Maranta leuconeura , widely known as the prayer plant due to its daily sunlight - dependant movements , is a species of flowering plant in the family Marantaceae aboriginal to the Brazilian tropical forests .
Prayer Plant has oval - shaped leaves , which have unequalled and vibrant pattern . The leaves often display a mix of leafy vegetable , with darker gullible vein or billet , and sometimes with red or purple underside . This variegation can vary significantly between different cultivars . Plants grow low to the ground , typically reaching up to 12 inches ( 30 centimetre ) in top , though they can spread wider through their rhizomatous roots .
Maranta leuconeura is know for its nyctinastic move , where Like a child with hand folded in bedtime supplication , the supplication plant life ( Maranta leuconeura ) closes its colorfully variegated leaves when darkness fall . The large-minded , elliptical leaves reopen in the morning to reveal fishbone - patterned , whitened and dark - green sum entwine with reddish nervure against a soft light-green background .
grow as a colorful spectre - garden perennial in the semitropic areas of U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 10b through 12 , prayer plant is an soft - guardianship houseplant elsewhere . They are relatively dull raiser and can make suitable for humble spaces or tabletops .
refinement
Light : Bright , indirect light is idealistic . Direct sunlight can fade the leaf colors or burn the foliation , while too small twinkle might run to loss of variegation or reduced increase .
lacrimation : Keep the soil systematically moist but not waterlogged . body of water when the top column inch of territory feels dry . Prayer Plants are sore to fluoride and other chemical substance often found in wiretap water supply , so using distilled or rainwater is preferable . They thrive in mellow humidity environments , ideally above 50 % . you’re able to increase humidness by mist the leave , using a humidifier , or placing the pot on a tray with pebbles and body of water .
Soil : A well - run out , peat - based potting mix is recommended . Adding perlite or orchid bark can improve drain while retaining moisture .
Temperature : They choose temperature between 60 - 80 ° F ( 16 - 27 ° C ) . Avoid drafts and sudden temperature changes .
Fertilization : Feed every two weeks during the growing season ( spring and summer ) with a balanced , urine - soluble fertilizer diluted to half force . Reduce eat in the fall and winter .
Propagation : Prayer Plants can be propagated through division when repot or via radical thinning . For the latter , cut a foliage with a bit of stem and industrial plant it in moist grunge or water until roots develop .
Repotting : Repot every 1 - 2 geezerhood or when the works becomes root - bound . This plant life prefer to be moderately snug in its pot , so select a pot only slightly great than the current one .
Pests : look out for coarse houseplant pest like spider jot , aphids , and mealybug . High humidness conditions can also pass to fungal issue , so ensure salutary air circulation .
Special considerateness :
