
Prayer Plant
- Botanical Name
- Maranta leuconeura
- Hardiness
- Zones 11 to 12
- Height
- 6 to 12 inches
- Width
- 6 to 12 inches
- Light
- Moderate indirect light, avoid direct sun
- Soil
- Moist, well-drained
- Planting & Care
- Keep soil consistently moist during the growing season then reduce moisture fall thru winter
- Requires humidity, place pot atop a few pebbles in a saucer
- This keeps the pot out of standing water while increasing the humidity around the plant as the water in the saucer evaporates
- Sensitive to fluoride and chlorine in tap water
- Moderate to indirect light
- Scorched and brown spots in direct light
- Pale leaves, less colorful when it doesn't receive sufficient light
- Propagate by division or stem cuttings in spring
- Problems
- Spider mites, mealybugs, root rot in soggy potting mixes
- Varieties
- Green Prayer Plant (M. leuconeura) - classic variety, green leaves with purple spots
- Black Prayer Plant (Maranta leuconeura var. leuconeura) - silver-blue leaves with purple spots and olive green margins
- Red Prayer Plant (Maranta leuconeura var. erythroneura) - very attractive, green leaves with purple markings and red veins
- Marisela - dark green leaves with darker green markings and lighter green veins
- Kim - green leaves marked with purple spots and white streaks
Related Content
Categories
Upcoming Appearances
Feb. 24, 2021
Low Maintenance Gardening
Webinar
Feb. 25, 2021
Planning Your Rain Garden
Webinar
Feb. 27, 2021
Creating a Private Garden Space
Webinar
March 3, 2021
Summer Blooming Bulbs
Webinar
Register today! Plus, watch Melinda's past webinars ON DEMAND
for a limited time.
Learn More