 40 and 60 per centum .
Since most of us do n’t have such humid conditions in our homes during winter , there are a few dissimilar way you’re able to help increase the amount of wet in the line for your babies .
While misting these houseplants with a spray bottle can help , it often is n’t enough to increase the moisture in the air around these humidity - eff tropic natives . Here are some other method to regard :
If you ’re seem for an exculpation to buy not just one prayer flora but several of them , you ’re in luck . Grouping these houseplants together will avail increase the comparative humidity around each one .
But they do n’t have to be grouped among themselves , it will also help to surround them with other types of houseplants that have like growing requirements , such asspider plants , orchidaceous plant , orphilodendrons .
An additional measuring rod you’re able to use to increase humidity is to place your works on a humidity tray . Water that is evaporate from the tray will add moisture the air around the plant .
Just check that the pot is never sitting in standing urine – which is a recipe for root rot .
If you ’d care to try a humidness tray , you may incur one that measure 13.5 inch by 10.5 column inch from Humidi - Grow , available via Amazon .
Humidi - Grow 13.5 ” x 10.5 ” Humidity Tray
I ’m produce my calatheas and maranta in a desert climate , so I have to go to more extreme measures to ensure they get equal humidity .
My calatheas , which are small , arehoused in a terrarium . This not only increase the comparative humidity , it also protects them from my hombre .
And as for my maranta , which is in a fall basket and is too large for a terrarium , I keep a humidifier nearby .
Fertilizer
Prayer plants do appreciate a bit of fertilizer , but you ’ll need to take a light - handed approach in this domain .
salinity from fertilizer can build up in their soil , competing for moisture and even entrust unsightly tip burns on the leafage .
On the other mitt , if your prayer plant are producing small , pale leaves , this may be a house that they do indeed demand fecundate .
you could use a liquid houseplant fertilizer that you adulterate heavily and apply twice a month during the growing season , approximately from March through September .
To preclude a buildup of salts from fertilizers , it ’s a good idea to give your plant ’s grease a good rinse every few months – weewee it heavily with reinvigorated urine three times in a wrangle , until water runs out from the bottom of the plant ’s pot – to help strip out table salt that have built up in the soil from fertilizers .
I like to take a gentle , organic approach when fertilise my houseplant , using louse compost tea to do the business twice a calendar month .
If you do n’t have aworm bin of your ownto harvest compost from , I recommend TeaDrops , an ingenious product for making crying worm compost tea .
TeaDrops Organic Houseplant Fertilizer
TeaDrops are little “ afternoon tea ” grip that contain worm compost . You souse them in way temperature water for several hours , and then use the brewed “ tea ” to both fertilize and irrigate your houseplant .
you’re able to find a pack of 16 worm compost Camellia sinensis packets for purchase from the Earthworm Technologies Store , usable via Amazon .
Keep in psyche that prayer plants are slow growers , and put on spare fertiliser wo n’t change this .
Growing Tips
Pruning and Maintenance
While marantas , calatheas , stromanthes , and ctenanthes apprise more weekly aid than , say , snake plantsorChristmas cactus , they do n’t involve a lot of maintenance over the long full term .
Pruning
Even with the well care , prayer plants often develop brown tips or foliage edges , and older leave will fleet and die . Any unsightly leaves can be trimmed or removed – they wo n’t regain their verdant hue .
When trimming brown or yellow leafage , utilize a sportsmanlike , sterilized couple of scissors orpruners .
If you are work with a diseased plant , go a step further and make certain to clean the scissors with rub alcohol or hydrogen hydrogen peroxide between each cut .
And even when plant appear healthy , it ’s a good idea to desexualise your scissors or pruners between dissimilar plants to keep the spread of possible pathogens .
When remove an entire leaf , cut all the style back to the base of the stem . If a folio has just a hint that is browned , you’re able to clip off the chocolate-brown crest alternatively of remove the entire leafage .
Master Gardener Kathy Warner , publish for theUniversity of Florida Nassau County Extension , explains that pruning leaves can advance the growth of Modern rhizome thud – a in effect technique to keep in mind if you ’re interested in propagation .
And if your plant ’s leaf ever catch really miserable looking , supplication plants can be geld back near to the dirt .
They may eventually produce a fresh set of foliage – but only , of trend , if you determine what the problem is and are able to and remedy it .
Repotting
Another snatch of long - term care you will have to provide is repotting your calathea , maranta , stromanthe , or ctenanthe over the old age .
Repotting goes hand in hand with skilful watering practice , so I ’m going to go into a lot of detail in this section so that you do n’t inadvertently make your entreaty plants miserable .
The ripe sentence to repot your orison industrial plant is generally in early spring .
However , if you notice roots emerging on the surface of the soil or roots coming out of drain holes , that ’s a sign that the plant is getting pot bound , and it ’s a good idea to go before and proceed with repotting .
Also , if your prayer industrial plant is drying out too quickly between waterings – say , if you consistently find you have to water it two or three prison term a week – it probably needs to be repotted .
entreaty industrial plant should be moved up one potentiometer size of it when repotting . If you go to a much big size of it , you ’ll put your houseplant at hazard for root rot since the excess soil may continue too soggy .
The next linguistic rule of thumb for pick your sens , after you determine what size of it you ’ll demand , is to make certain it has adequate drainage holes in the bottom .
While some gardeners might get away with fill a pot without drainage holes of any sort with rocks or crushed rock in the bottom , this proficiency is not a surefire architectural plan to provide the drainage that most houseplants desperately need .
Mold and bacterium can grow on the moist gravel at the bottom of these green goddess – both of which can turn a healthy flora into a sickish one .
So use a patent potbelly with drainage holes , and then if you want to expose something pretty , you’re able to point it inside a more cosmetic cachepot .
You may want toselect your pot materialbased on your mood . If you live in a humid domain or really like to water a lot , a terra cotta good deal may be the good choice – it allows water to vaporise readily through the spate .
On the other hand , if you live in an arid climate like I do , credit card lean to be a estimable option , as it will prevent the potting medium from drying out quite so quickly .
Once you have a pot to use , you ’ll demand to select a growing medium .
While you may find many source telling you to potful these inregular houseplant potting mixture , that ’s probably not ideal . Here ’s why :
According to Gary W. Moorman , Professor of Plant Pathology atPenn State University , perlite , a mutual ingredient in pot dirt , should n’t be used for Marantaceae species . It incorporate fluoride which can harm these houseplant , causing brown , burned leaf backsheesh .
As well as avoiding perlite , look for a potting medium that has both ripe urine retentivity and is extremely well - draining . It should also have a slightly acidulent pH.
Most nurseries originate Marantaceae species in a potting mediumthat includes peat mossfor water retentivity , but I favor a more ecologically sound , peat - free mix that replaces peat moss withcoconut coir – such as De La Tank ’s Houseplant Mix .
De La Tank ’s Houseplant Mix
you may findDe La Tank ’s Houseplant Mix availablefor leverage in an assortment of package sizesat Arbico Organics .
When your prayer flora is quick to be repotted and you have your fresh container as well as the right-hand type of soil , you are almost ready to begin your repotting project .
But first , one more matter :
If you are reprocess a greenhouse pot , make certain to pick and sterilize it . Old pots can harbour bacteria and fungi . you could sterilise previously used raft by washing them out with hydrogen hydrogen peroxide .
Now that you ’re quick , place a bit of pot medium into the bottom of the new lot . Then softly hit your prayer plant life from its older pot .
If the plant is becoming a bit rootbound , this may require a little more effort – tip the kitty sidewise and softly squeeze it so that you’re able to remove it .
Gently loosen the edge of the old potting soil and the plant ’s roots , so they will have an easier time moving into the new dirt .
Place your plant into its young pot and chequer the level of the soil Earth’s surface . Adjust the amount of clean potting soil under the plant and shift it as necessary , to leave about half an inch of headspace at the top , below the rim .
Now fill the spate in with fresh potting medium – add enough to surround the old potting soil , but do n’t pack it in too tightly .
Also check that you do n’t bury the jacket of the works with the saucy potting spiritualist , to avoid the risk of rot base .
Water in your newly repot plant . Tell it how beautiful it looks ( this is optional , but recommended ! ) and hark back it to its normal location .
Cultivars to Select
The Marantaceae species have some of the most intriguing foliage you could find oneself among houseplant – at least in the impression of this author .
Their leaves come in such a gorgeous array of patterns and vividness combinations that it ’s really hard not to want one of each .
For the purposes of this clause , I ’m going to showcase one or two species or cultivars from each of these four genera – Ctenanthe , Goeppertia(akaCalathea),Maranta , andStromanthe .
Ctenanthe Setosa
Native to Brazil , Ctenanthe setosais a species that has pale silver gray , paddle - shaped leaves with a intermediate green fishbone pattern .
The undersurface of the leave are a purple semblance , which is display before new leaves unfurl , and whenC. setosaraises its foliage as the sun proceed down at nighttime .
Also call “ never never plant,”C. setosais on the large size of it for a prayer plant , growing to be four to five foot in height and two to three foot encompassing at maturity .
Goeppertia Concinnea
Goeppertia concinneais a mintage that has blench light-green leaves with a mulct , medium green herringbone pattern formula .
The leaves are recollective , narrowing to a point , and have pale green undersides .
Also known asCalathea leopardina , this coinage is fair summary , growing to be up to two feet tall . It is native to Brazil .
Goeppertia Roseopicta ‘Royal Standard’
This cultivated variety ofG. roseopictahas wide-eyed , ellipse leaves that come to a point . They are silver with wide , dour greenish margin , and the bottom sides of the leaves are a lovely mauve or purple hue .
‘ Royal Standard ’ is tall than it is wide , reaching a superlative of two to three understructure with a spread of one to two feet .
If you ’re looking to buy this one , you may find it name under its honest-to-goodness name asCalathea‘Royal Standard , ’ so keep this in mind when you are shop .
Maranta Leuconeura var. Erythroneura
Maranta leuconeuravar.erythroneurais a naturally occurring variation of this specie , commonly known as “ crimson supplication works . ”
It is also often called “ red vein maranta , ” “ reddened veined petition flora , ” or “ herringbone pattern plant , ” and is sometimes classified taxonomically asMaranta leuconeura‘Tricolor . ’
cerise nervure maranta has rounded , elliptic leaves that are drab and light-headed K , with a yellowish or light green blaze along the leaf center , and contrasting undimmed carmine vein and midribs .
Mature industrial plant grow to be one and a one-half feet tall with a spread of one to one and a half feet .
This of course occur variety make headway a Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit in 2002 , in the ornamental class .
Live Red Vein Prayer Plant
You ’ll see an eight- to 15 - inch - grandiloquent scarlet venous blood vessel maranta plantsavailable for purchase at Terrain .
memorize more about growing red venous blood vessel maranta in our template .
Stromanthe Thalia ‘Magic Star’
‘ Magic Star ’ is a cultivated variety ofStromanthe thalia , sometimes list under the synonymous species nameS. sanguinea , or erroneously key out as ‘ Magic Star ’ calathea .
When seeking out a specimen to purchase , a search for “ Magic Star stromanthe ” should help you to observe what you ’re looking for .
This cultivar has an upright growth habit , with a mature height of about two feet tall . Lance - shaped leaves are dark green in color with pocket-sized splashing of livid variegation , and dark pink to purple undersides .
If you ’re like me and you ca n’t get enough of these gorgeous species , ensure you peruse ourarticle on the dissimilar type of prayer plant , where you ’ll be able-bodied to learn about 21 recommended varieties .
Managing Pests and Disease
These houseplant are n’t especially susceptible to gadfly or diseases . The biggest peril to their wellness is credibly owner error – provide either too much sun , or too much or too little water .
However , in the event that pest or disease job get up , it ’s good to know what to be on the picket for .
Insects
If you take these houseplants alfresco for the summertime , you may gestate a gamy risk of infection of pest problem . That ’s one of the rationality why I like to keep mine inside class - round .
But there are also a few common houseplant pest that can raven on these ornamental species indoors .
Mealybugs can pop up on just about any of your houseplants . Once you know how to fleck them , they ’re almost unimaginable to escape .
Members of the scale phratry , mealybugs have an easily recognizable blank downlike looking at that can make your houseplants seem as if they ’ve been cover with a unclouded dusting of blow – specially on stems and leafstalk .
Likeaphids , mealy bug secrete honeydew , andsooty moldcan grow on this sticky liquidity , cause yet another job for your houseplant to fight with .
Severe infestations can cause stunt flying and character of the plant will commence to die .
Mealybugs can be controlled by remove them with rubbing alcohol . Just get a paper towel dampish with rub alcoholic beverage and then rub away the pest .
check that to perform this task when your industrial plant are not go to be let out to high heating , or direct sunlight .
Monterey Neem Oil
you’re able to find Monterey sword neem oilavailable from Arbico Organics .
show more about combating mealybug here .
plate insects enjoy feast on these Marantaceae family member as much as they do on your other houseplants . Related to mealybugs , scale insects have a non - insectile appearance .
When infect with scale louse , leafage and stems will have small one shot or oval chocolate-brown or tan spots on them . These insects do n’t move much and they often clump closely together , so you may see solid patches rather than item-by-item point .
When ordered series insects infest your appeal plant , they latch onto it with their mouth part and set up a cozy life-time , suck up out the plant ’s nutrients .
This eventually pack much - needed nutrients away from the plant , which can lead in sickly look , yellow leaf . The plant can become scrubby and eventually die .
To treat scale of measurement , you have the same option as with mealybugs . you may plow your plants by rub the scale insects off with rubbing intoxicant , or you may apply neem oil .
Find more tip on identifying and control scurf insects here .
Spider mites are another eccentric of food - sucking foe to be on the lookout for .
The first sign of their presence might be leaves stippled with yellow . With more austere infestations you ’ll acknowledge entanglement around the leaf , and you may see lilliputian colony of red or browned touch moving around in the web or on your plant .
On the undersides of leaves you might find a gray powdery substance – this is skin shed by the wanderer mites .
Like mealybugs and scurf , these cuss damage plant by suck nutrients out of their leaves , which can result in unbalanced , undernourished plants .
To remove spider speck , first try just wipe them aside with a moist theme towel . If the problem persist , regale with rubbing alcohol or neem crude .
Get more tips on combating spider mites here .
Disease
Luckily , prayer plant are n’t often affected by disease when they are keep indoors by habitation gardeners .
However , there are a few potential pathogens and resulting ill you ’ll require to be aware of .
Cucumber mosaic virus is one disease that can strike maranta , stromanthes , ctenanthes , and calatheas . It create a revealing streak lily-livered coloring on your plant ’s foliage .
You may be more familiar with this disease showing up in your vegetable garden – itcan also affect zucchiniand other cucurbits , as well as many other garden plants .
Cucumber mosaic virus can be spread by aphid , contaminate garden tools , or even dirty fingers .
To foreclose inadvertently circularise this disease , make trusted to sterilize tools and thoroughly launder your hands as well , in between caring for different specimens .
There are no chemical substance control useable to keep in line this virus . Unfortunately , your only pick in casing of infection is to discard infect specimens to foreclose spread to your other houseplants .
Helminthosporium folio spot is a fungous disease that causes small yellow spots on the foliation that gradually grow larger , into irregularly shaped tan spotlight with yellow halos .
This disease is due to the fungal pathogenDrechslera setariae , and can move up when leaf bide wet for several hour .
Helminthosporium leaf spot can be prevented by annul overhead tearing . Also , water only in the dayspring , giving leaf time to dry before temperatures nerveless .
If this disease show up on your prayer plants , verify to adjust your lachrymation riding habit to preclude extend the outbreak .
Then treat your plant with neem petroleum , a natural , nontoxic fungicide .
ascendent rot is the disease most likely to strike your orison plants , but luckily this trouble is easily preclude .
If you keep your houseplant in well - draining territory , are careful not to overwater , and avoid allow them sit in standing water , you’re able to keep this disease at bay .
radical rot is one of those problems that can induce leaves to yellow , so if you notice this symptom on your supplicant industrial plant , make indisputable its soil is n’t waterlogged .
When roots are go out in sloughy soil , they are not able to take up enough atomic number 8 and will croak and decay . Ironically , the plant life then becomes dehydrated because its roots can not ferry water up to its leaves .
If you surmise rootage rotis affecting your entreaty plant , repot it . During the repotting process , gently remove the land from the base and cut back off any dead or decaying single . Repot in a well - draining potting metier and avoid oversaturating it .
Also , go ahead and rationalise any yellowing leaves , since they will not recoup .
worm and disease problem are n’t the only reasons for yellow leaf on these houseplant . Check out our article ontroubleshooting yellowing leave on prayer plantsto learn more .
Best Uses
phallus of the Marantaceae family are excellent houseplants . The spreading types can be grown in hanging basket or be allowed to drape over decorative stands .
And those with a more upright growth drug abuse can be placed in decorative pots and situate to brighten up an entrance table , mantlepiece , or an empty corner .
They also make unspoilt selections for interiorscapes , which are large , vegetative features in indoor spaces such as office building or mall .
Another laudable feature of these tropic species is thatthey are nontoxic , safe to keep around when you have a house full of kids or pets .
And when used indoors , they may also ameliorate atmosphere quality by reducing CO2 levels – even when grown in low light conditions .
While orison plant are most often used as cosmetic houseplant , for those who endure in Zones 11 and 12 or a corresponding mood , they can be grown in the landscape .
Many coinage make excellent ground covers with their spreading forms , such as maranta and ctenanthes . Others with a more unsloped ontogenesis habit , such asStromanthe thalia‘Tricolor,’can be used as a focal spot or to echo other colors in a tropical landscape painting .
Quick Reference Growing Guide
Nyctinastic and Fantastic
While prayer plants may not be the most humiliated - maintenance houseplants , with their miraculous leafage patterns and daily raising and letting down of their leave , they are among the most rewarding .
Remember to leave them with indirect illumination and well - draining soil . Keep the soil moist but not soggy , and render extra humidness to keep them at their glad .
Ready to read more about the various species within theprayer plant family line ? tally out these next :
Photos by Kristina Hicks - Hamblin © Ask the Experts , LLC . ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.See our TOSfor more details . mathematical product photos via California Tropicals , Humidi - Grow , Monterey , Soil Mender , and Terrain . Uncredited photos : Shutterstock .
About
Kristina Hicks - Hamblin
