The real winter finally arrived at the end of January. I call it real winter because unless we go through temperatures that are cold enough to make the hair in your nose freeze, it’s just not wintery enough for us Canadians. And up until now, even though we’ve had a little snow, we haven’t faced any really harsh weather.

So.

Even though I have spent my entire life in Canada, I am not true to my native roots because I don’t handle winter very well. It seems I’m not hardy enough. For example, I don’t like snow (save for a couple of weeks during the Christmas holidays). I don’t care for outdoor winter activities (unless the temperatures are extremely comfortable – spring like). And no matter how many layers of winter gear I put on, I can’t seem to feel warm enough when it’s really cold out. So winter for me is bleh.

Well.

During the cold streak at the end of January, I tried to venture out as little as possible. And during that cabin feverish period, I spent some time flipping through photo albums, searching for some nice shots for the picture frames I’d purchased that month. It turned out to be quite an interesting time because I ran across old photos that brought back so many memories. Some of those photos included houseplants in them that I’d completely forgotten about. Many years ago, I’d been the proud owner of an assortment of plants (including some cacti) that were five to fix feet tall. I’d also had gorgeous trailing plants hanging in baskets around the house. Unfortunately, just about all those plants had been disposed of in one way or another when my children and I had moved to a smaller apartment that couldn’t accommodate so much living green. Sigh.

Anyhow.

The flipping through the photo albums helped me to decide which plant I should write about. In a very old picture featuring my children when they were very young, there is a large, very attractive and noticeably healthy prayer plant hanging from the ceiling. When I ran across this photo, the first thing that came to my mind when I spotted this plant is: “I must have had some good humidity in that house for that plant to look so good” This made me laugh because every seasoned houseplant grower knows that no matter where you spot a plant – in a photo, in a television show, in a magazine, at your dentist’s office, at the mall or at a friend’s house – you always subconsciously (or consciously) evaluate its health.

Now.

I don’t know why I’ve waited so long to do a profile on one of my favourite indoor plants, but I did. Regardless, I’m here now. And so is the profile.

So here goes.


Caring For A Prayer Plant

Maranta leuconeura, commonly referred to as ‘the prayer plant’, began my love for the lovely plants in the Maranta family. A native of Brazil, this small tropical plant with oval leaves is recognized by its beautifully-designed foliage and exotic appearance. Short-stemmed, bushy and low-growing, the upper surface of the leaves of this specimen are a deep olive shade decorated by vivid red lateral veins and bright green markings along the midrib, and the underside is an attractive shade of burgundy.

This pretty little thing - that lifts its leaves in ‘prayer’ every night and lowers them back again in the morning - is an excellent choice for hanging baskets with its cascading habit. It can also be grown in a dish garden, in a terrarium or as a ground cover in interiorscapes. In fact, it’s so versatile that the creative arrangements are limited only by your imagination.

This ‘praying’ Maranta thrives in medium to bright light. An eastern location is perfect for healthy growth. Although Maranta leuconeura will tolerate low light very well, without adequate light the vivid leaf coloration will be compromised. Make sure that you do not place your prayer plant in direct sun; overexposure to sunlight will bleach and damage the leaves.

Maranta leuconeura does not like to dry out between watering sessions so keep the compost moist at all times. It is also very important that you do not over-water; the root system of this plant is very small, making it extremely susceptible to root rot. Be very careful with the watering can, and use a fast-draining, porous medium that will help prevent over-watering.

Switch to hydroculture for an alternative growing style. Conversion is fairly quick with very few signs of stress. You can transplant the entire plant by rinsing its roots free of soil and potting it up in clay pellets. Or you can scrub the roots completely free of soil and place the plant in a glass of water until new roots develop. Once the water roots are formed, transfer to the clay medium.

Keep your plant warm - especially during the winter – by providing the same temperature range as all the other members of the Maranta family – between 16°C (60°F) and 27°C (80°F). Frigid windowsills and cold drafts are to be avoided at all times; they can cause healthy leaves to turn brown and shrivel.

So far I’ve painted a really pretty picture about this plant, making it sound like it’s very easy to grow and that there’s nothing to worry about. But there is something to worry about: humidity. Maranta leuconeura must be provided with high levels of humidity to stay healthy. If the air is too dry, you can be guaranteed of two things: ugly brown tips and margins on the leaves, and spider mites. The leaves will dry to a crisp if the air is too dry and the plant will look terrible. In addition, those evil spider mites will not hesitate to move in if humidity levels plummet. So keep moisture levels reasonably high. Place your plant on a humidity tray, grow it in a room that offers higher levels of moisture naturally (like a bathroom) or add a humidifier nearby. Don’t compromise this is you can help it; your plant will be much healthier and happier if you meet this vital requirement.

If the plant is healthy and actively growing, feed with half strength food for foliage plants every 2 – 4 weeks. Clean the foliage every now and then to keep it dust and pest-free; wipe the top and bottom of the leaves with a damp cloth or sponge, or rinse them under a running faucet.



That’s all there is to it folks. I won’t lie and tell you that this is the easiest plant to grow; it isn’t. In fact, all the members of the Maranta family will give you a little run for your money. But what I can tell you is that this is not the most difficult plant to grow. With a little effort, and the right amount of humidity, this pretty little plant can thrive in your home.

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