While some of these species are relatively easy to take care of, we would class Maranta’s at the intermediate level of care as they can be a bit fussier than most. They would prefer you to provide a growing environment similar to their native environment, ideally, these plants would perform best in a greenhouse. But you can still help them to thrive whilst keeping them in your home.

Maranta’s were given their name after the famous Italian 16th-century Botanist Bartolomeo Maranta. But they have received the common name “Prayer Plant” after an interesting adaptation they have formed to save energy during the night. Once the light level has dropped and it has become dark the flat leaves of the Maranta fold upwards almost perfectly in half giving it the appearance of praying hands.