Why Does a Prayer Plant Fold Its Leaves at Night, and How Do You Care for One?

A prayer plant folds its leaves upward at night because of a small, thickened joint at the base of each leaf, called the pulvinus, that changes the leaf's angle between day and night. North Carolina State Extension describes the leaves as held parallel to the ground by day and moved to an upright "prayer" position at night. Care is simple to state: bright, indirect light, evenly moist soil and high humidity.

Brown leaf tips on a prayer plant do not always mean it needs more water. North Carolina State Extension notes that prayer plant leaves will burn with high fluoride levels and with over-fertilization, which means the cause can be what is in the watering can. The same source says to hold back on water in winter and let the soil dry out more than in the growing season. This post explains the leaf movement, then covers light, water, humidity, the causes of brown tips and faded color, and why prayer plants make a good gift for homes with pets.

What is a prayer plant? 

A prayer plant is Maranta leuconeura, a low-growing evergreen from the tropics of the Americas that is grown indoors for its patterned leaves. It belongs to the arrowroot family, Marantaceae. Other common names include herringbone plant and rabbit tracks, both of which describe the leaf markings. 

The leaves are the reason to own one. North Carolina State Extension describes oval leaves with a pale central band, dark blotches on either side of the midrib, and in some varieties bright red veins in a fishbone pattern. The undersides are gray-green to purple.

A few named varieties turn up in plant shops:

• 'Fascinator Tricolor', with dark green leaves, red veins and a yellow center
• 'Lemon Lime', dark green with yellow-green striping
• 'Silver Band', with a broad silvery patch down the middle of the leaf 

The plant spreads horizontally, and North Carolina State Extension notes that it is commonly used in hanging baskets. 

Why do the leaves fold at night?

The movement is built into the leaf. Britannica explains that the prayer plant's leaves rise toward evening, and attributes the motion to the pulvinus, a thickened area between the leaf stalk and the base of the leaf blade. The plant's common name comes from the way the raised leaves resemble hands held in prayer. 

In a living room, the cycle is easy to watch. In the afternoon, the leaves lie flat and show their upper surfaces. After dark, they stand upright and show their undersides. By morning they are flat again. 

Two other habits are normal and are sometimes mistaken for trouble: 

• New leaves appear as a rolled tube before they open.
• The plant blooms under ideal conditions, and North Carolina State Extension describes the flowers as small and insignificant.

How much light does a prayer plant need?

Bright, indirect light is the goal. North Carolina State Extension is specific about both extremes. 

Too much sun bleaches the leaf colors, and the plant is intolerant of direct sunlight. A spot near a bright window, out of the path of direct rays, suits it.

It tolerates low to medium light. There is a cost, though. The same source notes that the upper and undersides of the leaves lose color in low light and low fertility. A prayer plant that has gone dull may need a brighter position.

How do you water a prayer plant?

By season. North Carolina State Extension's guidance: 

• Growing season: keep the potting soil evenly moist.
• Winter: hold back, and allow the soil to dry out.

Evenly moist is different from wet. The extension notes that root rot may occur in poorly drained soil, so the pot needs drainage holes and the saucer should be emptied after watering.

The winter change is the part that is easy to miss. A plant watered on the same weekly schedule all year is being kept too wet for several months.

How do you give a prayer plant enough humidity?

North Carolina State Extension says the plant requires high humidity and is intolerant of low humidity. It offers two ways to provide it: 

• Keep the plant in a humidified room.
• Stand the pot on a tray of wet pebbles.

Placement helps too. The same source warns that prayer plants are intolerant of low temperatures and cold drafts, so keep them away from exterior doors and from windows that leak cold air in a Pittsburgh winter.

Why are the leaf tips brown or the colors fading?

Work through the causes North Carolina State Extension lists, in this order.

Water quality. Leaves burn with high fluoride. If the tips brown while the soil moisture and humidity are right, the water is a suspect 

Fertilizer. Over-fertilization burns the leaves as well. If the plant has been fed heavily, cut back.

Humidity. Low humidity is something the plant does not tolerate. A humidified room or a tray of wet pebbles under the pot addresses it.

Light. Bleached, washed-out leaves point to too much sun. Leaves that have lost color on both sides point to too little light or low fertility.

Pests. The extension notes no serious pest problems, with occasional spider mites and mealybugs.

Drainage. Root rot may occur in poorly drained soil. Check that the pot drains freely and that the saucer is not holding water.

Remove damaged leaves once the cause is corrected. New growth is the measure of whether the fix worked. 

Is a prayer plant safe for pets, and does it make a good gift?

Yes on both counts. The prayer plant appears in the non-toxic section of the ASPCA's plant list for cats, which sets it apart from houseplants such as golden pothos, Swiss cheese plant (Monstera deliciosa) and peace lily, all of which are on the ASPCA's toxic list for cats. The ASPCA notes that eating any plant material may cause vomiting and stomach upset, so a plant on the non-toxic list is still better kept from a pet that chews.

The name and the nightly motion give it meaning as a gift. Roots to Petals in Oakmont offers a potted prayer plant as a sympathy plant, delivered in a modern white pot with a saucer, and describes it as a peaceful and lasting tribute long after the services are over.

It also suits anyone who wants a plant with some personality on a desk or shelf, away from direct sun.

FAQ

Is it normal for a prayer plant's leaves to move?

Yes. The leaves lie flat during the day and rise to an upright position at night.

Can a prayer plant live in low light?

It tolerates low to medium light, according to North Carolina State Extension, though the leaves lose color in low light. Bright, indirect light keeps the pattern strong.

How often should you water a prayer plant?

Often enough to keep the soil evenly moist in the growing season, and less in winter, when the soil should be allowed to dry out. 

Are prayer plants toxic to cats?

No. The ASPCA lists the prayer plant as non-toxic to cats.

Do prayer plants flower?

Under ideal conditions, according to North Carolina State Extension. The flowers are small, and the plant is grown for its patterned leaves.

How do you propagate a prayer plant?

By division. North Carolina State Extension notes that the plant spreads horizontally and is propagated by dividing its rhizomes. 

Are prayer plants and calatheas related? 

Yes. The ASPCA's plant list places both Maranta and Calathea in the family Marantaceae, and both appear in its non-toxic section for cats. 

Prayer Plants and Houseplants at Roots to Petals in Oakmont

Roots to Petals is an independent, woman-owned florist and plant studio at 527 Allegheny Avenue in Oakmont. The Plant Studio stocks hundreds of houseplants, from small ferns to large floor plants, and the shop's horticulturists help customers choose plants for their lighting and lifestyle. The plant collection can be ordered for delivery. For more, see the shop's guides to the best house plants for Pittsburgh homes and apartments, to choosing houseplants at a plant store, and to the best sympathy flowers and plants to send.

Visit Roots to Petals or call 412-822-6023 today. Contact us for more information.