> I read they do not like direct light, but rather need bright, indirect. My understanding was that even the strongest fluorescent T5 light you can give plants equals to this "bright indirect" light level from plant culture descriptions - because real sun is SO MUCH brighter. I was at an orchid show a couple of weeks ago at New York Botanical Garden, and they had a lot of companion plants including many species of Maranta and Calathea growing on the floor of the greenhouses. I should totally have measured the light there with my phone (unlike orchids, these did not seem to be temporary exhibit, so it would have been meaningful), but I did not think to do it. Maranta growing in the ground is quite a sight to see, by the way. It's a very low ground cover - its habit is to try to grow roots into the soil at every node, so it does not reach up at all, except for its tiny little purple (or white) flowers. Very cute. I am thinking how to replicate this look at home. When it was growing on my window sill a winter ago, a long vine crept along the window sill - and it did flower at that time as well. I cut it up at that time to fill out the pot, but I am starting to think just letting it crawl where it wanted to go was a better idea. It does not seem to want to grow upright at all. > can you take a light measument? I did, finally. On my light stand, it was getting around 200-700 fc (it was on the less bright shelf not directly under lights). On the bathroom counter, I get 15-20 fc. This is with an uncalibrated phone light meter app, so absolute levels may be wrong, but comparatively, they do tell a story, I think. The plant stand was getting 16 hours a day on a timer at the time, and the bathroom day is roughly as long (manual turn on/off), maybe a bit shorter.

Hi all, Kind thanks for all your replies. Here's my very late update: All my cuttings rooted in water after a week or so but I only potted them a couple of weeks after the fact (got busy with other things). Potted them in left over 50% MG (bad I know) 50% perlite. I found it very difficult arranging the vines after they had been growing this way and that over the past several months --had to cut some vines up so they would fit. I also tried NOT to bury a lot of stem deep in the potting medium out of fear for future rot, but found it difficult to keep some of the vines stabilized otherwise. Hope I didn't mess that up too badly. In the end, I was left with one medium sized "plant", one small, one tiny, and a handful of leftover vines to give away to friends. After potting, I watered, and then wrapped them up in those big dry cleaner bags and set aside. None wilted! Hurrah! Two leaves turned yellow but I suppose that's acceptable collateral damage. Overall they seem to be doing well --some new leaves have unfurled at the tips. I've only watered once or twice since they were potted, when the soil feels dry. I hope by next spring I'll see the same level of growth as the mother plant had this year.

the simplest thing to do is to put those cut-off vines in water until you see roots started (about 1/2 inch to 1 inch is good) - then you can plant them. it's better if they have 2 leaves at the end: if at this point you just have 1 leaf starting or just 1 lonely leaf at the end wait for 2 new leaves to grow, then cut them off. you'll need 2 extra leafless nodes after one with leaf: to insert into soil. if you have more then that just cut them off. not so easy to get soils in NYC, but home depo is your best bet. they have African violet mix and perlite: add about 1/3 perlite to av mix . reuse your large bark: take it off and soak it in hot water for 2 days, then cut it up to 1/2" :)))). I know it's too much to ask... if your pots are up to 6" it's not really necessary. bigger then that and adding 1/4 part smallish bark pieces will add aeration and drainage.

Please find the photos here..