Calathea Beauty Star

Marantha Beauty Star Plant – Maranta, Calathea Beauty Star

calathea beauty star. Several dozen low-growing plants that are endemic to the tropics of North America belong to the Maranta genus. The leaves of maranta are among the most exquisite and ornamental in the plant kingdom. The well-known M. tricolor has velvety leaves that are deep green in color. The midrib of the leaves bears yellow splotches, and red veins that arch to the leaf margins are also present. Although they are fairly widespread as houseplants, they are not always simple to maintain long-term growth in.

They are vulnerable to a variety of pests and need a lot of warmth and humidity. However, some individuals find the Maranta variety to be more successful than the closely related Calathea, which likewise has lovely leaves but can be a little more temperamental. Maranta is perfect for group displays of low plants on a windowsill because they are all quite low-growing plants that don’t grow much taller than 8 inches.

Plant care

Light: Maranta dislikes direct sunlight. If exposed to direct light, their leaves will fade in color intensity and often develop blotches or patches. In the winter, when the plants go into dormancy (and sometimes die back completely), give them bright light to maintain growth.

Water: During the growth season, water frequently and never allow potting soil to dry out. They are very susceptible to drought. However, to avoid fungal problems, try not to get water directly on the leaves or let it sit.

Soil: A rich, peat-based potting soil with excellent drainage is beneficial.

Fertilizer: Feed with a weak liquid fertilizer throughout the growing season. Cut fertilizer back to once a month or so in the winter.

Propagation
Some Maranta species can be propagated by leaf cuttings or rhizome division. The most common (and easiest) way to propagate Maranta is by division at repotting. When repotting, simply divide the plant into half and pot up each half in a fresh pot. Keep new divisions very warm and moist during the first few weeks until new growth emerges.

Repotting
Maranta are not necessarily fast-growing plants and even healthy specimens likely only need to be repotted every other year. During repotting, gently remove the plant from its old container, shake the roots clean, and place them into a new container with fresh potting soil. Divide the plant during repotting to increase your stock. Report in the spring, before the growing season starts.

Varieties
There are many varieties of Maranta, but the most popular by far is the tricolor variation that pops up in garden centers. Alternatively, the Maranta and Calathea plants are so closely associated with one another that it’s not uncommon to see labeling errors.