Prayer Plant Care Guide
Prayer Plant
Maranta leuconeura and its cultivars
Prayer Plants are tropical houseplants known for their patterned foliage and daily leaf movement. Their leaves often lift upward in the evening and lower again during daylight. This guide covers both the Red and Green Maranta varieties on your order.
Quick Care
Light: Medium to bright indirect light
Water: Water when the top ½–1 inch begins drying
Humidity: Moderate to high
Temperature: Approximately 65–80°F
Difficulty: Moderate
Pet friendly: Yes—non-toxic to cats and dogs
Growth habit: Low-growing and spreading
Light
Provide medium to bright indirect light. Strong filtered light helps maintain the plant’s distinct leaf patterns.
Avoid direct afternoon sunlight, which can fade or scorch the thin foliage. Insufficient light may produce slower growth and less vivid coloring.
Water
Water when the top ½–1 inch of potting mix begins to feel dry. Prayer Plants prefer consistent moisture but should never remain waterlogged.
Water thoroughly and allow all excess to drain. Do not leave the plant standing in water.
Prayer Plants can be sensitive to minerals, fluoride and salts in tap water. Filtered, distilled or rainwater can help prevent recurring brown leaf tips.
Reduce watering slightly during winter, but do not allow the root ball to dry completely.
Temperature and Humidity
Maintain temperatures between approximately 65°F and 80°F. Protect the plant from cold drafts, heating vents, air-conditioning and sudden temperature changes.
Moderate to high humidity is strongly preferred. A room humidifier is more effective than occasional misting, particularly during Erie’s dry indoor winters.
Provide some air circulation without exposing the plant to a direct draft.
Soil and Repotting
Use a moisture-retentive but well-draining indoor potting mix. A blend containing potting soil, perlite and fine orchid bark works well.
A drainage hole is essential. Repot when roots have filled the container or the soil has become compacted.
Prayer Plants have relatively shallow roots, so a wider, moderately shallow container may be more suitable than a very deep pot.
Fertilizing
Apply a balanced liquid houseplant fertilizer at approximately half strength once a month during spring and summer.
Reduce or stop feeding during fall and winter. Excess fertilizer salts can cause brown leaf edges and root damage.
Pruning and Propagation
Remove yellow or damaged leaves with clean scissors.
Trim long, sparse stems just above a node to encourage branching. Healthy stem cuttings containing nodes can be rooted in water or moist propagation mix.
Established plants can also be propagated by carefully dividing the root system during repotting.
Normal Leaf Movement
Prayer Plant leaves naturally rise, fold or change position between day and night. This daily movement is called nyctinasty and is not a sign that the plant needs water.
Check the soil before watering rather than interpreting normal nighttime leaf movement as wilting.
Variety Notes
Red Prayer Plant
The Red Maranta typically has dark green markings, pale areas along the center and prominent red or pink veins.
Bright indirect light helps maintain its strong coloring.
Green Prayer Plant
The Green Maranta generally has green-on-green patterning with dark oval markings.
Its care is essentially identical to the Red variety, and both can use this shared webpage.
Common Problems
Brown, crispy leaf edges: Often caused by dry air, inconsistent watering, mineral-heavy water or fertilizer buildup.
Curling leaves: May indicate dry soil, low humidity, excessive light, cold stress or damaged roots.
Yellow leaves with wet soil: Usually caused by overwatering or poor drainage.
Faded patterns: The plant may be receiving too much direct sun or insufficient indirect light.
Leaves remaining tightly curled: Check for severe dryness, cold conditions, pests or root problems.
Fine webbing or pale speckling: Inspect for spider mites.
Pet Safety
Prayer Plants are considered non-toxic to cats and dogs. Eating plant material may still cause mild stomach upset, so chewing should be discouraged. ASPCA Prayer Plant profile
Mary Mae’s Best Advice
Prayer Plants want consistency: evenly moist soil, warm temperatures and moderate humidity. If the leaf edges repeatedly turn brown despite proper watering, try filtered or distilled water and check the room’s humidity.
