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Maranta and calathea bow from the same family – Marantaceae – but there are meaning departure between the two plant . marketer often mislabel these flora in garden fund so it is easy to believe you have a calathea yet you have a maranta . So , what ’s the main difference between calatheas and maranta ?
Maranta plants have oval - shaped leaf while calatheas have a variety of leaf shape such as lanced , oval , and rounded . Another master difference is that all maranta are true supplication flora that perform nyctinasty ( close down leaves at night ) while only a few varieties of calathea show foliar nyctinasty .
Maranta and calathea are in unlike genera and are planted chiefly for their beautiful leafage . However , maranta are the most distinguishable tropicals .
Are Calathea and Maranta the same?
Calathea and maranta are not the same species but they go to the same family , Marantaceae . The two plants are of dissimilar genus and have several physiological and biological similarities and differences . The most pop maranta and calathea areMaranta leuconeuraandCalathea Ornata , respectively .
Although calathea and maranta are popularly known as orison plant , most varieties of calathea show little or no “ praying ” behavior . Marantas are the honest prayer plants . Calathea and maranta are native to the tropical parts of Central and Latin America . They are both tropic understory plants that boom in virtually the same environmental conditions . So , generally , calatheas are not Prayer plants .
The care basics are also reasonably much the same , but I ’d recommend maranta if you ’re new to Prayer plant . Maranta is much more forgiving than calathea when it comes to tolerating the low temperature so it ’ll flourish well if you hold out in cold regions .
If you could take proper care of maranta , you could con from it and infix calathea afterward in your plant ingathering . Not only are they easy to handle for , but it is also difficult to mistake the parting and patterns of maranta for those of calathea .
Unlike calathea , which are erect and grow like bush , maranta spreads the stems . Therefore , the maranta are less bushier and suitable for hanging baskets .
The pass around maranta leaves will hang beautifully and prominently in roomy hallways , in the seance region , or in the place of wall art . Although you’re able to also hang potted calathea , they offer not bad views when induct on flat surfaces .
Calathea vs Maranta: Differences
Most people have-to doe with to both industrial plant as supplication plants . Although that is intelligible , it is not whole true . True nyctinasty , for illustration , go on only in maranta and not in all varieties calathea . In other words , marantas actively fold and spread out up their leaf in reception to daylight . Therefore , marantas are true prayer works , and calatheas are n’t .
Here are the major difference between calathea and maranta plants :
Nyctinasty
Nyctinastic leafage movement is the major difference between maranta and calathea . All marantas open their leaf flat during the day and close them at dark as if they are praying .
See the timelapse video below of my maranta over 24 hours .
While somevarieties of calathearespond to the intensity of daylight , it is worth noting that not all of them do .
For model , while calathea Lancifolia and calathea Roseopicta raise and lower their leaves , you will notice little to no nyctinasty in Makoyana and calathea Freddie . In contrast , all the 20 varieties of maranta are Prayer plants .
Leaf shape and texture
Another easy way to distinguish calathea from maranta is by count at the bod of the leaves . All potpourri of maranta have ellipse leafage , while calathea leaves alter from elliptical , ellipse , round , and lance , depending on the variety .
The texture of the leaves will also differ significantly . maranta have lots of hair on their leaf , giving them a more velvety feel than calathea . Nevertheless , they both have a waxy appearance on the undersurface of the farewell .
Leaf variegation
asunder from nyctinasty and leaf shape and texture , you will distinguish maranta from calathea by look at the folio variegations . Since you may not be around to see the issue of Christ Within on the Prayer plant from dawn to evenfall , the striking leafage color and practice provide sufficient grounds at a glance .
Maranta ’s midrib , veins , and leaf blades are very dissimilar from calathea . The stripe and patterns on maranta leaves are also bluff and splotchy .
They are distinctive and occur in shades of unripe and red or white markings . On the other hand , calathea leafage variegations show divers patterns that make specific varieties suitable for typical indoor decorations .
Foliage color
maranta have glossy dark - green leaves while calathea have hopeful yellow , white , rose , and even olive colors . Most significantly , you may key out maranta by their red - colored veins and a fundamental light - unripe discussion section of the leaf that goes up to the shopping centre .
The bottom of both plant have purple shades , but for calathea , the purpleness is much bolder . For maranta , the bottom appears reddish - purple . These fancy leaves make maranta and calathea an splendid plant life for your home garden or indoor decoration .
Growth trends
Maranta leaves are vine - like , while calathea leaves are upright . In other words , maranta leaves spread and flowaround the container to about 18 inches . Vertically , maranta grows to a height of 10 to 12 inches .
you may grow maranta in a container or as a priming cover . On the contrary , calathea are erectand grow up to two foot tall . Calathea ontogenesis is also relatively slow and will stop growing after senesce . Unlike maranta leaves , calathea leaves are crocked and extend only six inches off from the primary plant .
Species and mode of propagation
Other remainder between calathea and maranta are the number of species in each genus and the propagation method . Botanists have documented about 60 potpourri of calathea and between 14 and 20 types of maranta . Meanwhile , maranta offers three options of propagation and calathea only one .
you’re able to spread maranta through root division during repotting , stem cutting , and planting seeds . you’re able to propagate calathea only through tooth root division .
Here ’s a sum-up of the deviation between calathea and maranta :
Another Prayer plant look - alike that is ordinarily confused with calathea is Ctenanthe . For example , many stock refer to Ctenanthe Setosa , a miscellany of Ctenanthe , as Calathea Setosa , which is not unfeigned . These houseplant also belong to the Marantaceae family unit and are grown primarily for their beautiful vary leafage .
Confusing maranta for calathea and calathea for Ctenanthe can get unwanted results to your house or home garden . For case , wrongful precaution can result in drooping , wilting , and even demise to your flora .
