Description
Maranta –
There are about 32 species of evergreen, rhizomatous perennials, in this genus. They occur in tropical Central and South America. They are grown for their clumps of often intricately patterned and textured, blunt ended, elliptic leaves, spreading by and raised to an erect position in the evening Small, tubular, often insignificant, 2 lipped white flowers are borne in pairs in loose racemes. Grow as a houseplant, in shallow pots or hanging baskets or trained up moss pole.
Indoors, grow in soilless or soil based potting mix in bright filtered or bright indirect light, in half pots or pans to accommodate the shallow root system. Provide high humidity at all times. In the growing season, water moderately and apply a balanced liquid fertilizer monthly, water sparingly in winter. Divide in spring.
Prone to bud mites, spider mites, mealybugs, leaf spots, and cucumber mosaic virus.
M. leuconeura – Prayer Plant – Ten Commandments – This very variable, clump forming perennial grows 12″ tall and wide. It produces elliptic to obovate, dark green leaves, 6″ long, with silver lines that fan from the midribs to the margins, the undersides are deep purple or gray-green. In summer it bears inconspicuous flowers.
Zones 14-15
