Mara

Maranta leuconeura 'Lemon Lime'

Prayer plant

• 
  Most light conditions
• 
  Needs some love

• Mara likes...
  • 
    Light watering

    She likes her soil on the drier side. Wait for her soil to be dry to a depth of at least two inches before watering again.

  • 
    Medium light

    She loves lots of light but ideally not direct sun, which will make her colours fade. A little bit of shade is ok.

  • 
    Humidity

    She enjoys a humid environment. A naturally steamy bathroom or kitchen is great, or you can mist her regularly.

• Quick facts

  Botanical name

  Maranta leuconeura ‘Lemon lime’

  Nickname

  Prayer plant

  Plant type

  Indoor

  Plant height (including pot)

  20-30cm

  Pet/baby safe

  Yes

  Nursery pot size

  12cm

• About Maranta leuconeura

  Maranta leuconeura is part of a group of plants known as prayer plants. They get this nickname from the fact that their leaves fold up like praying hands at night, then unfold in the morning to absorb the day’s light. All of these plants have vivid patterns on their leaves and maranta ‘lemon lime’ is particularly unique because of its highlighted mid-rib and arcs of green in shades ranging from acid to jade. 

  In the wild, you’d find this plant in the tropical forests of Brazil, where it grows about 30cm tall. It loves humidity (spray it regularly with a mister) but it likes its soil to stay quite dry. Only water it when it’s dry to a depth of at least two inches. Like most highly patterned plants, it needs lots of light to look its best, although too much direct sun will cause its leaves to look bleached. A monthly feed with liquid fertiliser in spring and summer will also be greatly appreciated.

  Did you know?

  Although the maranta looks very much like a calathea, they’re actually in different plant families.