Maranta leuconeura Kerchoveana (Prayer Plant) - H30 cm | Pot Ø12 cm
- Regular price
-
€14,95 - Regular price
-
- Sale price
-
€14,95
Couldn't load pickup availability
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are the edges of my Maranta's leaves turning brown? Two main causes: air that's too dry (increase misting frequency) or tap water that's too hard or chlorinated (switch to filtered or rainwater). Existing brown edges won't disappear, but new leaves will grow normally if you correct the conditions.
Is the Maranta suitable for a room without windows? It tolerates low light better than most graphic plants, but a room with no natural light at all is not suitable. A full-spectrum grow light on for 12 hours a day can compensate for the lack of windows and maintain the natural leaf movement.
SHIPPING & PACKAGING
Shipping within 24/48 hours via DPD
- Delivery in 2 to 5 business days
- Eco-friendly packaging: recyclable boxes and biodegradable materials
- Special protection to ensure the plant arrives in perfect condition
- Parcel tracking sent by email as soon as shipped
- Free delivery on orders over €50
48H QUALITY GUARANTEE
We guarantee that your plants will arrive in perfect condition. If your plant arrives damaged or in poor condition:
- Contact us within 48 hours at hello@verdeia.eu with photos
- Free replacement or full refund
- No return necessary – we trust you
The guarantee covers: damage related to transport, severely weakened plant upon arrival, preparation errors.
CARE TIPS UPON ARRIVAL
To help your plant settle in for the long term:
- Unpack immediately and inspect your plant
- Let it acclimatize 24-48h in a bright spot without direct sunlight
- Check soil moisture before watering (dry surface = light watering)
- Wait 2-3 weeks before repotting
- Avoid heat sources and drafts
- Gently wipe leaves to remove dust
Need help? Contact our team at hello@verdeia.eu or via chat.
🌿 Light green foliage with symmetrical brown spots • 🎨 Fascinating daily movement • ☀️ Low light • 💧 Moderate watering • 🌬️ Air-purifying • 🐾 Non-toxic • 📏 H30 cm | Pot Ø12 cm
The Maranta leuconeura Kerchoveana, also called the Prayer Plant, is a fascinating indoor plant native to the tropical forests of Brazil, where it naturally grows in moist, shaded undergrowth. Its light green foliage adorned with symmetrical brown spots is remarkable — but it’s its behavior that truly captivates: its leaves fold vertically at night like praying hands and unfold at dawn, every day, without fail.
Non-toxic, air-purifying, and particularly tolerant of low light. Discover it in our Maranta collection and in our selection of non-toxic plants.
Which Maranta variety to choose?
The Maranta genus offers several varieties with distinct patterns and colors, all sharing the same daily movement:
- Maranta leuconeura Kerchoveana (this plant) — light green foliage with symmetrical brown spots, soothing and graphic patterns. The classic elegant version.
- Maranta leuconeura 'Fascinator' — dark green foliage with striking red veins. The version with strong contrasts.
- Maranta leuconeura 'Lemon Lime' — variegated foliage in lemon green and dark green with red veins. The bright and colorful version.
- Mix of 3 Maranta — set of 3 different varieties to create a varied Maranta composition.
Why choose the Kerchoveana? Its symmetrical brown spots on a light green background create a softer, more soothing pattern than the red veins of the 'Fascinator' — it’s the most elegant and discreet version, perfect for blending into any decor style.
Exposure & placement
The Maranta Kerchoveana is one of the few graphic plants that truly tolerates low light — a valuable quality for dimly lit interiors. Our light and humidity guide details how to optimize these two factors for your shade plants.
- Exposure: partial shade to shade — tolerates low light, avoids direct sun that fades the patterns.
- Ideal: office, hallway, bedroom, dimly lit living room, or shelf away from windows.
- Temperature: 18 to 25 °C, without sudden changes or drafts.
- Substrate: light, rich, and well-draining — universal potting soil with perlite.
In a very dark spot, the leaves become etiolated and the spots fade — a sign to move the plant to a bit more indirect light.
Watering & care
The Maranta prefers a slightly moist substrate without ever being soaked. Its main sensitivity: water quality. Use filtered or rainwater — the lime and chlorine in tap water cause brown edges on its delicate leaves. The finger test remains the most reliable method.
- Watering: moderate — keep the substrate slightly moist without soaking.
- Frequency: about once a week in spring-summer, slightly reduced in winter.
- Drainage: essential — use a pot with drainage holes and well-draining substrate.
- Humidity: prefers 60 to 70% humidity — mist regularly or place near other plants.
- Fertilizer: once a month in spring-summer with a diluted liquid fertilizer for green plants.
Brown edges on the leaves almost always indicate air that is too dry or water that is too hard — two easy problems to fix.
Decor ideas & plant pairings
Its graphic foliage and daily movement make it an accent plant that brings life to any space — even the darkest ones.
- In combination: pair it with a Calathea Makoyana or a Calathea Medallion — same family, same needs, complementary patterns. Find our entire Calathea & Maranta collection to create a graphic tropical corner.
- Ideal pot: a Gabriel round white decorative pot Ø14 cm highlights the light green and brown spots without competing with them.
- Atmosphere: perfect on a desk, shelf, or coffee table — its compact size (H30 cm) and movement make it fascinating to observe up close.
Verdeia tips
- Watch the leaf movement — they fold vertically in the evening and unfold in the morning, like praying hands. This phenomenon called nyctinasty is triggered by light variations and naturally occurs daily. If the leaves stop moving, the plant is probably lacking light.
- Filtered or rainwater only — lime and chlorine in tap water accumulate in the substrate and gradually burn the leaf edges. A water filter or simply letting the water sit for 24 hours at room temperature significantly reduces chlorine.
- Always high humidity — below 50% humidity, leaf edges start to brown. Mist the foliage several times a week or place the pot on a saucer filled with moist clay pebbles to create a more humid microclimate around the plant.
- Non-toxic and air-purifying — Maranta poses no risk to cats, dogs, or children, and helps improve indoor air quality. A rare combination for such a graphic plant.
Technical characteristics
- Botanical name: Maranta leuconeura var. kerchoveana
- Common name: Prayer plant
- Family: Marantaceae
- Origin: tropical forests of Brazil
- Pot diameter: 12 cm
- Approximate height: 30 cm
- Adult size: up to 30–40 cm indoors
- Light exposure: partial shade to shade — tolerates low light
- Watering: moderate, substrate slightly moist, filtered or rainwater
- Care: easy
- Toxicity to pets: non-toxic
- Decorative style: Graphic / Lively / Elegant
- Feature: foliage with symmetrical brown spots, daily nyctinastic movement, air-purifying, non-toxic, tolerates low light
Each plant is unique: the photos show a representative example. The intensity of the brown spots and the density of the foliage naturally vary according to the season.
Your plant, delivered with care
Every plant is hand-packed in a box specially designed for plants — secured, protected, ready to travel. It arrives in perfect condition, roots intact and foliage preserved, ready to take its place in your home.
Our Verdeia commitments
FAQ – Everything to know before adopting your Verdeia plant
How are my plants prepared before shipping?
All our plants are selected from our European partner nurseries. Before shipping, they are watered, cleaned, and protected with breathable, secure packaging. Each package is designed to ensure your plant arrives in perfect health, without any transport-related stress.
Will the plant look exactly like the photo?
The photos accurately represent the variety and the stated size. Since each plant is unique, slight differences in shape, foliage, or color may occur — and that’s part of their charm.
What are the delivery times and conditions?
Shipping is done within 48 business hours, with tracked delivery within 2 to 5 business days. Delivery costs €5.60 — free for orders over €50. You will receive a tracking link as soon as the package is shipped.
What to do upon receiving my plant?
Open your package as soon as you receive it and carefully remove the plant from its packaging. Let it acclimate for 24 hours in its new environment before watering. If it has been slightly stressed during transport, it will recover its shape after one or two days in the light.
What to do if my plant arrives damaged?
Contact us within 48 hours with a photo of the issue. Our team will assess the situation and offer you the best solution: replacement, partial refund, or recovery advice.
Can I return a plant?
Since plants are living beings, standard returns are not possible. However, we guarantee good health upon delivery: if the plant arrives damaged, it will be replaced free of charge. For any other cases (order error, decorative pot, accessory), returns are possible within 14 days.