Maranta

The Marantaceae family includes numerous genera and species of evergreens originating from the American tropics, some of which are especially valued as houseplants because of their leaves with bright colorful spots. Among the representatives of the Maranta genus, only white-leaved maranta (Maranta leuconeura), its varieties and some varieties are grown in this capacity. Originating from Brazil, the white-leaved maranta grows up to 15-20 cm in height and approximately 30 cm in diameter. The emerald green leaves are decorated with purple-brown spots along the lateral veins. In the variety 'Mesangiana', the leaves are smaller than in the original species, they are pale green along the edge, darker in the central part. Ivory veins. The Tri-color variety is distinguished by elongated leaves up to 15 cm long. The genus Stromantha (Stromanthe) includes a very valuable and popular species of blood-red stromantha (Stromanthe sanguinea), which is undoubtedly the most unpretentious of the houseplants of the Marantaceae family. Blood-red stromanta has oval-lanceolate leaves about 30 cm long with extremely bright central veins. The plant is also interesting for its beautiful flowering. From the genus of Ctenanthe, the most common type of ctenanthe bristle (Ctenanthe setosa, C. oppenhemiana) is cultivated, with leaves up to 45 cm long; they have a beautiful pattern in a gray-green scale. On sale, you can find various varieties with a very catchy pattern on the leaves, the color of which varies from dark purple to yellow.

The Marantaceae family includes numerous genera and species of evergreens originating from the American tropics, some of which are especially valued as houseplants because of their leaves with bright colorful spots.

Among the representatives of the Maranta genus, only white-leaved maranta (Maranta leuconeura), its varieties and some varieties are grown in this capacity. Originating from Brazil, the white-leaved maranta grows up to 15-20 cm in height and approximately 30 cm in diameter. The emerald green leaves are decorated with purple-brown spots along the lateral veins. In the variety 'Mesangiana', the leaves are smaller than in the original species, they are pale green along the edge, darker in the central part. Ivory veins. The Tri-color variety is distinguished by elongated leaves up to 15 cm long.

The genus Stromantha (Stromanthe) includes a very valuable and popular species of blood-red stromantha (Stromanthe sanguinea), which is undoubtedly the most unpretentious of the houseplants of the Marantaceae family. Blood-red stromanta has oval-lanceolate leaves about 30 cm long with extremely bright central veins. The plant is also interesting for its beautiful flowering.

From the genus of Ctenanthe, the most common type of ctenanthe bristle (Ctenanthe setosa, C. oppenhemiana) is cultivated, with leaves up to 45 cm long; they have a beautiful pattern in a gray-green scale. On sale, you can find various varieties with a very catchy pattern on the leaves, the color of which varies from dark purple to yellow.

Cultivation

Maranta grow only in room conditions. Use pots that are proportional to the size of the plant. Maranta, ctenantha and stromantha are very effective and suitable for placing in a composition with other plants, because they are responsive to the conditions of high humidity that occur in common flower beds.

Location

Indoor plants of the Marantaceae family grow well in diffused and not too intense light.

Temperature

Marantas are quite demanding to temperature conditions: in winter they tolerate a drop in temperature to 10 °C, but grow better at 12-14 °C. In summer, the optimal air temperature is 20-22 °C.

Watering

In the period from March to the beginning of autumn, Maranta trees should be watered often, and in other seasons - moderately. During the period of active growth in spring and summer, frequent spraying of leaves with non-cold, preferably soft water is necessary. For this purpose, slightly heated rainwater is used.

Transplant

Adult specimens are transplanted annually in April to a new pot filled with soft soil from a mixture of leaf humus, peat and sand, taken in equal parts. Plants are planted in a slightly larger pot than the previous one, making sure that the root system is not damaged.

Reproduction

It is carried out in late spring and early summer by dividing the rhizomes. It is important that at least 2-3 leaves and a few healthy, well-developed roots remain on each part. Parts of the plant are planted in small pots (diameter 7-8 cm), filled with peat and sand (or peat and perlite expanded clay), taken in equal parts. It is necessary to spray the leaves frequently with water and maintain the temperature in the range of 20-22 °C. In addition, Maranta propagate by cuttings. Cuttings are cut from the stems directly under the nodes and planted to root under the same conditions, as well as at reproduction by sites of rhizomes.

Diseases

Root rot is caused by fungi of the genus Rhizoctonia, and the leaves are damaged by other fungi of the genus Phyllosticta. Fungal diseases are especially likely with prolonged excessive watering. In these cases, treatment with one of the fungicides is necessary. Among insect pests, the aboveground part of plants is often damaged by aphids, mites and worms. The roots are mainly affected by nematodes. To control them, they are treated with appropriate insecticides. Sometimes on the leaves under the influence of direct sunlight there are burns; from excess lighting on them the gloss disappears.

Root rot is caused by fungi of the genus Rhizoctonia, and the leaves are damaged by other fungi of the genus Phyllosticta. Fungal diseases are especially likely with prolonged excessive watering. In these cases, treatment with one of the fungicides is necessary.

Among insect pests, the aboveground part of plants is often damaged by aphids, mites and worms. The roots are mainly affected by nematodes. To control them, they are treated with appropriate insecticides. Sometimes on the leaves under the influence of direct sunlight there are burns; from excess lighting on them the gloss disappears.

Acquisition

Choose healthy plants with glossy leaves. The drawing should be very clear with clearly visible spots.

The most common types Many species sold under the name "maranta", with the exception of the white-leaved maranta (Marantha leuconeura), according to the botanical classification belong to the Calathea (Calathea) from the Marantaceae family. The most well-known types are the following: Calathea saffron (Calathea crocata) has oblong or oval-elliptical dark green leaves with gray veins, on the underside they are light purple. Its inflorescences are yellow or orange, one of the most -unsightly among the Maranta, as are the inflorescences of Calatea rufibarba and Calatea leopardina. Decorated Calatea (C. ornata) is a plant of Colombian origin with a height of up to 70 cm, a diameter of more than 50 cm, with basal elliptical leaves, yellowish-greenish with silvery and pinkish lines radiating from the central vein on the upper side, the underside of the leaves is dark purple-red. n the variety 'Sanderiana' decorated calathea (C. ornata), glossy leaves are darker, the lines-stripes are located close to the edge, although in the botanical species they are closer to the middle of the leaf plate. Calatea picturata has short petioles and dark green leaves with silvery stripes in the center, arranged in a zigzag pattern between the edges. Calatea pseudoveitchiana is characterized by pointed dark green leaves, a herringbone pattern along the central vein, a light green ridge along the edge of the upper side of the leaf plate, and purplish-red and gray - green leaves with a central yellow vein on the lower side. Calatea striata (C. zebrina) is a Brazilian species with a height of 50-60 cm, with emerald-green velvety leaves with broad brownish obliquely directed stripes; with age, the underside of the leaves turns from light green to purple-red. Calatea leopardina (C. leopardina) is a species native to Brazil, with oval-lanceolate pointed light green leaves and a series of dark spots along the central vein on the upper side of the leaf and a dark green edge on the lower side.

The most common types

Many species sold under the name "maranta", with the exception of the white-leaved maranta (Marantha leuconeura), according to the botanical classification belong to the Calathea (Calathea) from the Marantaceae family.

The most well-known types are the following: Calathea saffron (Calathea crocata) has oblong or oval-elliptical dark green leaves with gray veins, on the underside they are light purple. Its inflorescences are yellow or orange, one of the most -unsightly among the Maranta, as are the inflorescences of Calatea rufibarba and Calatea leopardina. Decorated Calatea (C. ornata) is a plant of Colombian origin with a height of up to 70 cm, a diameter of more than 50 cm, with basal elliptical leaves, yellowish-greenish with silvery and pinkish lines radiating from the central vein on the upper side, the underside of the leaves is dark purple-red.

n the variety 'Sanderiana' decorated calathea (C. ornata), glossy leaves are darker, the lines-stripes are located close to the edge, although in the botanical species they are closer to the middle of the leaf plate. Calatea picturata has short petioles and dark green leaves with silvery stripes in the center, arranged in a zigzag pattern between the edges.

Calatea pseudoveitchiana is characterized by pointed dark green leaves, a herringbone pattern along the central vein, a light green ridge along the edge of the upper side of the leaf plate, and purplish-red and gray - green leaves with a central yellow vein on the lower side.

Calatea striata (C. zebrina) is a Brazilian species with a height of 50-60 cm, with emerald-green velvety leaves with broad brownish obliquely directed stripes; with age, the underside of the leaves turns from light green to purple-red.

Calatea leopardina (C. leopardina) is a species native to Brazil, with oval-lanceolate pointed light green leaves and a series of dark spots along the central vein on the upper side of the leaf and a dark green edge on the lower side.