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Prayer Plant (Maranta)

Plant care guide

How to care for Prayer Plant (Maranta)

Maranta leuconeura (including 'Erythroneura', 'Lemon Lime', 'Kerchoveana', 'Beauty Kim' and 'Silver Band')

Care level: ModerateNon-toxic to cats & dogs

Prayer plants are famous for folding their patterned leaves upward each evening, like hands in prayer, and lowering them again in the morning. Each variety brings its own markings, from the red veins of the classic red prayer plant to the bright neon stripes of Lemon Lime.

Also known as: Prayer Plant, Maranta, Maranta leuconeura, Lemon Lime Prayer Plant, Lemon Lime Maranta, Red Prayer Plant, Red-Veined Prayer Plant, Herringbone Plant, Beauty Kim Prayer Plant, Silver Band Prayer Plant, Rabbit's Foot Plant

Just arrived? Your first week at home

  1. Unbox it right away and gently untangle the trailing stems.
  2. Place it in medium to bright indirect light, away from direct sun, heat vents and cold drafts.
  3. Check the soil: water with room-temperature filtered water if the top inch is dry; if it's moist, wait.
  4. Curled leaves or a yellow leaf or two are normal after shipping; snip off fully yellow leaves.
  5. Don't repot for about 2 weeks.
  6. Give it a humidity boost by grouping it with other plants or setting a humidifier nearby.

Every plant is covered by our 30-day plant health guarantee. If your plant arrived damaged or isn't doing well, email a few photos to support@rootandreachbotanicals.com and we'll help you troubleshoot or make it right.

Light

Medium to bright indirect light is ideal, like a few feet from an east or north window or set back from a sunny window. Direct sun fades and burns the leaves. Low light makes stems stretch and leaves lose their color, so avoid dark corners.

Water

Keep the soil lightly moist, watering when the top inch is dry, usually about once a week. Filtered or distilled water helps prevent brown tips. Curling or crispy leaves mean it's too dry; yellow leaves and mushy stems at the soil line mean it's too wet.

Humidity

Prayer plants like 50 percent humidity or higher. A humidifier, pebble tray or group of plants helps, especially in winter when indoor air is dry.

Temperature

Keep it between 65 and 80 degrees F. Avoid cold drafts, cold windows and blowing heat or AC; it is unhappy below about 60 degrees F.

Soil & repotting

Use a light, well-draining mix that holds some moisture, such as indoor potting soil with perlite and coco coir. Prayer plants have shallow roots, so a wide, shallow pot with drainage works well. Repot in spring every 1 to 2 years.

Feeding

Feed every 2 to 4 weeks in spring and summer with a balanced liquid fertilizer at half strength. Skip feeding in fall and winter.

Troubleshooting common problems

  • Brown crispy leaf tipsdry air or tap-water minerals. Use filtered water and add humidity.
  • Curling leavesthirst or low humidity. Water when the top inch is dry and add humidity.
  • Yellow leavesoverwatering or soggy soil. Let it dry a bit between waterings.
  • Leggy, sparse growthnot enough light or overdue for a trim. Move it brighter and pinch back long stems.
  • Faded leavestoo much direct sun. Move to filtered light.
  • Spider mitesspeckled leaves and webbing. Rinse and treat with insecticidal soap.

Tips to help it thrive

  • Prayer plants root easily: cut a stem just below a node, root it in water, then pot it up once roots are an inch long.
  • Pinch back long stems to keep it bushy, or let it trail from a hanging basket or shelf.
  • Leaves that move up and down each day are a sign your plant is healthy and settled in.

Pet safety

Prayer Plant (Maranta) is listed as non-toxic to cats and dogs by the ASPCA. As with any houseplant, it's still best to discourage pets from chewing the leaves, which can cause a mild upset stomach.

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