Marantaceae
Maranta cristata 'Intense'
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- Curated selection:
Every plant is hand‑picked for health and visual appeal, so you receive a strong, well‑established plant.
- Representative photos:
Product images show a typical plant of this variety. Natural differences in leaf number, shape or variegation are normal, your plant will still match in type and quality.
- Size details:
Listed sizes refer to pot diameter (cm) and approximate overall height (cm) from the base of the pot to the tallest leaf or stem.
- “Get What You See” items:
If you are buying the exact plant shown in the photos, this is clearly stated in the size section.
- Individual photos:
One‑off photos are only provided when this is explicitly mentioned in the size section. - For special traits or small quirks, please check the full product description.
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Interested in Maranta cristata 'Intense'? Worth reading:
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Prayer Plants as Houseplants: How to Care for Goeppertia, Maranta, Ctenanthe and Stromanthe by Understanding Where They Come From
Maranta cristata 'Intense' at a glance:
Maranta cristata 'Intense' is a compact prayer plant with richly patterned foliage, combining layered greens, darker central markings, and red to purple veins above leaves that often show a deeper underside. It stays relatively small, around 25 cm high, but still delivers the characteristic Maranta movement, lifting and lowering its leaves in response to changing light.
Grow it in partial shade to bright indirect light, with temperatures around 18–25 °C, a loose organic-rich mix, and moisture kept even rather than alternating between drought and saturation. Around 50–60% humidity helps prevent crisping, and regular removal of damaged leaves keeps the clump tidy.
Because it is non-toxic and manageable in size, it suits smaller indoor setups that still need clear pattern and movement.
Maranta cristata 'Intense'
Quick Care Guide
Light
Bright indirect • approx. 10,000–20,000 lux
Water
Water when ~20–35% dry
Substrate
Moisture-retentive but aerated • Evenly moist • Organic-leaning • Fine-medium
Temperature
Ideal: 18–27 °C • Avoid below: 10 °C
Humidity
Moist 50–60 %
Growth habit
rhizomatous clumping subshrub
Support
not needed
Growth speed
Average
Max size indoors
Max. height: 30 cm • Max. spread: 150 cm
Toxicity & safety
Non-toxic & Pet Friendly
Origin & habitat
Cultivar of Maranta cristata
How to read these metrics
These metrics are standardised reference points. We compile them by reviewing and cross-checking multiple botanical and horticultural references, then refining them through real-world growing experience. Source links: Plant Care Resources.
Please use the values as guidance. Conditions vary by home, so the same plant can respond differently. For plant-specific context, read the full product description and browse our Plant Care Guides.
- Light: level + approximate lux at leaf level;
- Watering: “% dry” is the trigger before watering again; lower % stays more evenly moist.
- Potting mix: one-line profile (structure/drainage • moisture buffer • base • particle size).
- Temperature: “Ideal” comfort range; “Avoid below” marks higher stress risk.
- Humidity: target bands (Normal/Moist/Humid); consistency usually matters most.
- Growth habit: growth form (rosette, trailing, climbing) for placement and training.
- Support: needed/optional/none, whether stake, pole, or trellis improves structure and size.
- Growth speed: fast/average/slow under decent indoor conditions—expectations, not a promise.
- Max size indoors: realistic long-term potential; format differs for climbers vs. trailers.
- Toxicity & safety: chemical irritants/toxicity and physical hazards (spines, bristles).
- Origin & habitat: native region + typical biome/habitat as context.
Can Maranta cristata 'Intense' be grown outdoors in European climates?
Summer outdoors onlyMore outdoor growing details
Move outside once nights stay above
18°C
Bring under cover below
15°C
Best outdoors in
Warm summer patio, Sheltered urban spot
Outdoor note
Protection and winter
- Protection: Frost-free wintering indoors
- Wintering: Overwinter bright, frost-free and out of draughts
- Not a good fit for: Not suitable for open sun, dry wind or neglected watering.
Outdoor conditions
- Drainage: Moist but well-drained
- Moisture outdoors: Evenly moist
- Wind exposure: Sheltered from wind
Plant Care Basics:
- Care basics , Main hub with links to all houseplant care guides.
- After delivery & first week , Unpacking, first placement, and early recovery.
- Light, How much light houseplants really need indoors.
- Watering , When to water and how to avoid root rot.
- Substrates & roots, Potting mixes and drainage for strong root systems.
- Humidity, When humidity matters and what actually helps.
- Fertilizing, Simple feeding routine without burning roots.
- Problems & pests, Yellow leaves, brown tips, bugs, and fixes that work.
- Semi-hydro, How to run low-maintenance mineral substrates.
Your new plant has just travelled a long way and needs a calm start in its new home. For step-by-step unboxing and first-week care, check our after-delivery care guide. For deeper tips on how your plant settles in over the next weeks, read our houseplant acclimatization guide.