Prayer Plant Care: 9 Tips for Growing Prayer Plants

The prayer plant (Maranta leuconeura)—which is native to South America, particularly Brazil—gets its name from botanist and physician Bartolomeo Maranta. A member of the Marantaceae family, this low-maintenance plant is famous for its flat leaves, which come in various colors and fold up at night, appearing like hands in a prayer position. Prayer plants can grow indoors year-round, making them attractive houseplants any time of year, but especially during the cold winter months.

Prayer plants do best in high-humidity, low-light conditions (partial to full shade), and moist but well-draining soil. They do produce blooms in early spring, although rarely when kept as indoor plants. Also sometimes referred to as calatheas (a closely related plant), prayer plants are only hardy outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 11–12, and their growing season is from early spring through fall.

There are countless prayer plants, many of which have vivid coloring, interesting leaf patterns, and leaves that fold and unfold depending on the time of day. Here are four common prayer plants:

1. 1. Black prayer plant: Featuring silver-blue leaves with areas of purple and olive green, the black prayer plant resembles other veiny prayer plants, like those with herringbone patterns and lemon-lime colorways, but with a dark purple, almost black background to its leaves.
2. 2. Herringbone prayer plant: Also called a red prayer plant or Maranta leuconeura var. erythroneura, the herringbone prayer plant has bright red veins on green leaves in a herringbone pattern. The herringbone plant prefers to grow in pots and develops relatively few diseases or pest issues indoors.
3. 3. Lemon lime prayer plant: The cultivar M. leuconeura ‘Lemon Lime’ looks similar to a red prayer plant except that the veins on the leaves are a bright green color as opposed to red. Lemon lime prayer plants grow well in hanging baskets.
4. 4. Rabbit’s foot prayer plant: Also called a rabbit tracks prayer plant, M. leuconeura var. kerchoveana, has bright green leaves with patches of a deep reddish-brown or red-orange rust color. It’s a trailing variety, making it a good option for hanging planters, and likes bright, indirect light and periodic misting to create a humid environment.

All varieties or cultivars of prayer plants require more or less the same type of care. Here are tips for caring for a prayer plant, whether you’re growing one indoors and outdoors:

1. 1. Don’t overwater. While prayer plants like their soil moist, don’t overwater them. Water during the growing season when the top of the soil becomes dry, and don’t let the soil completely dry out. Overwatering can cause the leaf tips to yellow and fall off, as well as lead to root rot and fungal problems. Additionally, never water with cold water. The water should be room temperature or warmer, but not warmer than 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Tap water usually works just fine.
2. 2. Fertilize regularly. Every two weeks or so during the growing season (typically late spring to early fall), fertilize your prayer plant with a water-soluble houseplant fertilizer. The plant needs fertilizer only about once a month in the winter. Keep in mind that too much fertilizer can cause brown leaves or even possibly the death of the plant, so you may want to dilute the fertilizer to half strength.
3. 3. Use the right soil. Regular potting soil usually works just fine for prayer plants, but make sure the pot has drainage holes and the potting mix is airy and well-draining. To make your own ideal soil for a prayer plant, combine peat moss, perlite, loam soil, and coarse sand. Note that too much perlite could result in fluoride burn, which can lead to browning leaves.
4. 4. Keep the air humid. Outside of its native growing areas and hardiness zones, prayer plants might require a humidifier to keep the indoor growing area moist. An environment that’s too dry can cause brown tips on the leaves. Bathrooms are good spots for prayer plants because they are naturally more humid than the rest of a home.
5. 5. Know when to re-pot. Repotting is necessary when the roots of the prayer plant start to grow out of the drainage holes in its pot. Additionally, if the plant stops growing or needs constant watering to keep the soil moist, it’s time to repot. However, prayer plants like being somewhat rootbound, so you shouldn’t need to move them often.
6. 6. Manage sunlight. Prayer plants prefer indirect sunlight as opposed to direct sunlight and thrive in shady but warm areas. Since they are native to rainforests, you should provide the plants with lower light, controlled by either location or some type of cover. However, the leaves won’t fully open during the day if they don’t receive enough light, so don’t place them in completely dark areas, either. If the plant’s leaves fade in color, it’s a sign the plant is receiving too much sun.
7. 7. Pruning is not required. Even though prayer plants don’t require pruning, you can create a bushier appearance by clipping the leaves just above the leaf node to change the plant’s growth pattern. Pruning in this way encourages new outward growth.
8. 8. Take advantage of propagation. To capitalize on a healthy prayer plant, create multiple plants by propagating the original. You can propagate prayer plants by dividing the whole plant or taking stem cuttings. When it’s time to repot the prayer plant, pull a section of the plant away, gently separate the roots, and then plant the new plant in its own pot. For stem cuttings, cut the stem below the leaf and place it in a glass of water. Replace the water every few days until new roots develop.
9. 9. Treat pests and diseases. With prayer plants, you want to watch out for mealybugs and spider mites. Treat an infestation by spraying the plant lightly with neem oil. Fungal disease is the most common affliction in prayer plants because of the moist soil and humid environment. To prevent issues, use well-draining soil, avoid overwatering, and keep the prayer plant’s leaves out of standing water.

Grow your own garden with Ron Finley, the self-described "Gangster Gardener." Get the MasterClass Annual Membership and learn how to cultivate fresh herbs and vegetables, keep your house plants alive, and use compost to make your community—and the world—a better place.