Prayer Plant Care: How to care Maranta Leuconeura

The prayer plant is a tropical climate plant that has an origin in Brazil, South America. Since its leaves stay flat during the day and fold like praying hands at night, naming it prayer plant. The prayer plant care is important in a case growing in other parts of the world. Another name of the prayer plant is the maranta plant. The maranta plant name is due to its botanical name maranta leuconeura after an Italian Physician and Botanist of the 16th century, Bartolomeo Maranta. The maranta genus is one of the low–growing plants native to Brazil.

Maranta prayer plant is a very different tropical plant with decorative leaves. The popular variety has a colour of the tricolor of deep green velvety leaves with yellow splotches down the middle region and arching red veins traveling to the leaf margins. They also have a name as red prayer plant due to their colour. These plants are very common house plants and mostly plant as indoor plants at any part of the year. But prayer plant care for the growth of the plant is essential.

SPECIFICATIONS OF PRAYER PLANT CARE

The botanical name of the prayer plant is maranta leuconeura.
Also, the type of this plant is Herbaceous perennial.
The mature size of the plant is 6-12 inches tall and 6-12 inches wide.
A partial or full shade is necessary for the prayer plant care.
Even moist and well-drained soil is a necessity for this plant.
The soil pH may vary from neutral to acidic.
Again, the blooming time for the prayer plant is spring. However, even after a greater prayer plant care, flowers bloom indoors very rarely.
The colour of the flower is white.
Finally, the native area of the plant in South America.

PRAYER PLANT CARE AND GROWING

prayer plant care is very important in growing the plant indoors. how to care for a prayer plant? Prayer plants are low-growing plants. They are spreading plants that grow abundantly if provided with greenhouse-like conditions. It also requires warm, moist, gentle airflow, and plenty of fertilizer. They are infectious to a too cool or too dry atmosphere which will result in the shedding of leaves and die from root rot or collapse. Similarly, if the plants are exposing to direct sunlight develop brown blotches on leaves.

IMPORTANCE OF LIGHT FOR MARANTA PLANT

Set your prayer plant near a window where a sufficient amount of sunlight is falling on the plant.
Never set your plant in direct daylight because the sunlight will scorch the plant’s leaves or the leaves will increase blotches or patches and fade in heat intensity.
However, the plant is usually tolerant to a little mild climate.
In the winter, while the trees or plants are not getting any sunlight always remember to give them some light for their growth progress.

IMPORTANCE OF SOIL FOR MARANTA PLANT

A praying hand plant can prosper in a variety of soils, but the main thing to keep in mind is that well-draining is necessary for their growth.
Typically, a conventional potting blend works fine.
However, you could make your personal by combining two elements sphagnum peat moss, one component of loamy soil, and one component of perlite or coarse sand together.
A pH of 5.5 to 6.0 is a compulsory requirement for the growth of prayer plants.
Enhance drainage, upload rocks or gravel to the lowest of your pot and make sure that the pot has a drainage hole for good prayer plant care.

IMPORTANCE OF WATER FOR MARANTA PLANT

During their developing season, water your prayer plant frequently (each time the pinnacle layer turns dry).
Do not permit the potting soil to dry out completely.
These flowers are very vulnerable to drought.
They can no longer live long if left unwatered.
However, to keep away from fungal problems, do not allow water to settle down on the leaves or allow the plant to get soggy.
Both inadequate water and overwatering can cause the shedding of leaves from plants and yellow leaves.
If the water while watering the plant is not warm, then use water at room temperature.

IMPORTANCE OF TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY FOR MARANTA PLANT

A temperature of 60 degrees to 80 degrees Fahrenheit is the normal preference of a prayer plant.
Continuous lower temperatures can cause the shedding of leaves and will destroy the plant.
Additionally, the maranta prayer plant opts for a totally humid environment.
To hike the humidity to your home, locate a small humidifier or bowl of water close to the plant.
Fill a tray with small stones and pour water just to the extent of the stones.
Locate the pot on top of the stones, or mist the leaves regularly with water at room temperature or warm water.

IMPORTANCE OF FERTILIZER FOR MARANTA PLANT

Fertilize your prayer plant fortnightly from early spring through autumn (lowering to as soon as a month in winter) with a water-soluble houseplant fertilizer diluted with double the amount of water.
Your plant will not develop or rarely develop if you are using a little amount of fertilizer.
However, a large amount of fertilizer can burn the flora roots.
Gradually, the leaves will begin to brown and the plant may even die.

TYPES OF PRAYER PLANTS

1. M. Leuconeuraerythrophylla

This is a tri-colored prayer plant.
It is also called the herringbone plant.
Finally, it is the most common variety and features bold red veins.

2. M. Leuconeura Kerchoveana

This variety, is also known as Rabbit’s Tracks.
It has plain green leaves with two rows of darker splotches.

3. M. Leuconeura Massangeana

This variety has a darker leaf background.
It also has a silvery blotch along the midrib.
And, it has white leaf veins.

Like any other plant, player plant care is very essential. Spider mites and mealybugs are the biggest enemies of this praying hand plant. If you see any signs of infection on the plant like a white powdery substance on the leaves or browning of the foliage be very careful. Without any second thought treat your plant with natural insecticides like neem oil or garlic.