Maranta or prayer plant: care, varieties, and a complete guide to spectacular foliage

The maranta, also known as the prayer plant, is one of the most spectacular and coveted indoor plants for those seeking beauty, exoticism, and a touch of living nature in their homes. Thanks to its lush foliage with unique colors and patterns and its ability to move, it has won the hearts of plant lovers. Join us in this comprehensive guide where you'll discover all the characteristics, interesting facts, and care it needs to look splendid and healthy inside your home.

What is the prayer plant or maranta like?

The maranta or prayer plant belongs to the Marantaceae family and its scientific name is maranta leuconeura. It is native to the tropical rainforests of Brazil, where it grows under the canopy of tall trees, receiving filtered light and surrounded by constant humidity. Its common name comes from a very particular characteristic: at night, its leaves fold upwards, imitating the gesture of hands in prayer, and during the day they open to capture the light. This phenomenon is called nytinastia and is an ingenious adaptation to its environment.

What is most striking about the maranta are its large, oval leaves in a wide variety of colors. In the most popular varieties, such as Maranta Tricolor or Red Prayer, the leaves are a deep green with pink lines, light yellow patterns, or mottled leaves, always with a purple underside. These leaves have a velvety texture that further enhances their ornamental appeal.

The maranta has a compact appearance. It does not usually exceed 30-50 centimeters in height., although it can spread horizontally up to a meter in length, especially if grown as a hanging plant. Its stems tend to be somewhat weak and bend under the weight of the leaves, forming beautiful cascades of foliage when left hanging.

To distinguish the maranta from the calatheas (with which it is often confused), look at the shape of the leaves and the color patterns, since both belong to the same family, but the maranta tends to have more pronounced veins and more vibrant colors on the upper and lower sides of the leaf. In addition, Maranta is usually more resistant and less demanding with light than Calatheas..

• Common names: Prayer plant, Prayer plant, Tricolor maranta, Red maranta.
• Family: marantaceae
• Origin: Jungles and tropical forests of Brazil and South America.
• Size: Between 30 and 50 cm high, up to 1 m horizontal expansion.
• Flowering: It is rare indoors; the flowers are small and inconspicuous.
• It is not toxic to pets: Safe for dogs and cats.

Interesting facts and curiosities about the maranta

• The genus Maranta was named after the Italian botanist Bartolomeo Maranta, who lived in the 16th century and did pioneering work in botanical classification.
• El nocturnal movement of the leaves (nyctinasty) helps the plant retain heat and moisture, reduce transpiration and prevent water from falling on the leaves, minimizing the risk of infections.
• In some countries, maranta is used to decorate spaces during memorial ceremonies, as it symbolizes prayers and memories for loved ones.
• Maranta is perfect for collectors, as there are numerous varieties with different leaf patterns and colors. Some even have almost black tones, ideal for lovers of darker, more exotic designs.
• Its leaf-folding behavior inspires wonder and curiosity, making it an "interactive" plant that changes its appearance with light and darkness.

Care of the maranta or prayer plant

Knowing and applying proper care is essential to keeping your maranta tree looking vibrant and avoiding common problems such as brown leaves, leaf drop, or stunted growth. Although it's not a particularly difficult plant to grow, it does require consistent humidity and temperatures. Below, we'll go over all the key care steps to ensure your prayer plant thrives for years.

Location and lighting

The maranta adapts perfectly to the interior of the home, where the light is always indirect and never direct. Their native habitat is the tropical understory, protected from the sun's most intense rays. Therefore, the ideal locations are bright rooms, but not directly exposed to the sun, such as next to a window with a translucent curtain, or a well-lit corner away from strong drafts.

• If there is insufficient light, the leaves will tend to close during the day, and the plant will grow more slowly.
• On the other hand, too much direct light can cause the leaves to turn pale or burn, showing brown or whitish spots.

Maranta is an excellent choice for offices and dimly lit rooms, as long as it provides some ambient light. It can even thrive under artificial fluorescent lighting, making it a versatile plant.

Optimal temperature

The optimal temperature range for maranta is between 18 and 26°C. It can tolerate slightly higher or lower temperatures from time to time, but frequent drops below 15°C or exposure to temperatures above 30°C can damage its leaves and stunt its growth.

• In environments below 15°C, shrunken, dry, and brown leaves are observed.
• Above 30°C, leaves may burn, turn dark brown, or dry out at the tips.
• Avoid placing the maranta near radiators, heaters, open windows in winter, or air conditioners.

It doesn't tolerate frost under any circumstances. If you live in a cold area, place it away from drafts and insulate the pot from the ground in winter.

Humidity

Maranta requires a high level of environmental humidity, ideally above 60%. In dry climates or in heated homes, the air can dry out quickly, negatively impacting plant health.

• Brown leaf tips, curled or dry leaves are symptoms of low humidity.
• Maranta appreciates being in groups of plants, which creates a small, humid microclimate.
• Placing a humidifier nearby on a tray of pebbles and water, or misting the leaves daily helps keep the foliage bright and free of damage.
• Avoid over-wetting or leaving standing water in the saucer to prevent the roots from rotting.

Substrate and transplant

The substrate for the maranta should be loose, airy and well-drained, but never completely dry. The ideal mix is a universal substrate, peat, and perlite or coconut fiber. The suggested ratio is:

• 50% universal substrate
• 30% peat or coconut fiber
• 20% perlite, vermiculite or coarse sand to improve drainage

It's advisable to add a layer of stones or expanded clay to the bottom of the pot to prevent waterlogging. The pot should have drainage holes, and preferably a wide and shallow pot, as maranta develops more horizontal roots than vertical ones.

Repotting is done every 1-2 years in spring if roots are poking through the holes or the plant stops growing. Choose a pot that's only slightly larger, as too much soil can retain excess moisture and promote rot.

Adequate watering

Maranta needs regular watering, keeping the substrate slightly moist, but never waterlogged. The ideal water is soft, lime-free, and chlorine-free (rainwater or filtered water). Water when the top layer of the substrate is dry to the touch, but the bottom layer retains some moisture.

• In spring and summer, water 2-3 times a week depending on temperature and humidity.
• In winter, reduce the frequency to once a week, or less if the environment is cold.
• If the leaves appear limp, yellow, or translucent, it is a sign of overwatering or poor drainage. If they are curled and dry, it indicates a lack of water or humidity.

Always avoid leaving standing water under the pot. When in doubt, it's better to underwater rather than overwater. Always use water at room temperature.

Fertilization

Maranta appreciates some fertilizer during its greatest growth stage (spring-summer). Use a balanced fertilizer (10-10-10 or a special fertilizer for green plants) every 4-6 weeks, diluted to half the recommended dose. Too much fertilizer can damage roots and cause leaf spots. For more details, see our section on tricolor maranta care.

It is not necessary to fertilize in autumn-winter, when the plant goes dormant.

Pruning and maintenance

Pruning maranta is minimal, but important to maintain its health and beauty. Simply remove any dry, damaged, burned, or pest-infested leaves. If an entire stem dries out, cut it off at the base to encourage new stems to sprout.

Pruning can also be used to control the size and give a more compact shape to the plant, especially if it has grown in a disorderly or trailing manner.

Common pests and diseases

Maranta is relatively hardy, but can be affected by mealybugs, mites, and fungal diseases if humidity or cleanliness conditions are not adequate.

• Cottony Mealybugs: They are removed with alcohol and a cotton swab, or by applying potassium soap.
• Mites: In dry environments, they are common. Spray water regularly and use specific insecticides if spots and cobwebs appear.
• Stains or rot: They indicate excess water or poor drainage. Check the roots and change to dry substrate if necessary.
• Brown, burnt, or curled leaves: It is usually due to low humidity, inadequate irrigation or excess fertilizer.

Check the plant regularly for pests early and keep the leaves clean by wiping them with a damp cloth every month. Maranta doesn't usually attract mosquitoes or other major pests if well cared for.

Multiplication and propagation

The simplest and most effective way to multiply maranta is through cuttings or division of the plant in spring.

To obtain cuttings:

1. Cut a healthy stem just below a node (where roots sprout).
2. Place it in a glass with clean water in a bright location but not in direct sunlight. Change the water every few days.
3. In a few weeks, you will see new roots and shoots appear.
4. Once it has at least 3-4 cm of roots, transplant it to a small pot with suitable soil. Keep the soil moist and in indirect light.

Plant division is performed during transplantation, carefully separating the rhizomes and leaves to obtain several independent plants.

Varieties of maranta and differences with calathea

In the market you can find different varieties of maranta, each with unique patterns and color combinations. The most popular are:

• Maranta leuconeura 'Erythroneura' (Red Prayer): Green leaves with very marked reddish veins, ideal for lovers of bright colors.
• Maranta leuconeura 'Kerchoveana': Green leaves with dark oval spots.
• Maranta leuconeura 'Massangeana': It presents patterns in cream and green tones, with a less intense reddish reverse.
• Other varieties of maranta may exhibit leaves in darker, almost black tones, which are especially attractive in modern decor.

Although maranta and calathea share similar family and care, their main differences are:

• Maranta is generally easier to care for than calathea, better tolerating lack of light and irrigation errors.
• Calathea leaves tend to be larger and rounder, and their patterns may be more diffuse.
• Maranta is more versatile and suitable for beginners.

• You can have marantas in hanging pots, on tables, or even in large terrarium arrangements.
• It is not toxic to pets or children, although it is always better to avoid it being chewed by dogs or cats.
• If you want to enhance the color of the leaves, try to provide bright ambient light and constant humidity.
• If the leaves don't fold at night, look at the humidity, temperature, or light level: any of these factors can affect the phenomenon of nyctinasty.
• Maranta is a collector's plant: its variety of patterns and colors invites you to have several at home.

1. Why does my maranta fold its leaves every night? It is a natural response to the absence of light, which helps conserve moisture and protect against heat loss and fungal attack.
2. What do I do if the tips of the leaves turn brown? It usually indicates low humidity or excess salts. Increase the humidity and review the frequency of watering and fertilizing.
3. Can maranta live in a bathroom? Yes, as long as there is some natural or artificial light, the bathroom usually has the ideal humidity.
4. Why does maranta lose color? Excessive direct light or lack of nutrients can cause loss of color in the leaves.
5. Is it advisable to spray the leaves? Yes, but do it with lime-free water and during the early hours of the day to prevent the growth of fungi.

Growing a maranta is an exciting and extremely rewarding experience. If you choose this tropical gem, You can enjoy its changing colors every day, its nocturnal dynamism and its ability to adapt to dimly lit corners.As long as you provide the warm, humid environment it demands, its lushness will never cease to amaze you. Do you already have a maranta at home, or are you thinking of adding one to your collection?