Ten Commandments
Also known as: prayer plant
Known as the prayer plant, as it folds its leaves at night. It is a variable, rhizomatous, clump-forming perennial. It has elliptic to ovate shaped, dark green leaves with silver lines from the midrib to the margin, and deep purple or grey-green undersides. Small, insignificant tubular white flowers appear in summer.
Scientific classification
- Species
- Ten Commandments (Maranta leuconeura)
- Genus
- Maranta
- Family
- Marantaceae
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- Toxicity
- Houseplants · Herbaceous Perennial · Conservatory Greenhouse
- Plant type
- 0.1-0.5 metres
- Height
- 0.1-0.5 metres
- Spread
- Evergreen
- Foliage
- Clump forming
- Habit
- Spring · Summer · Autumn · Winter
- Season of interest
- Full shade · Partial shade
- Sunlight
- 18 – 27 °C
- Ideal temperature
Ten Commandments pictures
Distribution of Ten Commandments
Distribution map
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Culture
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Toxicity
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Quick identification of Ten Commandments
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Ten Commandments care guide
- Keep soil consistently moist, use distilled water if possible
- Watering
- Full shade · Partial shade
- Sunlight
- 18 – 27 °C
- Ideal temperature
Watering
Keep soil consistently moist, use distilled water if possible
Fertilizing
FertilizingMonthly during growing season with balanced fertilizer at half strength
Pruning
PruningNo pruning required
Propagation
Propagationpropagate by basal cuttings, divisio or seed
Growing
GrowingUnder glass, grow in loam-based or loamless compost. Bright filtered or indirect light is best. Maintain high humidity at all times by misting or keeping in a gravel tray. Water moderately, and feed monthly. Watering can be reduced in winter
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Common pests and diseases
Diseases
Generally disease-free
Pests
May be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite and mealybugs
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