05/22/2026
🌿✨ Our favorite members of the Marantaceae family ✨🌿
Known for their incredible leaf patterns, colorful undersides, and daily movement, plants in the Marantaceae family are some of the most eye-catching houseplants you can grow. This group includes favorites like Calatheas, Marantas, Ctenanthe, and Stromanthe.
One of their most fascinating traits is a behavior called nyctinasty, their leaves move throughout the day in response to light and often fold upward in the evening, giving rise to the nickname “prayer plants.”
They’re also pet-safe, making them a wonderful choice for homes with curious cats and dogs.
For happy plants:
• Bright, indirect light
• Consistently moist (but not soggy) soil
• Moderate to high humidity
• Filtered water can help prevent crispy leaf edges in some varieties
While some members of the family have a reputation for being fussy, many are surprisingly easy once you find the right spot. Their incredible patterns, colors, and movement make them well worth the effort.