If you’re the proud owner of a Prayer Plant (Maranta Leuconeura), then you already know this beauty has a lot to offer and is one of the most gorgeous houseplants you can own. With its beautiful, brightly patterned leaves and fascinating habit of folding them up at night (like hands in prayer, hence the name!), it’s no wonder this plant is a favourite among indoor gardeners. But even the best indoor house plants can be divas, and the Prayer Plant has its demands. Whether youre a new plant parent or a seasoned green thumb, youve probably run into a few hiccups with this tropical stunner. Fear not! We’re here to troubleshoot some common Prayer Plant problems and get your leafy friend looking like one of the best house plants around!
What’s Wrong with My Prayer Plant? Troubleshooting Common Issues
The prayer plant is an absolutely gorgeous houseplant, loved for its stunning patterned leaves that curiously fold up at night as if in prayer. However, despite their beauty, prayer plants can be finicky. If their needs aren’t properly met, you’ll quickly notice something is wrong.
In this article, we’ll dive into the most common prayer plant problems, why they happen, and how to fix them. Let’s troubleshoot what could be ailing your prayer plant so you can get it back to good health.
What is a Prayer Plant?
The prayer plant is a low-growing plant that originated in the tropical rainforests of Brazil. There are a few varieties, but the most popular is the Maranta leuconeura also known as the red prayer plant. It has broad green leaves with striking red brown, cream or white veins that make each leaf look like a work of art.
The “prayer” name comes from the plant’s unique nyctinasty movement. At night, the leaves fold vertically upwards, resembling hands clasped in prayer. During the day, they open back up to receive light.
Being a tropical plant native to steamy jungles, the prayer plant thrives in warm, humid environments indoors. It prefers temperatures between 60-80°F and indirect sunlight filtered through sheer curtains. High humidity is also a must, ideally 60% and above.
Without proper care, prayer plants are prone to several issues. Let’s go through the most common problems and how to fix them.
5 Common Prayer Plant Problems and Solutions
- Drooping or Wilting Leaves
The most obvious sign something is wrong with your prayer plant is when the leaves start drooping, curling, or wilting. Healthy prayer plant leaves should be perky and lie flat. Wilting indicates the plant is stressed and needs help. There are a few potential causes:
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Underwatering – Check the soil moisture before watering. If dry, give the plant a good soak until it runs from the drainage holes below. Prayer plants like evenly moist soil.
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Overwatering – Too much water can lead to root rot and wilting. Allow the soil to partially dry out between waterings. Improve drainage by adding perlite to the potting mix.
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Low humidity – Mist the plant daily or use a pebble tray to provide a humid microclimate around it. Keep indoor humidity above 50%.
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Cold drafts – Ensure the plant stays above 60°F. Move away from drafty windows or vents.
- Brown Leaf Tips
If you notice the tips of the prayer plant leaves turning brown, a couple things could be wrong:
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Dry air – Low humidity causes the tips to dry out. Boost humidity levels through misting, pebble trays, or a humidifier.
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Chemicals in water – Tap water contains salts, fluoride, and chlorine that can burn the tender leaf tips. Use distilled or filtered water.
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Sunburn – Direct sun scorches the leaves. Keep the prayer plant in bright, indirect light filtered by curtains.
- Yellowing Leaves
Yellow leaves point to additional issues, including:
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Overwatering – Too much moisture damages roots and prevents nutrient absorption. Allow more time between waterings for soil to partly dry out.
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Underwatering – Lack of water causes leaves to yellow and shrivel. Check soil frequently and water when slightly dry.
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Low humidity – Dry air causes yellowing along leaf edges and tips first. Increase humidity around the plant.
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Nutrient deficiency – Fertilize monthly in spring and summer using a balanced liquid fertilizer. Iron deficiency shows as yellowing between veins.
- Leaves Stuck in Closed Prayer Position
The folding leaf motion depends on tiny movements in the stem joints. Normally, leaves open horizontal during the day. But if they remain vertically folded up, possible causes include:
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Insufficient light – Rotate the plant so all sides get evenly lit. Provide 12-14 hours of bright, indirect light daily.
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Cold temperature – Keep the plant around 70°F. Avoid cold drafts.
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Pests or diseases – Inspect closely and treat any issues. Improve growing conditions.
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Older leaves – Remove permanently closed leaves to promote new healthy growth. Focus care on newer upper leaves.
- Leaf Spots
Small dots, spots, or blotches on the leaves could be caused by:
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Leaf spot disease – Quarantine and discard infected plants. Improve air circulation. Avoid wetting foliage.
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Root rot – Repot in fresh, dry soil. Allow more time between waterings for soil to partially dry.
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Mineral deposits – Gently wipe leaves with damp cloth and use distilled water for watering.
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Sunburn – Filter direct sun with sheer curtains. Avoid hot afternoon sun.
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Pests like spider mites – Treat with insecticidal soap spray or neem oil. Isolate plant until infestation clears.
Key Takeaways
Keep a close eye on your prayer plant and act quickly at the first signs of leaf distress. Make adjustments to watering, humidity, light, and temperature to ensure optimal growing conditions. With attentive care, your prayer plant can thrive and show off its fabulous foliage!
Curling Leaves are an SOS Call
When your Prayer Plant’s leaves start curling inwards, it’s like they’re sending an SOS.
The Culprit: This usually happens because the plant is too cold, too dry, or both. Remember, Prayer Plants are tropical divas, they like it warm and humid!
Solution: Start by checking the temperature. Your Prayer Plant prefers temps between 18-24°C. If it’s too cold, consider moving it to a warmer spot. Also, crank up the humidity. You can do this by misting, using a humidity tray, or adding other tropical large indoor plants, like a Kentia Palm or Swiss Cheese plant, which can help create a humid microclimate for all your leafy companions.
Droopy Leaves = Sad Prayer Plant
Have you ever walked into the room only to find your Prayer Plant looking like its in the middle of a meltdown? Droopy leaves are the plant’s way of telling you something is off.
The Culprit: Watering woes! Underwatering is usually the main cause, but overwatering can also be guilty. Imagine the Prayer Plant is Goldilocks: it wants its water just right – not too much, not too little.
The Solution: Check the soil. If it feels dry, your plant is thirsty; give your houseplant a good drink, making sure to let excess water drain out. On the flip side, if the soil feels soggy, it’s time to let it dry out a bit. Moving forward, water when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch. Always use a pot with drainage holes to prevent root rot.
How to Save and Revive a Dying Houseplant: Saving My Prayer Plant from the Brink of Death!
FAQ
How do you fix a sick Prayer Plant?
Maintain sufficient humidity around the plant by misting its leaves or turning on a humidifier nearby. Don’t forget your prayer plant’s exposure to sunlight; it shouldn’t be under direct light for prolonged periods. Lastly, check for pests and trim any brown, damaged leaves to promote new healthy growth.
What does an overwatered Prayer Plant look like?
An overwatered prayer plant will exhibit several noticeable signs, including yellowing leaves, mushy stems, and potential root rot. The leaves may also develop brown patches, particularly at the tips, and show signs of wilting or drooping.
How can you revive a Prayer Plant?
When you’re done, put the plant in a jar filled with distilled water; the water level should be as high as the highest roots. Do not keep the stem under water. In few hours, the leaves should open up again and the plant will hopefully be happy and start moving again. Once in a week, change the water to re-oxygenate.
How to tell if a Prayer Plant is dying?
Luckily, the Prayer plant will let you know when they’re thirsty, as their soil will dry up and their leaves will look wilted and sad. Try to reach them before they get to this point though, because they can be known to die from drought .
Do prayer plants wilt?
Prayer Plants are undeniably gorgeous, with their unusual colors and patterns on broad oval leaves. But they are undoubtedly prone to issues that show up in their foliage. That can mean discolored leaves, wilting, or spots. Since a Prayer Plant has delicate leaves, those problems can appear even more severe than they might be in more hearty plants.
What happens if a prayer plant has a problem?
When a Prayer Plant has some kind of problem, it will almost present itself one way or another in the leaves. In the most simple terms, the changes could be to the leaf color (pale, yellow, or brown leaves), texture (too dry or soggy), or behavior (wilting, curling, not moving).
How do you know if a prayer plant is bad?
Drooping, curling, or wilting leaves are often the first sign of trouble with prayer plants Healthy prayer plant leaves should be flat and firm. If they start to sag or wilt, a few things could be wrong Underwatering Prayer plants need consistently moist soil.
Why are my prayer plants turning brown?
Seeing the tips of the leaves turn brown is another common prayer plant problem. The brown areas start at the edges and gradually spread inward. Low Humidity Dry air causes the leaf tips to dehydrate and die back. Boost humidity levels as previously described. Mist the leaves daily for immediate relief. Chemicals in Water
Why are my prayer plants rotting?
One of the most frequent issues encountered with prayer plants is overwatering. The roots of prayer plants are sensitive to excess moisture, which can lead to root rot and a host of other problems. 2. Inadequate Drainage
Why do prayer plants have yellow leaves?
Yellowing leaves on Prayer Plants are unfortunately common and also difficult to diagnose. Several causes can result in yellowing leaves. First, yellow leaves may be due to the plant’s natural cycle of shedding some old leaves to direct resources toward new growth.