Maranta, also known as the prayer plant, is a popular houseplant appreciated for its decorative foliage and easy-to-care nature. However, after some time, you may want to propagate your maranta to create new plants or rejuvenate an old one.
In this blog post, we will discuss how to propagate maranta effectively using various methods such as division and stem cutting.
Propagating Maranta by Division
Division is one of the easiest ways to propagate marantas. You can divide your mature plant into several smaller parts; each part will have roots and leaves that will continue growing independently.
Here are the steps:
Step 1: Prepare Your Tools
You’ll need a sharp knife or garden shears and small pots with drainage holes.
Step 2: Remove Your Plant from Its Pot
Remove your maranta carefully from its pot by gently loosening the soil around it. Be careful while handling it since these delicate plants can easily break their stems or damage their roots if not handled properly.
Step 3: Gently Separate Rootball
Gently separate the root ball into two or more sections with a clean knife or scissors. Each section should have healthy leaves attached to it and enough roots for support.
Step 4: Repotting Each Section Individually
Once you’ve separated all sections successfully repot them individually in fresh soil in small containers. Water them thoroughly but make sure there’s no excess water left in pots’ saucers because excess moisture could lead to root rot.
Propagating Marantas via Stem Cutting
Another effective way of propagating marantas is through stem cuttings. This method requires less initial material than division since you only need a single leaf node on which new growth can sprout from.
Here’s what you should do:
Step 1: Select A Healthy Pruning
Select a healthy stem on your mature plant that has at least two leaves and one node. It’s best to choose a stem from the bottom of the plant since those stems are more vigorous.
Step 2: Cut The Stem
Cut the selected stem just below its lowest leaf; make sure you use clean, sharp scissors or knife to avoid crushing or damaging your cuttings.
Step 3: Potting Your Cutting
Fill a small pot with fresh soil and make holes in it for inserting cuttings. Dip the cutting end into rooting hormone (optional) then gently stick it into prepared soil up to its first leaf node.
Step 4: Watering Your Cutting & Keep Moisture Level intact
Water your cutting thoroughly but don’t overwater. Cover it with plastic wrap to maintain humidity levels around the cutting and keep away direct sunlight which may damage fragile leaves.
Conclusion
Propagating maranta plants is an excellent way to expand your collection or share these beautiful plants with family and friends. Division, as well as stem cuttings, are two easy ways you can do this while ensuring success by following our steps above! With some patience and care, new prayer plants will soon grow from these propagated sections giving you even more opportunities for enjoyment!
