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Maranta - Red
- Botanical Name: Maranta Leuconeura
- Origins: Brazil
- Light: Low Light
- Watering: Every 8+ Days
- Growth Speed: Slow
- Grower: Expert
- Style: Table Top, Hanging
- Home Decor: Casual
- Variety Code: 251
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Product Description - Red
Maranta genus consists of about 20 species of herbaceous clump forming plants native to tropical America. The name is in honor of the sixteenth century physician and botanist, Bartolommeo Maranti. M. leuconeura, or Prayer Plant (a native of Brazil), is very short-stemmed, growing up to 1 foot, and has no tubers. The leaves are more or less elliptic, 5 inches long by 3 1/2 inches wide, with the upper surface variegated with light and dark green or brown, and sometimes with red or gray main lateral veins. The underside is gray-green or marked with red-purple.
Prayer plants derive their common name from the orientation of their leaves when at rest in darkness, a vertical position that makes them look like hands in prayer. In light, the leaves are held horizontally. The plants are especially interesting when grown beneath a table lamp. When the light is turned on after dark, the sleeping leaves awaken and spread to their horizontal position in a matter of minutes, then become vertical again after the light is turned off.
Flowers are white with purple spots and not particularly showy. M. leuconeura 'Kerchoveana', called Rabbit Tracks, has grayish green leaves that, when young, have reddish brown spots resembling animal tracks running parallel to the central ribs. As the leaves age, the tracks become dark green on the topsides of the leaves. M. leuconeura `Kerchoviana', the Prayer Plant, Rabbit's Foot, Rabbit's Track or Green Maranta, is an herbaceous and sprawling plant which grows to form a clump as it matures. Individual stems are nearly vine-like and tend to grow along the potting medium surface or cascade. The stems lack tendrils or holdfasts so they do not climb on vertical surfaces. Leaves are nearly oval shaped, approximately 7 inches long and 3 inches wide. The upper surface of the leaf is variegated and satin-like with 2 rows of 5 dark green patches. The patches are initially dark brown and turn dark green as the leaves mature.
The plant occasionally produces conspicuous white flowers supported by slender stalks emerging from the petiole sheath. M. leuconeura `Erythroneura', the Red-Vein Maranta, or Red Nerve plant, is a colorful cultivar with bright red midrib and lateral veins, a feathered, light greenish yellow central zone and a greenish black outer background. The flowers of this cultivar are purple with a pattern. Other growth characteristics are essentially the same as indicated for `Kerchoviana'. M. leuconeura `Leuconeura', the Silver Feather Maranta or Black Maranta, has a light grayish blue green central zone and radiating lateral veins which extend through a greenish black outer background. This cultivar is rather rare in the trade, but very attractive. Marantas are versatile plants indoors because they can be used as small specimen plants, hanging plants which cascade, ground covers in interiorscapes and in dish gardens and other combination planters.Plant Care
Marantas need protection from the sun, high humidity, and enough warmth in the winter. Keep Marantas in a shady place. Direct sunlight can scorch the leaves, which can be fatal. In winter, you should move your Maranta to a well-lit but sunless spot. Generally, these plants like the temperatures from 60 to 80 degrees. Maranta grows well in a potting medium with good aeration and high water holding capacity. Unlike many house plants, Marantas do not enjoy being allowed to dry out between waterings. Most homes don't provide enough humidity for Marantas to thrive; misting the plant's leaves is helpful, especially in the summer. You can also help create a more humid atmosphere by placing a bowl of water by your Maranta. Fertilize weekly with a balanced fertilizer diluted to 1/2 the strength recommended on the label. Since the plant has a shallow root system it should be planted in shallow pots. This plant should be trimmed once or twice a year in order to keep its vigor. Repotting should only be done if the plant out-grows its container.0 Comment
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