Melinda Myers

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