People call marantas “prayer plants” because at night, their leaves close up, making them look like hands in prayer. In the morning, they open up again. This daily action is called nyctinasty, and it’s very interesting to see.
Calatheas, which are also sometimes called “prayer plants,” are linked to marantas. Callathea leaves don’t close up at night, though. The maranta plant grows more spread out than the calathea plant. In the wild, they cover the whole forest floor, which makes them great for hanging or putting on a shelf.
Marantas are lovely houseplants that are grown for their bright, bold leaves. There are a lot of different colors and designs on the oval, variegated leaves that make them look like they were painted by hand.
Prayer plant Overview
| Genus Name | Maranta leuconeura |
| Common Name | Prayer plant |
| Plant Type | Houseplant, Perennial |
| Light | Part Sun |
| Height | 6 to 18 inches |
| Width | 6 to 24 inches |
| Flower Color | Purple, White |
| Foliage Color | Blue/Green, Chartreuse/Gold, Purple/Burgundy |
| Zones | 10, 11 |
| Propagation | Stem Cuttings |
How to grow maranta
In order to do well, marantas need certain care. Keep them out of direct sunlight and give them a warm spot that gets bright light from the side. From spring to fall, keep the soil moist and add some humidity by misting the leaves every day or putting them on a tray of wet rocks. Tap water should not be used to water them. Instead, use filtered or boiled water or rainwater.
Where to grow maranta
Marantas do best in bright, indirect light, but they can also handle some shade. Leaves will get burned if they are in full sunlight or a draft. Set the temperature to at least 15°C and stay away from places where the temperature changes often.
How to plant maranta
Plant in compost made from dirt. If the roots get too big, repot in the spring into a slightly bigger pot. If you want to grow a maranta, pick a pot that is wider than it is deep.
How to Take Care of a Prayer Plant
Light
Like many houseplants that come from tropical areas, prayer plants like bright, indirect light, which is like the thick forests where they come from. Plants should be put near windows, but not in the sun. Prayer plants will fade or burn if they get too much light.
Water and Soil
Prayer plants do best in dirt that drains well. Standard potting soil mix works well, but adding perlite to soil mixes that have a lot of water-retaining sphagnum moss can make them better. Three quarters of potting soil should be mixed with one quarter of perlite.
Keep the earth around your plant moist, but don’t let it get too wet, especially when it’s cooler outside. The growing of prayer plants can slow down and even stop. When this happens, let the dirt dry out a little more to keep it from going bad.
Temperature and Humidity
Since bathrooms and kitchens tend to be warmer and more humid than the rest of the house, they are good places for prayer plants that are not in gardens. Plants grow more slowly in cold weather, and root rot can happen. Low humidity also hurts the plants, making the leaves look dull and the tips turn brown.
Pruning
Most of the time, pruning prayer plants is not required and can actually slow their growth. You can cut off dead twigs and leaves at any time of the year, though.
Potting and Repotting Prayer Plant
The best times to plant or move a prayer plant are in the spring or early summer. Pick a pot that is one size bigger than the baby pot or the pot you were using before. Since prayer plants grow slowly, you only need to move them to a new pot every two or three years. Take the plant out of its pot, shake off any loose soil, and then put it back in a new pot with fresh soil.
Do Prayer Plants Need Fertilizer?
The popular name for this plant comes from the way its leaves are shaped: they lie flat during the day and fold up like hands in prayer at night.
The plant needs more energy than your other home plants because it grows food by following the sun.
Because of this, you should feed your prayer plant every two weeks while it’s growing. From early spring to late fall, give your prayer plant a balanced fertilizer. This will keep the leaves and roots healthy and make them less likely to get pests or diseases.
If you want to keep your plant alive through the winter, don’t give it too much fertilizer. You can use a divided fertilizer once a month instead.
Signs My Prayer Plant Needs Fertilizer
It can be just as bad for your prayer plant to get too much or too little fertilizer, so you need to know when and how to do it. Here are some signs to look out for so you can give it more fertilizer.
The plant you have just now moved into a new pot.
- Your plant has recently been transplanted into a new pot.
- The leaves are yellowing.
- The leaves and stems are drooping.
- Your plant is experiencing very slow or no growth.
- Pests and diseases are attacking your prayer plant.
How to Propagate Prayer Plant
You can propagate prayer plants in two main ways: by dividing them or by cutting them off.
Propagate by division:
- Carefully take the plant out of the pot and give it a light shake to make separate plants.
- Cut any stems or roots that are linked with clean scissors or shears.
- Get plants that have been split up ready to go in their own pots filled with potting soil that drains well. The roots of plants should be healthy, white, and woody.
- Put each piece in its own pot and lightly press down on the soil to get rid of any air spaces.
- Give the pots water and put them somewhere warm and bright.
Propagate by cuttings:
- Cut healthy stems off of a current plant with clean scissors or shears. Take out all but one or two leaves from each stem cutting and cut it off at one or two nodes.
- Mix three quarters perlite with one quarter potting soil, and then put it in the pots for the cuttings.
- Coat about an inch of each stem with a powder that helps plants grow roots.
- Use a pencil or your finger to make a hole in the ground big enough to fit about a third of the cuttings. Be careful not to take out the rooting hormone. Firm the earth around the stem slowly.
- Give the plants water and make sure they are in a warm, wet place with lots of light. A heated mat might be helpful.
Types of Prayer Plant
You can look for the following types of prayer plants:
Red Prayer Plant
One of the most popular prayer plants is Maranta leuconeura var. erythroneura, which is also known as the “red prayer plant.” The leaves of these beautiful plants are dark green with red lines going out from a light green vein in the middle. Each leaf has a red wine spot on the back of it.
Lemon Lime Prayer Plant
Maranta leuconeura ‘Lemon Lime’ is a type of the red prayer plant that doesn’t have any red in it, which makes it look lighter. It can make a neutral room feel more lively thanks to its lime and lemon-colored flowers.
Rabbit’s Foot Prayer Plant
Because the leaves of Maranta leuconeura var. kerchoveana are a light mint green color with darker spots, it is also known as the “rabbit tracks prayer plant” or the “rabbit’s foot.” It looks simple, which makes it stand out from other prayer plants.
Variegated Prayer Plant
Not easy to find, Maranta leuconeura ‘Fantasy’ has green and light green stripes and white to cream-colored spots and bands on its leaves.
Black Prayer Plant
The Maranta leuconeura ‘Massangeana’ plant, also called the ‘black prayer plant, has dark green leaves with silver stripes. The upper side of its leaves do not have the red veining that you see on red prayer plants.
