Origin
The Maranta leuconeura 'Fascinator', also known as Prayer Plant, originates from South America. The plant gets its name from the Italian botanist Bartolomeo Maranta, who lived in the 16th century. The plant is especially found in the tropical rainforests of Brazil.

Characteristics
The Maranta leuconeura 'Fascinator' is an indoor plant with striking, colourful leaves. The leaves have a complicated pattern consisting of elegant, dark green lines with pink-purple markings amongst the green. The plant is characterised by its motion - during the day the plant spreads its leaves wide and in the evening it folds them. This rhythm resembles a prayer, thus the plant is also referred to as the 'prayer plant'.

Care
For optimal growth of the Maranta leuconeura 'Fascinator', a high humidity and indirect sunlight are required. The plant does not like direct sunlight and will burn its leaves if exposed to the sun too much. It's best to water the plant once a week, but it's important to check if the top layer of the potting soil is dry before watering again. Overwatering is more harmful than under watering. To ensure that the plant receives the humidity it needs, the plant can be sprayed with a plant sprayer or placed next to other plants for a joint moisture production. The ideal room temperature for the growth and flowering of the plant is around 20 degrees Celsius.