Question
A question & a request for advice & many thanks.
1. I have a Maranta, in a 4-inch pot on a pile of pebbles always kept wet, 1 m (approx. 3 feet) far from a large window, in Romania, temperate climate, central heating. Bought in this pot with 6 leaves in November, currently - 12 leaves and a new one to come, always in the same room. Fed as recommended on net, once a week with liquid fertilizer, leaves splashed with distillated water, water bowl always there, watered with 3-day old tap water/distillated water. This is my third attempt of rising a Maranta and the first symptom of decaying has appeared: let alone the 3 scorched leave-tips, the newcoming leaves are smaller and smaller. They all come from the two main nodes of the two main branches in the pot, but each is somewhat smaller than the precedent.

2. What to do at home, where the other two Marantas died with intense yellow spots followed by scorching invading from margins on all the leaves more or less at once? (the above is at office). A corner, 60 cm (2 feet) far from a rather small window looking north-west, no draughts, central heating. A room where I live and the artificial light is on upon needs. What perennial plant of virtually the same size would grow better?       

THANK YOU, Raluca Aron

Answer
Hi Raluca,

Thank you for supplying such detailed information. Now I can give you a detailed reply.

The Internet is a wonderful source of misinformation in regard to potted indoor plants. I recognize all of the things you have been told about your Maranta and most of them are wrong.

Weekly fertilizer is too much unless you are diluting the recommended amount to one-quarter strength. I sugges that you stop for at least 2 - 3 months.

Spraying water on the leaves will not help and could cause some leaf spotting in certain circumstances. This is not a good idea.

A pebble tray and bowls of water do help increase humidity some but they are not a substotute for good light and proper watering.

Letting water sit for three days is a waste of time. If the water is heavily chlorinated (like swimming pool water), then the excess chlorine will dissipate into the air. However the minerals in hard water simple settle to the bottom and do not evaporate.

Your office Maranta is probably getting leaf spots from too much fertilizer or from letting the soil get too dry. (The use of hard water will also cause the leaf spots, but apparently you are using distilled water, which is fine.) Your Maranta must be watered thoroughly as soon as the surface of the soil is nearly dry. The smaller new leaves suggest that light may also be a problem. You didn't indicate the direction that the office window faces, so it is hard for me to assess.

For your home, you should consider one of the following: Pothos, Aglaonema, Dracaena 'Janet Craig,' or ZZ plant. All of these are good low light plants.

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.

Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

You can E-mail me directly at: [email protected]

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