Maranta

These are the perfect houseplants to provide color and texture for lower-lit areas in your home and are excellent air purifiers. This houseplant also has a unique feature -- its leaves move in response to the light! So don't be surprised if you find the leaves pointing towards the sunlight when you get home.

Water when the soil volume is 25% dry. Water until liquid flows through the drainage hole and discard any that accumulates in the saucer.

Your Maranta prefers bright, indirect light. Direct sun can cause the leaves to fade and scorch.

This plant is considered non-toxic and pet-friendly.

CURLING LEAVES: Incredibly dry soil. Your Maranta prefers soil that is consistently moist. Be sure you’re not over or underwatering your plant. Keep a consistent watering schedule–water when 25% of the soil volume is dry.

WATER QUALITY: If the curling continues after you’ve regulated a watering schedule, another common reason your Maranta’s leaves are curling could be due to your tap water. Tap water contains salts, chlorine, minerals, and fluoride – all of which can build up in the soil of your plant causing the tips of the leaves to burn, turn brown, and curl up. One way you can remedy this is to use a water filtration system. If you do not have a filtration system available, leaving your water in an open container or sink overnight before using can help relieve some of the chlorine.

TEMPERATURE: Make sure your plant is not in a drafty area or in the path of heating and cooling vents. Leaves will curl if the plant is cold, or excessively dry from constant warm airflow.

LOW HUMIDITY: Your Maranta is a tropical plant, so it will thrive in more humid environments. Increase the humidity around your plant by misting the leaves on a regular basis, using a pebble tray, or moving a humidifier nearby.

NEW GROWTH: If you notice tight curling leaves, this may be normal. New growth forms as curled leaves that eventually unfurl into mature broad leaves.

SPOTS: Water quality. Most often, yellowing leaves and spots on Maranta are caused by a water quality issue. There may be too much fluoride, salt or chlorine in your tap water–especially if you use a water softener. Water your Maranta with distilled water or leave a pitcher of tap water uncovered overnight so the minerals can evaporate before watering.

FUNGUS: If the yellow spots spread and become tan with yellow halos, fungus may have set in. An application of a general houseplant fungicide can kill active fungal disease and prevent future outbreaks. Follow the directions on the bottle carefully.