Some of the most beautiful, profound plants you will find are prayer plants (Maranta leuconeura). These plants, native to the tropical regions, are easy to take care of and offer vivid green foliage and distinctive adaptive behaviors. Maranta leuconeura, also referred to as praying hands, is a flowering plant of the Marantaceae family, endemic to the tropics of the New World. It’s also commonly called the zebra plant, maranta, and the rattlesnake plant.
Sunlight
Prayer plants can be hung or placed near a window where they will receive indirect sunlight. Don’t ever put your plant in direct sunlight because the sun will incinerate the leaves of the plant, or blotches and patches will grow on the leaves and diminish their color’s intensity. Generally, the plant is sensitive to lower areas of light. When your plant goes dormant in the winter, you need to provide bright light to protect them.
Watering
Water regularly and never let the potting soil dry out during the growing season. When the top of the potting soil is just beginning to become dry, you should water the prayer plant. This plant is very prone to drought, but you shouldn’t allow water to stay precisely on the leaves or let the plant get wet to prevent fungal problems.
The leaves can turn yellow and fall from the plant due to insufficient water and overwatering. While watering the plant, use water that is not slightly warm and at least at room temp. Reduce irrigation during the winter.
Temperature and Humidity
A prayer plant seeks to determine the usual temperatures of 60 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit in the home. Lower temperatures may harm the leaves. Prayer plant species thrive in a very humid climate, and there is sometimes too little humidity in houses. To increase moisture levels, use one of the following methods:
Put a small humidifier or water bowl near the plant.
- Fill a dish with small rocks.
- Add water.
Plant Nutrition
From early spring through autumn, fertilize your prayer plants every two weeks. To half power, dilute a water-soluble, balanced potted plant fertilizer (10-10-10). Your plant grows slowly or hardly at all if you use too little fertilizer. Too much fertilizer can kill the roots, leaves can begin to brown, and the plant can even be killed. Reduce fertilizing in the winter to once a month or so.
Toxicity
It is non-toxic to humans, cats, and dogs, making it safe to keep in the home for everyone.
Air-Purifying
Prayer plants help clean the air of your house by filtering the present pollutants in your house.
Repotting
You don’t need to repot the prayer plant regularly. But it will grow much slower when it becomes root-bound or pot-bound. If you are repotting, pick a pot that is just one to two inches bigger than the current pot. Gently remove the plant from its container during repotting, shake the roots clean, and position it in a container with fresh garden soil.
Additional Care
To promote healthy growth, you may prune the prayer plant. Using a pair of sterilized sharp scissors, you have to cut a leaf node right above the stems. The plant will develop new shoots that create a bushier appearance immediately below the cut field. If you note a tip or edge burn, sometimes with a yellowish hue on the edge of the plant, this could occur because of tap water.
Common issues
Following are some of the common issues of the prayer plant:
- Curling leaves
- Spots on the prayer plant
Diseases
Following are some of the diseases of the prayer plant:
- Cucumber Mosaic Virus
- Helminthosporium leaf spot
Final Thoughts
Adding a prayer plant to your house is bound to uplift any area it’s placed in. Its stunning and unique appearance ensures it stands out amongst every kind of decor. As long as you follow the guide above, the plant will last a long time.
