Q&A for How to Care for a Prayer Plant

This may be the result of not watering enough. It doesn't have to be pathological though. The leaves change shape throughout the day, depending on the light they're exposed to and what sources it comes from.

I have had mine for 40 years and it is still growing strong. I usually re-pot it every few years.

Yes. I just clip off above a bottom leaf and place the cutting in water for a couple of weeks until you see roots.

Overwatering occasionally has that effect. Try not to water too much or too often.

This sounds like an insect problem. It may be mealy bugs (they tend to like warmer climates). Try a pesticide or a home remedy like water and unscented dish soap.

Your plant may be exposed to too much sunlight, which would cause the colors to fade or bleach.

More than likely, the plant is trying to tell you that it is not happy in its current spot. Try turning it every three days and watch its behavior.

I tend to leave them. They only blossom for a few days before they fall off, making room for new ones. Once there are no more, the entire blooming peduncle starts to dry, at which point I trim it. I find the flowers to be a nice touch, they come a few times a year.

Uneven watering or humidity could be the cause. Remember to water and mist evenly. I find double potting helpful, as trays of stagnant water may encourage mosquitoes breeding.

Prayer plants, if properly cared for, make lovely hanging plants. Their tendency is to spread.

They prefer indirect sunlight and low light, so you can move them away from the window as long as you don't completely rid them of light. I have mine near (but not directly under) a skylight, and it does just fine.

If by "wilting" you mean the leaves curl up (only at night), then congratulations! Your plant is perfect. This is why they are called "prayer plants," they are supposed to do that.

I keep mine indoors, as I bought mine in the "indoor plant" section of a nursery. However, if you live in a climate that is hot and humid at all times, such as the tropics, then I'm sure it could do quite well outdoors.

I don’t stake mine as a rule, it looks great as it is. But I made an exception when one of the stems was becoming stressed by the weight of the new leaves. Since the plant is experiencing a growth spurt, though, I think it’s time for pruning and sharing a start with a friend!

More than likely, it's root rot from way too much water. You could try to take it out of the pot, dry it out and cut off the black parts, but it could already be too late.

It's likely a result of too much light. If your plant is in a spot where it gets lots of direct sunlight, try moving it to an area where it gets bright but indirect light, and the new leaves should grow in dark and vibrant.

Mine did great all winter! I just made sure to water it normally and kept it misted every other day.

I use a little bamboo fan trellis. Cut them to the height needed and start the plant on it and you're good to go. You can find them at any Dollar Store for a buck or two.

Let them bloom if you want to. I usually wait for the blooms to start dying before pruning. From what I can tell, blooming is a sign that your prayer plant is really happy with its current conditions.

It could be excessive sunlight and a lack of humidity. I have noticed improvements when I started misting mine.

If it happens at night, then it's totally normal. Some tropical plants, like certain marantas and calatheas have leaves that close up at night and open during the day to catch the sunlight. Other than that, perhaps the position needs to be changed or there may be an insect infestation.

If it's hot and humid where you are, there is no reason not to. Just be sure it's in a shaded area, as too much light will fade the color and possibly scorch the plant.

It means you're either not watering it enough, or you're over watering it. Try watering it every other day, and mist spray it lightly every day. You'll also need to cut off the brown curled leaves, as they cannot be saved.

This is one of the special things that make us call the species of plant known as Maranta leuconeura, the prayer plant. The leaves folding in at night is a process called nyctinasty. It's not know for sure why they do this but the prevailing belief is it may help to catch rainwater overnight to fall down off the leaves and more easily reach the lower parts of the plant and the roots below ground. Water that falls on leaves overnight can sit all night without evaporating, which in some plants can cause problems. During the day the leaves fold out because it catches more of the sunlight, and it doesn't have to be as concerned during the day about water on the leaves.

Those are future baby plants. Just leave them alone and when you go to to transplant the plant again, separate the babies from the parent plant and plant them in 4 inch pots. Now you're set for gifts for friends and family!

Browning on plant leaves means those areas of the leaf have died. If most of the leaf is still intact, you don't have to cut it, but it is best to remove leaves that are mostly brown or yellow. The pattern of discoloration tells you what happened. Browning at the leaf tips and/or large yellow spots indicate overwatering. Underwatering usually presents as browning sides and limp, thin leaves.

That’s a sign of over watering. Water less often once every other week to see if you notice a change.

That is totally normal. When plants have red in their foliage, it is an indication of their natural lighting absorption capabilities. Red on the underside of leaves catches sunlight so that plants that inhabit lower light conditions (as Calatheas do) can process the sunlight into energy. Green leaves allow sunlight to pass directly through, therefore, plants with green foliage can tolerate higher light levels.