July 9th, 2021

Hey plant friends!

This week we are talking about Maranta leuconeura. This plant was named for the Italian physician and botanist, Bartolomeo Maranta in the 16^th century and belongs to the Marantaceae family. The Maranta genus is native to tropical Central and South America and the West Indies. These plants, are commonly known as Prayer Plants because of the magic that happens at nighttime. Maranta dance in the light opening and closing their leaves, closing like praying hands at night. Prayer plants exhibit nastic movement in reaction to the amount of light they receive and follows a circadian rhythm. This motion comes from the movement of liquid in the cells at the base of each leaf so make sure your plant is properly watered.

Maranta require bright, indirect light and do tolerate low light. Direct light will burn the leaves causing them to look washed out. As always you will need a well-draining soil like the Espoma’s Organic Potting Mix. During the growing season your Maranta will want frequent watering, they do not like to dry out. During the winter months you can cut back on watering and allow to dry 2-3 inches down the soil. Giving your Maranta extra humidity is a great idea, mist your plant weekly to avoid crispy edges.

We currently carry red, green, and lemon lime Maranta in the greenhouse. If you have any further questions feel free to reach out to us by phone, Instagram, or email us at hello@tonkadale.com.

Happy planting!