Plants
Prayer Plant
Maranta leuconeura · Marantaceae (Pfeilwurzgewächse)
The Maranta, also called arrowroot or prayer plant, is one of the most expressive foliage plants there is: its patterned leaves with their often vivid red veins lift upwards in the evening and unfold again in the morning. At Fleura we value it as a living houseplant that brings genuine movement into a home. Anyone who has watched the leaves close at dusk understands its nickname at once.
- Light
- Bright, semi-shaded spot with indirect light; no direct midday sun.
- Watering
- Keep evenly moist without waterlogging; water with soft, room-temperature water and provide high humidity.
- Care level
- Medium
- Botanical
- Maranta leuconeura
Within the species Maranta leuconeura there are several charming cultivars that differ mainly in their leaf pattern. The cultivar Erythroneura stands out with emerald leaves and herringbone-like bright red veins, which is why it is also called the Herringbone Plant. Kerchoveana shows light green leaves with brown to dark green spots reminiscent of rabbit tracks, and the tricolour Fascinator combines dark green, red veins and a yellow-green central marking.
In floristry and plant retail we like to use the Maranta as a single specimen in decorative cover pots or as part of planted bowls with other foliage plants. Its low, broadly spreading habit makes it ideal for shelves, sideboards and windowsills where the leaf movement shows to best effect. As a gift it is a classic for anyone seeking an easy-care yet characterful green plant.
Quality in a Maranta is recognised by firm, undamaged leaves without brown tips and by a dense, compact habit. Because we buy directly at the Veiling Rhein-Maas, our plants reach us without long intermediate storage, which shows in strong leaf colour and healthy shoots. A Maranta with a clear pattern and firm foliage is far more resilient than a plant already stressed by a long supply chain.
Stylistically the Maranta fits beautifully into modern as well as nature-inspired interiors. Its graphic leaf pattern looks striking against plain, single-colour walls, while in a group with ferns, calatheas or small tropical plants it creates a lush jungle look. It feels especially at home in an office or bathroom with slightly higher humidity.
Care
- 01Bright, semi-shaded spot with indirect light; avoid harsh midday sun, which bleaches the leaf patterns and scorches the leaves.
- 02Keep the substrate evenly moist but avoid waterlogging; water once the top layer of soil has dried slightly, ideally with room-temperature, low-lime water.
- 03Encourage high humidity of around 60 percent, for example through regular misting, a tray of expanded clay or a position in the bathroom.
- 04Keep it warm at 20 to 25 degrees and consistently avoid temperatures below 18 degrees and cold draughts.
- 05Feed weakly every two to three weeks in spring and summer; reduce watering and feeding markedly in winter.
Frequently asked
- Is the Maranta toxic to cats, dogs and children?
- No, Maranta leuconeura is non-toxic to humans, cats and dogs alike and is explicitly listed as non-toxic by the ASPCA. That makes it one of the few expressive houseplants you can place without worry in homes with pets and small children.
- Why is my Maranta getting brown leaf tips?
- Brown leaf tips are almost always a sign of air that is too dry or watering with hard, limey water. Raise the humidity by misting or with a tray of water and use soft, room-temperature water, and the plant usually recovers quickly.
- Why is the Maranta called a prayer plant and do the leaves really move?
- Yes, the leaves really do move: in the evening they rise upwards and fold together like two hands, opening again in the morning. This natural daily movement, called nyctinasty, gave the plant its nickname prayer plant.
- Is the Maranta available all year round?
- As a tropical houseplant the Maranta is available all year round. Here in Duesseldorf-Pempelfort we focus on freshly arrived stock with strong patterning, so you take home a vigorous plant rather than one already stressed.