Maranta leuconeura var. kerchoveana – Indoor House Plants

Maranta leuconeura var. kerchoveana (Prayer plant) is an ornamental, evergreen perennial forming a clump of broad, oval, mid-green leaves with grey-green markings and conspicuous brown blotches on either side of the midrib that turn green with age. Insignificant, tubular, 2-lipped white flowers bloom in summer. Prayer plant filters airborne toxins from home or office.

Scientific Name: Maranta leuconeura var. kerchoveana
Common Names: Prayer plant, Rabbit tracks , Rabbit’s foot, Maranta kerchoveana.

How to grow and maintain Maranta leuconeura var. kerchoveana (Prayer plant):

Light:
Prayer plant prefers bright to moderate light, but no direct sun. When a Prayer Plant gets too much light, the color in the leaves starts to fade.

Soil:
Prayer plant thrives best in a well-aerated, peat based, indoor potting soil that retains water yet still drains quickly. It prefers the soil pH range from 6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic).

Temperature:
A Prayer Plant prefers normal temperatures between 60 degrees Fahrenheit – 80 degrees Fahrenheit, avoid temperatures below 12 degrees Celsius / 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Lower temperatures can damage the leaves of a Prayer Plant.

Water:
Water your prayer plant regularly during the growing season and always keep the soil moist but never allow your plant to sit in water. During the winter season, reduce watering and you can allow the topsoil to become slightly dry between each watering.

Fertilizer:
Fertilize your prayer plant every two weeks with a half-diluted liquid fertilizer during the active growth period (spring and summer). It’s not necessary to fertilize a Prayer plant in the winter and fall.

Propagation:
It can be easily propagated by division of rooted offshoots or by seed or by cuttings are taken during the warmer months. Take cuttings 4 – 5 inches long with three or four leaves and trim off any leaf-stalk sheaths that would be below the soil surface when
planted.

Repotting:
Re-pot during spring season once every 2 years, just in a somewhat bigger pot if the roots have consumed all the space with the present pot.

Pests and Diseases:
There are no serious pest and disease issues. Watch for Mealy Bugs, Spider mites, and Aphids. Treat spider mites with insecticidal soap.