How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Prayer Plants

The prayer plant produces stunning leaves in a variety of patterns and colors. It is an excellent houseplant for any collection. Kevin Espiritu presents these stunning plants and will help you choose yours and learn to grow and care for them.

A healthy looking prayer plant with deep green leaves appearing to have distinct markings with pale green and pink streaks

Contents

One of the most interesting houseplants is the prayer plant. The plant’s leaves have a similar structure to those of a rubber plant, but their coloration is striking and stark. When it comes to indoor growing, prayer plants or Maranta leuconeura are sure to accent any area. 

While this houseplant may be slightly trickier to care for than pothos or philodendron, its care isn’t difficult. Careful attention to what your maranta needs and how it lives in the wild will guide you. With the right knowledge and action, you’ll help your maranta thrive. 

So let’s discuss the prayer plant, pinpoint some varieties, propagation, and cover how to give it just what it needs. All this, so you can grow your own at home!

Plant Overview

Vivid green Maranta leuconeura plant with waxy looking leaves having unique streaks of magenta and pale green on the surface
Plant Type Houseplant
Family Marantaceae
Genus Maranta
Species Maranta leuconeura
Native Area Brazil
Exposure Bright, indirect light
Height 3’
Watering Requirements Regular
Pests & Diseases Spider mites, mealy bugs, aphids, fungus gnats, thrips, leaf spot, root rot
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Well-draining
Hardiness Zone 11-12

What is a Prayer Plant?

The prayer plant (Maranta leuconeura) is a slow-growing evergreen perennial in the arrowroot (Marantaceae) family. These plants are sometimes confused with Calathea orbifolia, which shares a common name with the topic of this piece. Prayer plants are great for homes full of kids and/or pets because they aren’t toxic.

Native Area

Lovely leaves of the Maranta leuconeura, appearing to have vivid pink lines tracing the veins, with bright light green markings
They are native to the tropical rainforests of Brazil.

All prayer plants are native to the tropical rainforests of Brazil, South America. Their common name was assigned due to their their propensity to rise toward the sun as it sets and fall back toward the earth as it rises.

Characteristics

Broad leaves of Maranta leuconeura placed on top of each other, having distinct pink markings tracing the veins with light green markings
The leaves are often broad with vividly colored veins.

The structure of maranta is incredible, with ovular, broad leaves that have defined veins of varying colors. Usually the central vein is a different color than those that branch to the leaf margins. The foliage of these plants is waxy, and their undersides are a matte grey-green. The leaves of the prayer plant alternate in an elliptical fashion on stiff, rubbery stems. 

The overall structure of the plant is bushy, but it can serve as a ground cover in certain tropical areas. At the height of the growing season, the flowers small white to purple blooms that grow in pairs on a single inflorescence. The flower has a structure somewhat like a cross between a pansy and a half flower, and produces a single seed after it dies away. The roots of prayer plants are thick and branch out below the plant. 

Prayer plant propagation is easy and fun. There are plenty of varieties to choose from, too! 

Varieties

Broad and waxy leaves of a Maranta leuconeura, still attached to the bright green stem, with the leaves having vibrantly defined veins
There are many varieties that may look different.

The varieties we discuss here aren’t specifically maranta plants. They are the most common of the 40 to 50 prayer plant types currently available. 

  • Red prayer plant, red maranta: the classic variety with lush, deep green leaves and bright red veins. The center vein is surrounded by cream splotches. 
  • Maranta leuconeura var. leuconeura, ‘Black Prayer Plant’: grey to olive green leaves, a silvery midvein, silver branching veins, and a red center that surrounds the midvein. Blooms white flowers.
  • Maranta leuconeura ‘Kim’: with varying shades of green, the leaves of this prayer plant have purple spots, and a cream-white streak for extra flair.
  • Maranta leuconeura ‘Marisela’: this prayer plant’s leaves are a lighter shade of green, and the markings are an even lighter green – almost a cream-green color.
  • Maranta leuconeura var. erythroneura, ‘Herringbone Plant’, ‘Lemon Lime Prayer Plant’, ‘Lemon Lime Maranta’: alternating colors of deep green and light green leaves and lighter veins. 
  • Ctenanthe burle-marxii, ‘Fishbone Prayer Plant’: named for the bright almost white veins that run the length of the oval leaves. It’s not technically a maranta, but it’s extremely similar.
  • Stromanthe sanguinea, ‘Tri-Colored Prayer Plant’: differs greatly in structure when compared to maranta. Long, starkly streaked leaves with pops of cream, pink, and varying shades of green. The leaf texture on these plants is very waxy. 

Planting

A potted Maranta leuconeura plant with vivid green leaves, having defined veins surrounded by unique coloring and markings
They might require repotting as they grow.

You won’t need to report your maranta much at all. However, when it becomes root-bound, it will grow much slower. To repot, choose a container that is one to two inches wider than the existing pot. Remove the maranta from the current pot and put it in the new pot with a bit of extra soil mix. Water well, and your houseplant will grow easily. 

How to Grow Prayer Plants

Now that we’ve discussed types of prayer plants, let’s cover the basic care for the maranta species only. Then you’ll know just how to care for your slow grower in a container or hanging basket.

Light

A dense layer of Maranta leuconeura leaves, appearing broad with unique markings defining the veins, appearing vivid pink
The leaves may sustain damage when exposed to too much sunlight.

Direct sun or too much sun scorches the leaves of the prayer plant and may kill it. These plants prefer six to eight hours of bright indirect light during the day. They’re tolerant of low-light areas as long as there is good air flow. Keep your plant out of direct sunlight near a window that receives bright light or in an area of your garden that gets indirect sunlight. Low light conditions won’t hurt them, but these slow growers may do better when they receive enough light to have significant growth.

Water

A pot containing a Maranta leuconeura, having rounded and broad leaves, looking vividly colored with reddish markings
They prefer moist soil, but can suffer with too much water.

Prayer plants do not like to be dry and always prefer moist soil. That means you’ll likely have a watering routine that includes frequent watering in brighter light. Allow the soil to dry out slightly between watering. Water at the soil surface, but never let the plant’s roots get soggy. When you water prayer plant, use room-temperature water. In the winter, reduce watering as your prayer plant goes dormant.

You may have heard that some houseplants are picky and prefer filtered or distilled water. This is one of those plants. Do not leave your plant in standing water, and ensure the pot you’re using has a drainage hole, as this can create conditions where disease can proliferate. 

Humidity

A broad Maranta leuconeura leaf appearing moist, with the surface covered with tiny water droplets with other greens in the background
They thrive in humid climates.

They also need high humidity, 50% to 60%. To maintain this high humidity, keep a humidifier nearby or lightly mist your plant with a spray bottle filled with distilled water daily. You can also sit your pots on trays filled with stones and water so that the pot is not directly in the water, but as the water evaporates, it creates a humid environment.

Soil

Two gloved hands are seen scooping dark, nutrient-rich soil into a black container, preparing it for potting, with one hand holding a tool to help distribute the soil evenly.
Regular potting soil that drains well works for them.

A general-purpose houseplant potting soil is great for these plants as long as it is well-draining. Mix your own soil, using one part perlite or coarse sand, garden soil, one to two parts sphagnum peat moss or coconut coir, and one pinch of lime dust.

The core ingredients, along with peat moss and coir, are enough to retain moisture levels and keep your well-draining soil moist, but not so much that they’ll give your plant wet feet. To improve drainage, add rocks or gravel to the bottom of your pot and ensure it has adequate drainage holes. Poor soils are not desirable for prayer plants. The optimal pH range is 5.5 to 6.0. 

Temperature

A layer of Maranta leuconeura leaves appearing vivid green, having unique markings looking damp and wet placed somewhere with sunlight
They cannot tolerate extremely cold temperatures.

They are hardy in USDA zones 11 to 12, where temperatures sit right within the plants’ tolerance range of 60 to 85°F (16-29°C). Keep them in normal household temperatures, and do not put them in areas where the temperature drops below 60­°F, as this can easily kill them. Keep them indoors during that time. 

Fertilizing

A person wearing thick cloth gloves pouring liquid fertilizer into a container meant to hold fluid for watering greens placed nearby
They may need fertilizer every few weeks.

During the growing season of spring through fall, prayer plants should be fed every two weeks. Use a high-quality water-soluble fertilizer.​ In winter, fertilize less or not at all, as conditions are not conducive to growth. Too much fertilizer at this time will create conditions for disease. 

Maintenance

Thick and broad Maranta leuconeura leaves with dark markings, having defined veins with each piece layered on top of one another
Prune them to keep their growth under control.

If you want to make your houseplant bushy, prune it. Use a sterilized pair of pruning shears and clip the stems above a leaf node. The prayer plant will respond by sending out new shoots directly below the cut area, making for a bushier appearance! Do this two to three times per year in fall and early spring before your plants’ growth season. Remove any diseased parts as they crop up. 

Plants may need repotting every few years. See the planting section for more info.

Propagation

A potted Maranta leuconeura with waxy leaves, appearing broad with distinct dark markings, having defined veins with a white background
They are easy to propagate using cuttings.

Propagating prayer plants is easy! Create a new plant from cuttings or slips in early spring. While prayer plant propagation is possible via seeds, it’s not as reliable. Take stem cuttings below the leaf node and dip them in the rooting hormone. Place the cuttings in shallow pots with soil when new roots have grown. Keep the soil moist, and when new growth appears, you know your propagation was successful. 

You can also place the stem cuttings in water in low-light conditions, changing the water every couple of days.

To propagate prayer plants by slips, take your healthy plants out of their pot, and dust the soil off their roots. Each of the stems should have a set of roots you can separate from the others. Then, plant these in new soil and keep them in a humid environment. In several weeks, you’ll have new tropical plants you can keep in hanging baskets or containers.  

Common Problems

There are a few common pests and diseases that affect prayer plants, and we’ll take some time to cover those now. While most of these are rare, it’s important to be aware of them and act appropriately if they arise. 

Growing Problems

Someone holding a potted Maranta leuconeura with reddish veins and light green coloring, having other greens visible in the background
Too much sun or not enough nutrients can make them struggle.

If your prayer plants have brown leaf tips or brown leaves, ensure you don’t have them in an area where they are getting too much sun. If you have wilting or yellow leaves, check that your plant is getting enough fertilizer. Most prayer plant problems are related to a lack of humidity or soil moisture. Alternatively, soggy brown tips on the plant’s leaves may be related to inadequate drainage holes in your container. If so, find another container with better drainage, and repot the plant. 

Pests

A close-up of a leaf surface showing small brown thrips scattered across the green foliage.
They are vulnerable to various pests, including thrips and aphids.

Spider mites, aphids, and thrips suck the sap from prayer plants, causing lesions and limiting nutrient availability to your plant. If you see webs that these mites weave, or the prayer plant leaves curling, use neem oil to get rid of these congregating insects. 

Fungus gnats are more common indoors than outdoors. While the adult form of these pests doesn’t harm your prayer plant, they can lay eggs that hatch root-hungry larvae. You can dilute neem in water, and irrigate your plants with it every week or so to kill any eggs or larvae. 

Mealybugs are tiny cotton ball bugs that suck plant sap. To get rid of them, pop them off your plant with a Q-tip soaked in rubbing alcohol. Then, mist your plant with insecticidal soap to prevent any further infections. 

Diseases

A close-up of a plant's roots affected by a fungus, showing discolored, decaying roots and dark soil.
Too much moisture can make them prone to different diseases, such as root rot.

Leaf spot is a fungal disease that can affect prayer plants in overly wet conditions. Water soaked lesions are a sign this disease has set in. If this occurs, move your prayer plant away from others to prevent the spread of this disease. Neem will kill an existing infection. Reduce watering and misting to prevent further infection.  

Root rot is another disease caused by fungi that love temperate and wet conditions. Mushy stems and leaves indicate that your plant is experiencing rot. Reduce watering and misting to prevent the rot from spreading throughout the plant. Remove any damaged leaves or stems. If the problem persists even after this, you may have to start over with a new plant.  

Frequently Asked Questions

What is special about prayer plant?

It rises as the sun sets and lowers when it rises, emulating praying hands.

How long does a prayer plant live?

It can live for up to 30 years!

Can I put my prayer plant outside?

If temperatures remain between 60 and 85°F (16-29°C), yes!

How do I keep the humidity high enough for my prayer plant to thrive?

A daily misting can help provide the prayer plant with the humidity it needs that may not be present in your home. You can also set a container of water near the prayer plant, as the evaporating water will increase the humidity.

The leaves of my prayer plant are curling even in the daytime…what’s going on?

It’s a sign conditions aren’t ideal, so try less light throughout the day, and examine the root zone for a healthy medium amount of moisture in the soil.

I’m having problems with the soil for my prayer plant. What should I change?

Prayer plants love soil conditions that drain well, so you should probably add some gravel, perlite, or coarse sand to increase drainage. Be sure you’re not over-watering and that your container has a drainage hole.

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