How to Grow Prayer Plants

Prayer plants (Maranta leucoreura) have oval-shaped leaves with various markings: some have darker green splotches on them, while others have red veins. The plant gets its name because at night the leaves close together along the central line, looking like a pair of hands coming together in prayer. Prayer plants are easy to grow, if they're given the proper care.

Instructions

1. Grow the plant indoors, unless your local climate is mild year-round. The prayer plant needs to be in a north- or south-facing window. If you must place the plant in an eastern- or western-facing window, make sure the sunlight is diffused or filtered through sheer curtains or blinds.

2. Keep the prayer plant's soil moist but not wet during the growing seasons of summer through autumn. In most homes, this means watering the prayer plant every three to five days.

3. Maintain an indoor temperature of 60 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit.

4. Allow the prayer plant's soil to become dryer during its resting phase during the winter. During this time, the plant only needs to be watered once every two weeks or so. However, since the prayer plant's leaves require moisture--even during the resting phase--place a bowl of water within two feet of the prayer plant, or mist the plant daily with room temperature water.

Resources

• How To Care For Any Type Of House Plant. Answers To 1001 Questions.