Prayer Plant

Prayer Plant Care

Maranta leuconeura

Other names: Prayer Plant, Maranta Lemon, Rabbit's Foot, Praying Hands

What is the plant

Maranta is a marvelous tropical greenie that strikes plant lovers with its colorful foliage. The leaves fold up at night before opening again with the first beams of sunlight – hence the nickname “Prayer Plant.” Marantas are sometimes confused with Calatheas, their relatives. Though both are called Prayer Plants, Marantas look different and have distinct needs.

Brazilian natives, Marantas are easy to recognize. Their oval, variegated leaves with yellow splotches along the midrib and arching red veins resemble a complex painting. The undersides of the leaves are often dark red.

In their native habitat, Marantas grow under the canopy of tropical rainforest. Humidity, warmth, and scattered light make these queens shine. When kept indoors, Marantas grow slowly but can eventually reach 1ft (30 cm) in height.

If you’ve recognized any mistakes feel free to notify us about it. This would help us to provide only the best-quality information.

Humidity

High

Lighting

Part Sun

Temperature

18°C - 25°C

Hardiness zone

10a - 12b

Difficulty

Medium

Hibernation

Cold Period

How to Care for the Plant

Water
Irrigate the Prayer plant regularly with lukewarm water. Keep the top layer of the soil consistently moist but not soggy. Prayer plants don’t tolerate drought, but they’re not into drowning, either.
Pruning
Pruning is generally not needed. If you want to create a bushier look, clip the leaves just above the leaf node to boost new outward growth.
Fertilizer
Fertilize with a water-soluble fertilizer diluted to half strength once every two weeks throughout the growing season (late spring to early fall). Reduce to once a month in winter. The plant’s growth will slow down if you don’t fertilize it enough. On the other hand, if you overfertilize, you may burn the plant’s roots. Be careful!

Disease diagnosis

Check your plant’s health

Ease your plant care routine with PlantIn's personalized system.

Sunlight
Place your green pet next to an east-facing window. Remember, exposure to direct sun rays might result in burns. These plants are quite tolerant of partial shade but don’t let them stay in full darkness. In winter, always make sure they receive enough light.
Soil
Prayer plants feel well in a regular potting mix as long as it’s well-draining and acidic (pH 6.0). You can put rocks or gravel on the bottom of the pot to improve drainage.
Propagation
You can easily propagate the Prayer plant by division while repotting.

Gently take the plant out of the soil.

Shake the soil off and carefully divide the roots into several small plants

Make sure that each new plant has a solid amount of roots and several stems.

Plant them into shallow pots and keep them in a very warm and moist environment during the first weeks until they start growing.

Ease your plant care routine with PlantIn's personalized system.

Temperature
These plants grow well in average room temperatures of 60-80°F (15-27°C). Prayer plants also love high humidity. Mist the plant regularly or place a humidifier nearby.
Container
You can grow Maranta in any container if it has good drainage. They will look fantastic in a hanging pot that lets their spreading stems dangle.
Fun fact
Marantas are named after Bartolomeo Maranta, an Italian physician and botanist of the 16th century.