Learn about how to grow prayer plant successfully indoors. Everything you need to know to have healthy prayer plants as houseplants. What kind of lighting prayer plant needs indoors and how often to water and feed prayer plant.
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Hello and welcome to HealthyHouseplants.com, where we teach you all about gardening in the great indoors. Today’s video is sponsored by our Amazon affiliate link, which you’ll see in the description below. You’ll also see in the description below any links to videos I mentioned in this video.
Okay, so today I’m going to talk to you about one of my favorite plants. I really like plants that perform for you, so the prayer plant, botanically known as Maranta lucanuria, is one of those. What happens with this plant is that it will fold up its leaves at night in a prayer position. Once dusk starts to settle in, it will do that for you, which is very cool.
Besides the fact that it’s really eye-catching, you can see with this plant that it has beautiful foliage, a unique shape, and stunning variegation. There are different variations and varieties of the plant, so it can be very stunning. They do get somewhat bigger as well, so I’m going to talk to you today about their care so that they perform well for you, in terms of praying for you at night but also just lighting up your indoors. They can become a real stunning focal point for you.
You may even be able to see them close up their leaves in the prayer position if you wait near dusk. It’s a fun thing to see, and of course, you could always tape them or do a time lapse. However, it’s more fun to see it happen in real-time. You may even hear a rustling sound near the plant at that time of day, which sounds like something brushing past the leaves, but it’s actually the leaves themselves closing up.
This plant is native to Brazil and, as mentioned, has beautiful foliage with various patterns, including some that look like paintbrush drips on top of the leaves. Others may have more defined patterns with circular designs in different colors and tones. They can grow to 12 to 15 inches tall in their native habitat, and if you take really good care of them, you can get them to about that size indoors as well, although they may only reach about half that size in your home.
So, how to keep them happy and healthy? You want to provide bright, indirect light. They will tolerate some low-light conditions, but they really do best with bright, indirect light. If your home is dim, supplement with full-spectrum lighting. Without enough light, the leaves won’t be as vibrant, the plant won’t grow as well, and it might not perform its nighttime ritual as well. You want to keep it away from direct sunlight because that can cause the leaves to look washed out and may lead to sunburn.
I got this plant not too long ago, and there is a little bit of sunburn on the tip of one leaf, which indicates it may have been in direct sunlight. You want to ensure you provide bright, indirect light. They can tolerate being in an eastern window because the morning sun is gentler and not as harsh. You could also place it a few feet away from a southern window, where it would get more light. They love full-spectrum lighting, so there are many options to keep your prayer plant happy with lighting.
When it comes to watering, you want to keep the plant a little bit on the moist side, but never soggy. You don’t want to water it every day like some plants, but you also don’t want it to dry out completely. On a moisture meter, aim for the 4-5 range, avoiding the red zone (1-3) and not allowing it to get to 6-9. Use warm or room temperature water; never cold water, as the roots are susceptible to cold, which can lead to root rot and dieback.
You should feed these plants regularly with a well-balanced organic fertilizer designed for foliage plants. I have a green gourmet house plant food fertilizer, which is a good choice for prayer plants. However, refrain from fertilizing in the winter months, as they need some rest. Fertilize from March through September or October if you forgot in September, then stop until March again.
Regarding humidity, prayer plants come from humid climates and enjoy humidity. If you live in a dry climate or frequently use heating or air conditioning, you’ll need to humidify the air around the plant. You can place them on a humidity tray, and grouping plants together will also help increase humidity, as they transpire and release moisture into the air.
You can mist the plants, but it’s a short-term solution for humidity. If your prayer plant is near your bed or in your office, misting can be a fun way to increase humidity throughout the day.
Watch out for pests and diseases. Prayer plants occasionally get mealybugs, which are white, cottony pests. Treat them with isopropyl alcohol, then rinse with water. Spider mites may also appear if conditions are too dry.
That’s all you need to know to have healthy, happy prayer plants in your indoor garden. Thank you for stopping by today! Please leave any comments about any indoor gardening tutorials you’d like to see. Remember to like, subscribe, and share this video, and please check the bell if you’d like to be notified when we upload new videos.
Prayer Plant Care FAQ
What is a prayer plant and how does it behave?
The prayer plant, botanically known as Maranta lucanuria, is known for folding up its leaves at night in a prayer position, creating a unique and beautiful display.
What are the lighting requirements for a prayer plant?
Prayer plants thrive in bright, indirect light. They can tolerate low light but will grow best with adequate light. Avoid direct sunlight, as it can cause the leaves to burn.
How should I water my prayer plant?
Keep the prayer plant slightly moist but never soggy. Use a moisture meter to maintain levels in the 4-5 range, avoiding complete dryness or excessive wetness.
What kind of fertilizer should I use?
Feed your prayer plant regularly with a well-balanced organic fertilizer designed for foliage plants, but refrain from fertilizing during winter months.
How can I maintain humidity for my prayer plant?
Prayer plants enjoy humidity, so if your environment is dry, consider using a humidity tray or grouping plants together to increase moisture in the air. Misting is also an option but should be done regularly for best results.
What pests should I watch out for?
Prayer plants can occasionally be affected by mealybugs and spider mites. Treat mealybugs with isopropyl alcohol and rinse with water. Spider mites thrive in dry conditions, so maintaining humidity can help prevent them.
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