Maranta, or "prayer grass," is a popular houseplant, captivating with its striking patterns on its broad leaves. Hobby gardeners collect dozens of these low-growing shrubs, praising their ease of growing and caring for indoor plants.
Description and popular varieties of arrowroot
Plants from the Marantaceae family occupy a prominent place in the collections of many gardeners. These indoor plants are highly prized for the unique shape and color of their leaves, which feature variegated blotches and stripes. Being a tropical species, they require specific temperature conditions and high humidity.
Maranta is a perennial plant native to the warm climates of South America. It comprises 43 species, developed through years of selective breeding. The name "praying flower" comes from the botanist Bartolomeo Maranta, who discovered and described the flower in the mid-16th century.
This small houseplant grows from upright shoots bearing large leaves. Depending on the variety, these leaves are oval or pointed, variegated in color, ranging from red, burgundy, white, or dark green. The root is a massive tuber, used in South America for dietary dishes.
Maranta grows slowly indoors, producing no more than six leaves per year. Rarely, under ideal conditions, it produces spike-shaped inflorescences bearing several small cream or white buds. The seeds are collected in a small capsule.
The following varieties are adapted for growing at home:
- Maranta tricolor. Light green leaves are decorated with dark spots and veins, and have wavy edges. The color changes depending on the light level in the room.
- Kerchovena. Easy to care for, recommended for beginning gardeners. The leaves are large, with dark spots and white stripes down the center. They form a beautiful bush up to 30 cm tall.
- Red-veined, or Tricolor. The leaves shimmer with light green, green, and pink, and have a distinct pattern. They are fuzzy to the touch, not smooth. It blooms with small white inflorescences.
- Reed. The only variety that reaches 1 m in height. The leaves grow to 20–25 cm, light green with a silvery-blue iridescence. It blooms once a year, producing creamy buds.
All maranta varieties grow no more than 35 cm tall. They blend beautifully together in a single pot. Therefore, gardeners often create arrangements of different varieties, combining them by leaf color.
Maintenance conditions and care features
The exotic maranta is a houseplant that requires special care. It's demanding, earning it the nickname "barometer" from gardeners. When humidity drops, its leaves lose their vibrant color, quickly droop, and wilt. When a thunderstorm or heavy rain approaches, it folds its leaves in response to changes in atmospheric pressure.
A healthy plant's leaves are deeply colored. They are firm, with a slight waxy sheen. Maranta is easy to care for indoors, but it thrives best under artificial light. It's best to place the pot near a south- or east-facing window, shading it from direct sunlight, which can cause spot burns and damage.
The best place for a maranta pot is a living room, bedroom, or closed, insulated balcony. The plant is sensitive to combustion products, so in the kitchen it will wilt, stop growing, fail to bloom, and may even die. In summer, it can be moved to the balcony, but you'll need to wipe the leaves with a damp cloth more frequently to remove dust.
Temperature and humidity levels
In summer, the ideal temperature for active growth is 20 to 25°C. In hotter weather, you can slightly increase the humidity by misting frequently. In winter, maranta tolerates temperatures down to 15°C without losing its attractive appearance. If the room temperature drops to 10°C, the flower may die.
The plant requires high humidity levels of 80%. In winter, it's best to remove the pot from central heating radiators and cover them with wet towels. Many gardeners use humidifiers to control humidity when growing arrowroot.
If the room humidity is consistently 55–60%, misting with warm water should be repeated morning and evening. The plant can be "bathed" under running water to remove dust and improve the condition of the leaves. However, the soil around the stems should be covered with plastic wrap to prevent over-watering.
Watering rules
This exotic plant should be watered only with settled or filtered water. It does not tolerate large amounts of lime or iron deposits. When overwatering, drain any excess water from the tray to prevent root rot and pest infestation.
Before watering, check the soil moisture and avoid allowing the soil to dry out. In summer, you can water it every other day; in winter, no more than once every five days. A good way to maintain humidity in a room with central heating is to place the pot on a large tray filled with expanded clay. This controls evaporation, creating an ideal microclimate around the plant.
Fertilization
The plant requires frequent fertilization, which it obtains from the soil. The best option is specialized fertilizers that can be diluted in water for irrigation. They should contain microelements and nutrients. It's best to purchase ready-made concentrates for tropical or exotic plants.
The amount and frequency of feeding depends on the time of year:
- from February to April liquid solutions - once every 3 weeks;
- from May to September - once every 14 days;
- from October to December - once a month.
The plant does not go dormant in winter, but it's best to reduce the amount of fertilizing. In summer, you can dilute the concentrate with more water, increasing the dosage indicated in the instructions by 50–100%.
Transplanting arrowroot
The flower's root system is small, so replacing the soil with fresher, more nutritious soil is necessary no more than once every three years. However, repotting is essential immediately after purchase. For arrowroot, choose a shallow, wide-diameter plastic pot. The material retains water better in the soil, increasing humidity.
First, you need to prepare the nutrient soil for growing arrowroot as follows:
- A layer of expanded clay, small pieces of broken brick or pebbles are placed on the bottom for good drainage.
- For the second layer, it is recommended to use a ready-made nutrient substrate or a mixture made from peat, soil and river sand.
- After planting, the roots are covered with a layer of soil mixed with crushed activated carbon or coniferous substrate for light mulching.
After repotting, water the plant thoroughly, removing any excess liquid from the tray. Spray the leaves with Epin solution. If the arrowroot is young, you can pre-soak the roots in liquid Kornevin.
Basic methods of reproduction
At home, it's easier to grow arrowroot from cuttings obtained by dividing the mother plant. This procedure is performed during repotting in the first months of spring. The plant is carefully removed, the soil is shaken off, and the side sections are separated with a sharp knife.
Each seedling should have a healthy, strong root. Damaged parts should be removed with a knife. Be sure to treat the cuts with activated charcoal and a manganese solution. The resulting seedlings are planted in small plastic cups or pots and placed under plastic film to create a greenhouse effect.
Mature plants often produce numerous side shoots, which can be used to propagate this rare maranta variety. Use sharp pruning shears or a knife to cut stems at least 8 cm long, selecting those with large internodes and signs of leaf growth. Leave the cuttings in a glass of water for a month.
After small roots appear, the cuttings are carefully transplanted into pots with nutrient-rich substrate, watered, and covered with transparent film. They grow faster with higher humidity levels of 80%, so the arrowroot should be misted every other day.
Once new buds and shoots appear, the pots with seedlings can be moved to a room with a temperature of 20°C. Open the film for two hours daily to harden off the plants and accelerate root growth. If the leaves are drooping, it's best to postpone hardening off for 1–2 weeks.
Pests and diseases of arrowroot
This exotic flower is often infected by other houseplants. It is susceptible to attacks from pests such as:
- spider mite;
- mealybugs;
- aphid.
The pests feed on the arrowroot sap and are virtually invisible on the white spots on the leaves. If signs of spider mites appear, remove the affected parts of the plant and give it a warm shower under running water. Treat the plant with Fitoverm or Actellic several times, at intervals of 4-5 days.
With dry air and poor watering, arrowroot is often affected by bacterial infections:
- anthracnose;
- black rot;
- sooty mold;
- spotting.
Treatment involves treating the leaves and soil with solutions of "Aktara," "Calypso," and "Confidor." Providing the stems with access to fresh air is essential to improve the microclimate.
Many gardeners avoid growing maranta, considering it too demanding and demanding. However, with optimal humidity, proper fertilization, and regular repotting, it will delight you with beautiful foliage for many years.
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