You have embraced indoor gardening for some time now and are looking to add to your collection with interesting or unusual plants, even if they require a bit more knowledge and care than many others? Are you familiar with the Maranta?
The Prayer Plant
The Maranta is a houseplant appreciated for its stunning leaves that seem hand-painted, the detail is so impressive: a mix of different shades of green topped with silver or pink lines. It can also bloom, but its flowers are rather unremarkable. It's called the prayer plant because its leaves stand upright at dusk, as if they are turning toward the sky to pray at vespers, the evening service in the Christian religion. During the day, the slightly drooping foliage of the Maranta makes it an excellent plant to place in a hanging basket: it's time to bring out your most beautiful macramé to showcase it!
Caring for the Maranta
Although not exclusively for experts, the Maranta still requires more care than other houseplants and you must not forget to water it: it might hold a grudge. In fact, this plant appreciates consistently moist soil during its growing season. As soon as the surface of the soil starts to dry, water it abundantly. In winter, you can space out the watering a bit, allowing the top 2-3 centimeters of soil to dry before giving it water. The very dry air in many homes also does not please the Maranta, so feel free to mist the foliage regularly, especially in winter when the heating is on. You can also cultivate it on a bed of gravel to increase humidity.
The Maranta does not like direct or too bright light, so avoid placing it in front of a south-facing window. It is also sensitive to drafts. Provide it with well-drained and not too compacted soil, as it likes well-aerated soil! You can repot it in the spring if necessary.
Growing on a Gravel Bed
To create a homemade humidifier, place clay balls or gravel in the saucer under your pots and add a bit of water. Be careful, the water should not exceed the height of the balls to prevent the plant roots from soaking in it. It's the evaporation of this water that creates the humidity some plants seek. Add more water as soon as it has completely evaporated.
You now know everything about the Maranta, a somewhat finicky plant, but oh so interesting. Visit your local Passion Jardins retailer to enrich your urban jungle again and again!
Tips and advice
