🌿 Baby Maranta Care Guide
(Prayer Plant — Lemon Lime, Red, Kerchoveana & More)
Marantas are popular for their striking patterned leaves and unique habit of folding their foliage upward at night, giving them the nickname Prayer Plant. While not difficult, baby Marantas do best with consistent moisture, gentle light, and higher humidity.
🌞 Light
Prefers bright, indirect light
Tolerates medium light
Avoid direct sunlight, which can fade colour and scorch leaves
Low light may reduce leaf movement and pattern vibrancy
✨ Tip: Soft, filtered light keeps colours rich and leaves healthy.
💧 Watering
Keep soil consistently moist, but not soggy
Water when the top 1–2 cm of soil begins to dry
Use room-temperature, preferably filtered or rainwater
Never allow soil to fully dry out
⚠️ Marantas are sensitive to salts and chemicals in tap water, which may cause brown leaf tips.
🌱 Soil
Use a moisture-retentive but well-draining mix:
Quality potting soil
Coco coir or peat
Perlite for drainage
The goal is evenly moist soil with good airflow.
🪴 Pot Size
Babies prefer a small pot with drainage holes
Avoid oversized pots, which can hold excess water
Repot only once roots begin to fill the pot
🌡 Temperature & Humidity
Ideal temperature: 18–27°C
Avoid cold drafts and temperatures below 15°C
Thrives in high humidity (60%+)
A humidifier is strongly recommended for best results
✨ Tip: Curling leaves or crispy edges often indicate low humidity or underwatering.
🌿 Fertilizer
Feed lightly during spring and summer
Use a balanced liquid fertilizer at ½ strength
Fertilize every 4–6 weeks
Do not fertilize during winter
✂️ Maintenance & Growth
Trim leggy stems to encourage bushier growth
Rotate pot regularly for even growth
Leaves naturally move throughout the day — this is normal and healthy
Marantas are also easy to propagate through division when mature.
🐛 Pests to Watch For
Common pests include:
Spider mites
Mealybugs
Fungus gnats (in overly wet soil)
Treat early to avoid damage.
⚠️ Pet Safety
Marantas are generally considered pet-friendly, making them a great choice for homes with animals.
📦 Postage & Shipping Information
All plants are carefully prepared and packaged to ensure they arrive safely and in excellent condition.
Orders are lovingly packed and dispatched on Mondays only, to help ensure they arrive before the following weekend, as our shop is closed on Tuesdays.
To ensure same-week dispatch, orders must be placed by midnight Sunday.
If Monday falls on a public holiday, dispatch will not take place until the following Monday. While we always do our best to send orders promptly, should any unexpected lengthy delays occur, we’ll be in touch to let you know.
Shipping Options
Bare Root Shipping (Most Economical Option):
Soil is mostly removed to reduce weight, and roots are wrapped in either sphagnum moss or damp shredded paper.
Potted Shipping (Where Possible):
Plants may be sent in their original nursery pots with soil intact. Shipping is calculated by weight, making this option more expensive, however plants will arrive less stressed with no need to pot them up on arrival.
Simply select your preferred shipping method at checkout.
Please note: Due to plant import restrictions, we are only able to ship to WA, NT, or TAS if prior arrangements have been made.
🌿 Pick Up Available
Pick up is also available from:
DESERT JUNGLE PLANT CO
2/34 Wollongong Street
Fyshwick ACT
Opening Hours:
Wednesday–Friday: 10am–5pm
Saturday: 10am–4pm
🌿 Disclaimer
Please note: All images are for reference only. We try to provide an image for each product that shows what a mature specimen may look like, as well as examples of the plants you will receive.
The plant you receive will be a healthy specimen selected from the best available stock at the time of picking. As each plant is unique, size, shape, and colour may vary slightly from the reference photos shown.