Ever wondering how do I care for my prayer plants? In this article, though, we’ve covered all the information you need to take care of your prayer plant. So let’s go straight into the article without any further delay. Read also Understanding The Average Water Bill
What is a Prayer Plant?
A species of flowering plant belonging to the Marantaceae family. Maranta leuconeura is indigenous to Brazil’s tropical forests.
Because of the way it moves every day and how much it depends on sunshine, this plant is frequently called the praying plant.
This perennial is rhizomatous, variegated, and grows to a height and width of 30 cm. It has evergreen, oblong leaves that are brilliantly patterned and grow to a maximum length of 12 cm in densely packed clusters.
The plant sends roots into the substrate at each leaf node and spreads out horizontally, covering a tiny patch of the forest floor.
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Prayer Plant Types
Various prayer plants have striking colors, intriguing leaf patterns, and folding and unfolding leaves that change with the light. Four typical prayer plants are as follows:
1. Prayer plant, black:
The black prayer plant is similar to other veiny prayer plants, such as those with herringbone patterns and lemon-lime colors, but has a dark purple, nearly black, backdrop to its leaves. It has silver-blue leaves with purple and olive-green regions.
2. Praying herringbone plant:
The herringbone plant is relatively resistant to pests and diseases and grows best in containers.
3. Prayer plant with lemon and lime:
Except for the leaves brilliant green veins rather than red ones, the cultivar M. leuconeura ‘Lemon Lime’ resembles a red prayer plant. Prayer plants (Lemon lime) do great in hanging baskets.
4. Prayer plant, rabbit’s foot:
M. leuconeura var. kerchoveana, often known as the rabbit footprints prayer plant, features rich reddish-brown or reddish-orange rust streaks on its otherwise vibrant green foliage. Because it is a trailing variety, it is a suitable choice for hanging planters.
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How Do I Care for My Prayer Plants?
These are the factors to look for when taking care of your plant:
Sunlight
Your prayer plant will flourish in indirect sunlight that is bright to medium. The delicate leaves of this plant can burn if exposed to direct sunlight for an extended period. Although they can withstand low light levels in general, prayer plants may become lanky in really low light. Give your plants enough light throughout their winter hibernation to ensure continued growth.
Water:
Water once every two weeks, letting the soil dry up halfway between applications.
When the top 25% of your plant becomes dry, water it again until water is dripping out of the drainage hole. Although they prefer not to be overly dry, overwatering can cause root rot. A drainage hole is unquestionably necessary for these plants so that any excess water can escape. The ideal soil is equally hydrated.
When using water, consider using filtered water or letting it sit outside all night.
Control of Humidity
It can tolerate normal room humidity, but if feasible, it would prefer higher humidity. You can put a little humidifier close by or set your plant on a tray with water and tiny stones to improve the humidity levels available to it.
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Temperature Control
65°F to 85°F (18°C to 30°C). It is preferable to keep it above 60°F (15°C). Keep the environment around your prayer plant warm and damp. The typical home temperature range of 60 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit is normally acceptable, although you might need to provide your plant with a little more humidity.
Apply fertilizer
Apply a water-soluble, half-strength houseplant fertilizer to your prayer plant every two weeks from early spring to fall (winterizing to once a month). Your plant will grow slowly, or not at all if you apply too little fertilizer.
Transmission and Propagation
The process of propagation involves cuts and division.
Cuts should be made in the spring, ideally with three to four leaves and a length of 10 cm. Cuttings can be treated with bottom heat to encourage roots. Although it is less prevalent, seed propagation is still possible. It is advised that seeds germinate at 13–18 °C (55–64 °F). It is also possible to propagate Maranta leuconeura in vitro.
Typical Problems with Praying Plants
Although prayer plants are generally thought to be easy to cultivate, it can be difficult to get them used to your home at first because they need regular watering and circumstances more akin to those of a greenhouse. Consequently, it’s normal to encounter a few issues.
- Problem: Brown-tip curling leaves
Cause: Insufficient humidity
- Problem: Brown spots or coloration that has faded from leaves
Cause: Excessive direct sunlight
- Problem: Rotten stems and yellowing leaves
Cause: Too much water
Are prayer plants toxic?
Yes! These plants are 100% safe and non-toxic for you and your loving pets!
Tricks and tips for your prayer-plants
1. Avoid oversaturation.
Although prayer plants prefer damp soil, avoid giving them too much water.
Avoid using cold water when watering. No more than 80 degrees Fahrenheit should be the temperature of the water or at least room temperature. Generally, tap water is quite good.
2. Regularly fertilize.
Water-soluble fertilizers should be used. In summer fertilize every 2 weeks and once a month in winter. Remember that applying too much fertilizer will result in brown leaves or perhaps the plant dying, so you might wish to dilute it to half its original intensity.
3. Choose the appropriate soil.
Regular potting soil is considered ideal however you can use different soils such as peat moss, perlite, loam soil, and coarse sand to create your perfect soil for a prayer plant. Keep in mind that excessive perlite may cause fluoride burn, which can cause leaves to become brown.
4. Maintain a humid atmosphere.
Prayer plants may need a humidifier to maintain a wet indoor growing environment if they are grown outside of their natural growth regions and hardiness zones. The tips of the leaves may turn brown in a very dry environment. Because bathrooms are inherently more humid than other parts of a house, they are excellent places for prayer plants.
5. Recognize when to repot.
When you see the roots of our plant through the drainage holes this means it is high time to re-pot your prayer plant. Prayer plants, however, prefer to be slightly rootbound, so frequent relocation is not necessary.
6. Control the sun exposure.
Prayer plants grow best in warm, dark environments and prefer indirect sunshine over direct sunlight. Because the plants are indigenous to rainforests, you should give them reduced light levels, which may be achieved by placing the plants in a shaded area or using some kind of cover. Don’t put them in totally dark corners, either, as the leaves won’t open fully during the day if they don’t get enough light. The plant is getting too much sun if its leaves start to turn yellow.
7. Pruning isn’t necessary.
These plants don’t require pruning which is a great point. The only kind of pruning that promotes fresh outward growth is by removing the dead leaves.
8. Benefit from the spread of the word.
Proliferate the original prayer plant to get additional plants and make use of its health. Prayer plants can be multiplied by splitting them in half or by taking cuttings from the stem. When it’s time to give the prayer plant a new home, carefully peel off a portion of it, split the roots apart, and plant the new piece in a different pot.
Cut the stem below the leaf if you’re using stem cuttings, then put them in a glass of water. Water should be replaced every few days until new roots grow.
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FAQ
Do prayer plants require a lot of light to thrive?
Although they can survive in low light, prayer plants thrive in bright, indirect light. They dislike bright light. If the leaves on your prayer plant seem washed out, try moving them to a location with less light. Excessive brightness of light can bleach plant leaves.
What location is ideal for a prayer plant?
When thinking about how do I care for my prayer plants, the location of the plant is quite crucial. The ideal location is to keep it in bright, indirect light, lots of warmth, and humidity.
How is a prayer plant filled?
Regular fertilizing during the growing season is beneficial for marantas. Apply a soluble fertilizer once every two to four weeks. Your Maranta plant will become bushier if you prune it frequently. This will promote the development of new leaves and stems, giving the plant a fuller, bushier appearance.
How do I maintain bushy prayer plants?
To prune your prayer plant, cut slightly above the leaf nodes using a pair of garden scissors that have been sanitized. Bushy growth is encouraged by pruning two or three times a year, with fall and spring being the optimal periods to do so. Removing any lanky stems or dead leaves from a prayer plant is another benefit of pruning it.
Should I trim a prayer plant’s dead leaves?
Use sharp tools to target dead or yellowing leaves while pruning for both health and aesthetics. If you want to promote flowering, prune during periods of active growth, best in the spring or summer. Steer clear of over-pruning; trim twice a year and take quick care of any problems that arise after pruning.
Conclusion
Taking care of your prayer plant is not that difficult. If provided with the right light, water, and soil it can easily grow within your household. We hope that you found this article helpful and now can take better care of your prayer plant.