The Prayer Plant is known for bending its leaves upwards in the evening. A movement that resembles praying hands, which inspired the name: Prayer Plant. On this page you’ll find all information on Prayer Plant care, from the ideal spot until repotting instructions. Follow these Prayer Plant care guidelines and help yours live a long and healthy life.
The Prayer Plant (Maranta) is a colourful plant that’s’ part of the Marantaceae family. This family is originally from South America and consists of the Calathea, Ctenanthe and Stromanthe. Each Prayer Plant variety has a different leaf pattern. You can recognize the popular Maranta tricolor fascinator by its dark green leaves with deep pink veins, which have a dark red-coloured underside. The Kerchoveana has a completely different leaf pattern, with brown spots that turn green over time.
The Maranta is also known as Prayer plant because it folds its leaves upwards in the evening, just like praying hands. Although the leaf pattern varies considerably, all Prayer Plants require the same care. Their natural habitat is quite dark, and the required humidity is high. That’s why it is important to never place Marantas in direct sunlight or near the heating. Read on for all plant care tips.
Prayer Plant light requirements
Place the Prayer Plant in partial shade from spring until autumn. During winter you can move the plant to a light spot, with filtered sunlight. Also make sure never to place the Maranta near a radiator, as the humidity here is quite low.
Prayer Plant care: water
Regularly give the Prayer Plant small amounts of lukewarm water to make sure the potting soil is always mildly moist. Never give a large amount of water in one go, and make sure there’s never a layer of excess water at the bottom of the pot. It’s best to water the Prayer Plant using rainwater or other lime-free water, as lime can leave white stains on the leaves. The plant requires a little less water during winter. Regularly mist the plant using a plant spray to maintain a high humidity. This will in turn improve the plant’s health and resilience.
What’s good to know is that the Prayer Plant’s leaves curl up or drop down when it has had too little water. Take this as a sign to water it more and/or more often.
Repotting tips
We recommend repotting the Prayer Plant once a year. Do this during the spring, when the plant recovers fastest from repotting. Be careful not to damage the roots too much when repotting. Use a pot that is at least 20% larger than the current pot, allowing the roots plenty of room to grow.
We recommend placing a layer of hydro granules at the bottom of the pot when repotting. That way, it won’t matter if you overwater the plant, as the hydro granules provide drainage.
Fertilizer requirements
Once you receive the plant, it will not need any fertilizer for the next 2 months. This is because the plant can still obtain sufficient nutrition from the fresh potting soil. After this you’ll only need apply fertilizer during spring and summer. For the specific amount of plant food, have a look at the instructions on the packaging and never use more than recommended. This can cause damage to the roots. The plant doesn’t need any fertilizer during fall and winter.
Is the Prayer Plant poisonous?
All outdoor and indoor plants on Plantler have a decorative purpose; they’re not fit for consumption – unless it is explicitly stated that they are (i.e. a fruit tree). The Prayer Plant is generally not known to be a poisonous plant.
