Maranta leuconeura 'Light Veins' ('Fantasy')

Light Veins name and natural origin

'Momafan' is sold as Fantasy and Light Veins. In nature, Maranta leuconeura grows in the humid forests of eastern and central Brazil.

How to grow Light Veins

• Light: Choose a bright position with filtered or indirect light.
• Watering: Water as the surface begins to dry, keeping the potting mix evenly moist. Let excess water drain every time.
• Humidity: Keep the air humid around the leaves.
• Temperature: Keep room temperatures steady and above about 15 °C.
• Potting mix: Choose a loose houseplant mix that holds moisture and drains freely; the fine roots still need air.
• Water quality: Rainwater is a useful option where tap water is high in fluoride.
• Feeding: Feed lightly with a balanced fertiliser during fresh growth and follow the label.
• Repotting: Repot when roots fill the pot or the mix becomes compacted.
• Propagation: To make new plants, split an established plant into sections that each have roots.

Troubleshooting Light Veins

• Speckled leaves and fine webbing develop: Spider mites may be feeding on the plant. Isolate it and clean both sides of the leaves. When treatment is needed, choose a product labelled for spider mites and follow the repeat directions on its label.
• Pale dry patches develop after direct sun exposure: Shift the plant into bright filtered light and look for healthy new leaves.
• The leaves curl tightly or develop crisp edges: Check the root ball, room humidity and exposure to cold air. Water if the root ball is dry, improve humidity and keep the plant warm.
• Brown tips keep appearing across several leaves: Too much fluoride in the water or excess fertiliser may be causing the damage. Flush the potting mix with plain water, pause feeding and use rainwater if local tap water is high in fluoride.
• Soft roots appear with yellow leaves while the potting mix stays very wet: Remove the plant from the pot. Cut away rotten roots to firm healthy tissue using a clean disinfected tool, discard all rotten material and repot in a fresh loose mix that drains freely.

Maranta leuconeura ‘Light Veins’ is non-toxic to people and pets

• This plant is non-toxic to people, cats and dogs.
• Chewing a large amount can still cause an upset stomach.
• If a large amount is eaten and symptoms continue, contact a veterinarian or medical professional.

What does the name Maranta leuconeura mean?

Maranta commemorates Bartolomeo Maranta. Leuconeura combines Greek leukos, meaning white, with neuron, meaning nerve, and refers to pale venation.

Carl Linnaeus established the genus Maranta in 1753 in Species Plantarum, page 2; Charles Plumier had proposed the name.

Charles Jacques Édouard Morren first described Maranta leuconeura in 1874 in Annales de l’Horticulture Belge et Étrangère, volume 24, page 323.