Revive your Red Prayer Plant by mastering these essential care tips for a lush, vibrant home oasis. ✨
The prayer plant, known botanically as Maranta leuconeura, is a gorgeous houseplant prized for its beautiful foliage. The leaves have striking designs and colors, often in shades of green, red, brown and cream. They perform a fascinating daily dance, folding upwards at night as if in prayer.
But despite their beauty, prayer plants can be tricky to care for. Their tropical origins mean they require very specific growing conditions. If these aren’t met, you’ll quickly notice something is wrong with your prayer plant.
Here are 5 of the most common prayer plant problems, why they happen, and how to fix them:
1. Drooping or Wilting Leaves
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. If the soil dries out too much between waterings, the leaves lose turgor pressure and start to wilt. Check the soil moisture before watering. The top inch should never be fully dry. Water when just slightly moist.
Overwatering
Too much water prevents the roots from getting air. It can lead to root rot and wilting. Allow the soil to partially dry out between waterings. Water only when the top inch is slightly dry. Improve drainage by adding perlite to the soil mix.
Low Humidity
Prayer plants naturally grow in tropical forests with high humidity In dry indoor air, their leaves lose moisture and wilt Keep humidity around 60% or higher. Group plants together, use a humidifier, or place on a pebble tray.
Cold Temperature
If cold air blows on the leaves, it can cause moisture loss and wilting. Keep prayer plants at 60-80°F. Avoid cold drafts from windows and vents. Move plants away from air conditioning in summer.
2. Brown Leaf Tips
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
Tap water contains salts, chlorine, and fluoride that can build up and burn the tender leaf tips. Use filtered or distilled water for watering.
Sunburn
Too much direct sun can scorch the leaves. Prayer plants need bright, indirect light. Filter sunlight with a sheer curtain. Avoid placing in very sunny spots.
3. Yellowing Leaves
If the leaves turn yellow, there are several possible causes:
Overwatering
Excess moisture damages roots and prevents nutrient absorption. Repot in fresh dry soil. Allow more time to dry out between waterings.
Underwatering
Lack of water causes leaves to yellow and dry. Check soil moisture routinely and water before it dries out.
Low Humidity
Dry air causes yellowing along the margins and tips first. Increase humidity as previously advised.
Nutrient Deficiency
Lack of nutrients like nitrogen, iron, and magnesium show as overall yellowing. Fertilize monthly in spring and summer with a balanced liquid fertilizer.
Root Rot
Rotting roots can’t take up water and nutrients. Yellow leaves may also wilt or drop. Repot in dry soil and discard rotted roots.
Cold Damage
If exposed to cold drafts, leaves turn yellow. Keep above 60°F and avoid cold windows or AC vents blowing on the plant.
4. Leaves Stuck in Closed Prayer Position
The unique folding leaf action of prayer plants is caused by tiny movements in their stem joints. At night or in darkness, the leaves fold up vertically as if praying. During the day, they flatten out to absorb light.
If the leaves get stuck closed and don’t reopen horizontally during the day, a couple factors may be responsible:
Insufficient Light
Without enough light exposure, the leaves remain folded up. Provide 12-14 hours of bright, indirect light daily. Rotate the plant periodically for even light distribution.
Cold Temperature
Chilly air prevents the leaves from opening out. Keep surroundings consistently warm around 70°F. Avoid cold drafts from windows, vents, or A/C.
Pests or Diseases
Insects, mites, or infections interfere with the plant’s movements. Check closely for signs of pests. Isolate and treat any infections. Improve growing conditions.
Older Leaves
The lowest leaves naturally lose function over time. Remove any that are permanently closed to promote new healthy growth. Focus care on the newer upper leaves.
5. Leaf Spots
Finding spots, dots, or other marks on the foliage is never good. This usually signals pests, disease, or cultural issues:
Bacterial/Fungal Leaf Spot
Angular yellow spots that eventually turn brown indicate a leaf spot disease. Isolate and discard infected plants. Improve air circulation and water only at the base.
Root Rot
With root rot, yellowing inner leaves collapse and brown spots appear. Repot in fresh soil after removing rotten roots. Allow soil to partly dry before rewatering.
Mineral Buildup
White crusty deposits on leaves come from mineral accumulation in tap water. Use distilled or rainwater. Gently wipe leaves with damp cloth to remove deposits.
Pests
Insects like spider mites leave stippling damage on leaves. Treat with horticultural oil or insecticidal soap. Remove badly damaged leaves. Keep plants isolated until pests are gone.
Sunburn
Direct hot sun burns spots into the leaves. Filter sunlight and keep in moderately bright location, avoiding intense afternoon sun.
Cold Damage
Dark brown or black spots come from exposure to very cold air. Avoid drafts and keep above 60°F. Move plants away from A/C vents and cold windows.
Key Takeaways
-
Monitor prayer plants closely and act quickly if leaves show signs of drooping, spotting, or other damage.
-
Water thoroughly but allow the top inch of soil to dry slightly before watering again.
-
Provide indoor conditions similar to a tropical rainforest with warm temperatures around 70°F and humidity around 60% or higher.
-
Filter direct sunlight with a sheer curtain and keep prayer plants in bright, indirect light. Rotate periodically.
-
Use filtered or distilled water if possible and fertilize monthly in the growing season.
With the right care, troubleshooting, and adjustments, your prayer plant can thrive indoors and show off its fabulous foliage! Pay close attention for any signs of distress and address issues promptly. With a little extra care, you’ll be rewarded with a gorgeous, happy prayer plant.
Recognizing the Culprits
Spider mites and mealybugs are like the party crashers of the plant world, often sneaking in unnoticed. They suck the life out of your plant, leaving behind telltale signs like webbing and a sticky residue. Fungus gnats may also buzz around if the soil is too damp.
Combatting Pests and Diseases
Identifying common pests and diseases is crucial for the health of your Red Prayer Plant. Lets dive into the gritty details.
How to Save and Revive a Dying Houseplant: Saving My Prayer Plant from the Brink of Death!
FAQ
What does an unhealthy prayer plant look like?
What does an overwatered prayer plant look like?
How do you fix a sick prayer plant?
What’s killing my prayer plant?
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).
Why is my prayer plant turning yellow?
Dry, brown leaf tips on Prayer plant. If you notice your prayer plant’s leaves turning yellow, it could be a sign of overwatering or inadequate drainage. Check the soil moisture and adjust your watering frequency. Ensure your plant’s pot has drainage holes to prevent waterlogging, which can lead to root rot and yellowing leaves.
Do prayer plants rot?
A prayer plant can brighten up any room. Sadly, this plant is pretty sensitive and requires plenty of attention. While Marantas love moist soil, their delicate leaves are also prone to root rot in cases of overwatering. Additionally, unsuitable humidity or sunlight might kill your prayer plant.
Do prayer plants attract pests?
Like many indoor plants, prayer plants can attract pests such as spider mites, aphids, and mealybugs. Regularly inspect your plant for signs of infestation, such as webbing, sticky residue, or tiny insects on leaves. If you detect pests, read up on common houseplant pests and find out what you can do to get rid of them.
What happens if prayer plants run out of water?
When your prayer plants run out of water, they’ll likely become prone to sunburn. A mistake most people make is letting the soil become too dry before watering them. Unfortunately, prayer plants detest dry conditions. If there isn’t enough water for the plant, it’ll significantly affect their overall health.