HouseplantsDiscover the right indoor plants for your home.
Red prayer flora . photograph by : Maritxu / Shutterstock
Prayer flora is named for the light-colored - sensible leaves that lie in flat during the day , folding upright like pray hand at night . This popular houseplant is a tropical evergreen perennial grown for the foliage , which comes in an array of colors and convention .
This promiscuous - to - grow plant is slow growing and stick relatively small , making it idealistic for small apartment and other limited distance . plant can be kept shaggy-haired or allowed to trail , and are suitable for display in cosmetic pots or hanging baskets . Learn how to grow and wish for this challenging houseplant .
On this page : Basics|Growing|Care|Varieties|Troubleshooting|Display estimate
On this Sir Frederick Handley Page :
PRAYER PLANT BASICS
Botanical name:
Marantaspp .
Common names:
Prayer plant , cathedral window , herringbone plant
Origin:
Native to tropic rain forest of Central America , South America and West Indies
Care level:
Easy to moderate
Size:
6 to 12 inches improbable and wide-cut , trailing to 18 inches
Growth rate:
tedious
Foliage:
spacious oval - mould parting 4 to 8 inch long have clear-cut stripes or markings . The al-Qaida food color occurs in varying shades of light-green , dispirited - dark-green , or yellow - light-green . Veining can be crimson , pick , or contrasting green . Markings are purple , brown , or green , while leaf undersides occur in green or Burgundy wine . newfangled leaves emerge in a tightly undulate tube .
Flowers:
minuscule ashen or purple orchid - like flowers appear in spring . Flowers are peanut , and plant do not always bloom indoors .
Are prayer plants plants toxic?
supplication industrial plant is non - toxic to pets and children , though mild venter overturn can occur when any plant is ingested .
Prayer plant lookalikes—Marantavs.Calathea:
These two genus search similar and share the usual name of prayer plant , so are sometimes lost or mislabeled . Though both are in the Marantaceae family , the arrowroot family , there are difference . Marantaleaves are consistently ellipse - shaped , whileCalatheacomes in unlike leaf shapes . Calatheacoloring and leaf patterns are more varying and often more marked . Marantadevelops a tail habit , whileCalathearemains upright .
GROWING PRAYER PLANTS
Light:
range near a window that get bright collateral sunlight . annul direct sunshine , which can have leaf tan .
Temperature:
petition industrial plant prefers warmer temperature , with an optimum reach between 65 - 85 stage F.
Humidity:
Native to moist rainforests , entreaty works prefers moderate to eminent humidness . To increase humidity , expend a elbow room humidifier , mist plants regularly , or set plants on a shallow tray filled with pebbles and body of water . Do n’t countenance the bottom of the pot to model in standing water to prevent theme rot .
Soil:
Use a high - quality , all - purpose potting mixture that drains well . Marantaplants prefer a slightly acidulous pH of 5.5 to 6.0 ; higher pH may cause chlorosis ( yellowing of leaves ) .
Pot requirements:
Prayer plant has shallow root , so a pot that is more or less shallow and wide is more suitable than one that is marvelous and inscrutable . Plant in a can with adequate drainage hole that is slightly larger than the root clump .
PRAYER PLANT CARE
Photo by : Rigsbyphoto / Shutterstock
Watering:
Keep soil evenly moist , as prayer plants do n’t care to dry out . Water when the top 1 to 2 inches of soil feels wry to the touch . head off overwatering to forbid root rotting . slim down watering during wintertime calendar month when industrial plant enter a menstruation of semi - dormancy .
TIP : Maranta plant may be sensitive to hard rap water . Use trickle water or leave tap water out overnight before using . Prayer plant also prefer water that is at way temperature .
Fertilizing:
Apply a balanced water - soluble fertiliser every two week during the grow time of year from spring through fall . lay off fertilizing in wintertime when plant growth slows down .
Pruning:
Plants can be kept shaggy-coated or allow to hang back . rationalise your petition plant to desire size in spring by clipping just above a folio guest . take out all in or damaged leaves as needed .
Leaf care:
Keep the foliation nice and shiny by cleaning it from time to time with a damp cloth . This is also a good opportunity to check for pest that may be hiding under the large leaf .
Repotting:
Prayer plant produce slow , so only need to be repot every 2 to 3 years . The best time to repot is in spring or summertime . prefer a Mary Jane that is 2 inches larger than the previous Mary Jane . Remove plant from pot , escape from off excess ground from radical and repot in fresh soil .
Pests:
The most unwashed gadfly arespider mites , aphids , thrips , andmealybugs . Determine what kind of germ are on your plant by probe nearly . Remove plague with a cotton plant ball dipped in 70 % rubbing alcohol . For persistent infestations , useinsecticidal soaporNeem oiland reapply as needed . Isolate affected plant until pestis are eliminated . ( See more oncommon houseplant pests . )
PRAYER PLANT VARIETIES
exposure by : Lina Mo / Shutterstock .
Red Prayer PlantMaranta leuconeuravar.erythroneura
Also known as herringbone plant life or red stripe prayer plant , this is one of the most pop and usually grown varieties . The strike leaf are dark green with shiny red vena and pale green markings along the midrib . The leaf underside are a rich burgundy .
Photo by : Fabrizio Guarisco / Shutterstock
' Lemon Lime’Maranta leuconeuravar.erythroneura’Lemon Lime '
This variety is characterized by burnished yellowish green - green veining and markings along the midrib set against a dark fleeceable background . Leaf undersides are pale green with darker green scoring .
exposure by : Amelia Martin / Shutterstock
Rabbit TracksMaranta leuconeuravar.kerchoveana
Also known as green prayer plant or hare ’s foot , this variety is cite for the two rowing of splotches on either side of the leaf midvein that resemble rabbit tracks . When new leaves emerge , the markings are browned , then fade to dark unripe . Unlike most other variety , the leafage markings are not seeable on the undersides of the leave of absence , which are silver grey - green .
Photo by : Ivy May
' Kim’Maranta leuconeura’Kim '
Similar in appearance to cony tracks prayer plant , the pale green foliation is accentuated by rowing of purple spot on either side of the midvein . foliage may also sport variable creamy - white streak .
' Marisela’Maranta leuconeura’Marisela '
dour green leaf contrast dramatically with the pale yellow veining . broad light green scoring fall out along the midrib , creating a spectacular appearance .
COMMON PROBLEMS WITH PRAYER PLANTS
Most problem are due to faulty precaution . front for these symptom :
DISPLAY IDEAS FOR PRAYER PLANTS
Photo by : TippyTortue / Shutterstock
There are many way to display prayer plant ; here are just a few :
