HouseplantsDiscover the right indoor plants for your home.
Red prayer flora . picture by : Maritxu / Shutterstock
petition plant is named for the light-headed - sensitive leaves that place flat during the 24-hour interval , folding upright like praying hand at night . This popular houseplant is a tropical evergreen plant perennial turn for the foliage , which comes in an array of color and patterns .
This easy - to - originate plant life is dull growing and stays relatively modest , defecate it ideal for small apartment and other limited space . industrial plant can be keep shaggy or allowed to trail , and are suitable for display in cosmetic sess or hanging baskets . Learn how to grow and care for this intriguing houseplant .
On this page : Basics|Growing|Care|Varieties|Troubleshooting|Display idea
On this page :
PRAYER PLANT BASICS
Botanical name:
Marantaspp .
Common names:
Prayer plant , cathedral windowpane , herringbone pattern plant
Origin:
aboriginal to tropical rainforest of Central America , South America and West Indies
Care level:
Easy to mince
Size:
6 to 12 inches grandiloquent and wide , trailing to 18 inches
Growth rate:
Slow
Foliage:
blanket oval - forge leaves 4 to 8 inch long have distinct grade insignia or scoring . The base food color occurs in varying shades of immature , blue - green , or yellow - light-green . Veining can be crimson , cream , or counterpoint fleeceable . marking are imperial , brown , or green , while foliage undersides come about in unripened or Bourgogne . New leaf emerge in a tightly rolled tube .
Flowers:
Small blank or purple orchid - comparable flowers appear in spring . Flowers are insignificant , and plants do not always bloom indoors .
Are prayer plants plants toxic?
Prayer plant is non - toxic to pets and children , though mild stomach upset can pass when any plant is take .
Prayer plant lookalikes—Marantavs.Calathea:
These two genera look alike and share the common name of prayer flora , so are sometimes confused or mislabeled . Though both are in the Marantaceae family , the arrowroot syndicate , there are differences . Marantaleaves are consistently ellipse - determine , whileCalatheacomes in unlike folio shapes . Calatheacoloring and leafage patterns are more variable and often more pronounced . Marantadevelops a trail habit , whileCalathearemains erect .
GROWING PRAYER PLANTS
Light:
Place near a window that gets bright collateral sunshine . Avoid direct sun , which can cause foliage burn mark .
Temperature:
supplicant flora prefers warmer temperatures , with an optimum range between 65 - 85 degrees F.
Humidity:
Native to moist rainforests , prayer plant favor restrained to eminent humidity . To increase humidity , apply a room humidifier , mist plant regularly , or set flora on a shallow tray filled with pebble and water . Do n’t allow the bottom of the mickle to sit around in stand body of water to foreclose root rot .
Soil:
Use a high-pitched - quality , all - intention potting mixing that drain well . Marantaplants prefer a slightly acidic pH of 5.5 to 6.0 ; higher pH may induce chlorosis ( yellowing of leaves ) .
Pot requirements:
entreaty works has shallow roots , so a pot that is moderately shallow and wide is more suitable than one that is tall and bass . Plant in a pot with adequate drain hole that is slightly bigger than the etymon ball .
PRAYER PLANT CARE
exposure by : Rigsbyphoto / Shutterstock
Watering:
Keep soil evenly moist , as prayer industrial plant do n’t like to dry out out . Water when the top 1 to 2 inches of soil feels dry to the cutaneous senses . Avoid overwatering to prevent root rotting . slim down watering during winter months when works enter a full point of semi - dormancy .
TIP : Maranta plants may be sensitive to hard wiretap water . Use separate out pee or get out rap piss out overnight before using . Prayer plant also choose water that is at way temperature .
Fertilizing:
enforce a balanced water - soluble fertilizer every two weeks during the grow season from spring through descent . Cease fertilize in winter when works growth slow down .
Pruning:
plant can be retain bushy or allow to trail . Prune your appeal industrial plant to desire sizing in spring by clip just above a leaf node . take away dead or damaged leaf as needed .
Leaf care:
Keep the leafage courteous and shiny by clean it occasionally with a dampish material . This is also a safe opportunity to check for cuss that may be blot out under the large leaves .
Repotting:
Prayer plant grow slowly , so only need to be repot every 2 to 3 age . The good time to repot is in fountain or summertime . Choose a pot that is 2 inches with child than the former hatful . take plant from pot , shake off spare land from roots and repot in sweet soil .
Pests:
The most common pests arespider mites , aphid , thrips , andmealybugs . watch what variety of bug are on your plant by see closely . take away pests with a cotton orb dipped in 70 % rubbing alcohol . For persistent infestations , useinsecticidal soaporNeem oiland reapply as call for . Isolate impact plants until blighter are extinguish . ( See more oncommon houseplant pests . )
PRAYER PLANT VARIETIES
picture by : Lina Mo / Shutterstock .
Red Prayer PlantMaranta leuconeuravar.erythroneura
Also have intercourse as herringbone plant or red stripe supplication plant , this is one of the most popular and unremarkably grow varieties . The expunge leaf are gloomy green with bright reddened veins and pallid green marking along the midrib . The leaf bottom are a rich Bourgogne .
Photo by : Fabrizio Guarisco / Shutterstock
' Lemon Lime’Maranta leuconeuravar.erythroneura’Lemon Lime '
This variety is qualify by hopeful yellow green - light-green veining and marking along the midrib set against a dark green background . Leaf bottom are pale green with darker green markings .
Photo by : Amelia Martin / Shutterstock
Rabbit TracksMaranta leuconeuravar.kerchoveana
Also known as unripe prayer flora or coney ’s ft , this variety is named for the two row of splotches on either side of the leaf midrib that resemble cony tracks . When unexampled leaves emerge , the markings are brown , then fleet to gloomy dark-green . Unlike most other varieties , the foliage markings are not visible on the undersurface of the leaves , which are silver - green .
picture by : Ivy May
' Kim’Maranta leuconeura’Kim '
standardized in coming into court to rabbit tracks orison industrial plant , the pale greenish foliage is accentuated by rows of purple spots on either side of the midrib . Leaves may also sport variable creamy - white streak .
' Marisela’Maranta leuconeura’Marisela '
disconsolate dark-green leaf contrast dramatically with the pale yellow veining . Wide light green markings pass off along the midrib , create a striking appearing .
COMMON PROBLEMS WITH PRAYER PLANTS
Most problems are due to incorrect care . front for these symptom :
DISPLAY IDEAS FOR PRAYER PLANTS
Photo by : TippyTortue / Shutterstock
There are many ways to expose orison plant ; here are just a few :
