How to care for Prayer Plant
Maranta leuconeura · Marantaceae
The original prayer plant, folding its beautifully patterned leaves upward each evening like hands in prayer. Varieties range from the red-veined erythroneura to the blotched kerchoveana. It is the most forgiving of the prayer plant family and trails nicely from a shelf or hanging pot. Water roughly every 5 days while it's growing (about every 9 in winter), give it a bright room away from the window, kept above 59°F (15°C) — average room humidity suits it.
Care at a glance
Water when the top centimeter dries, ideally with filtered or rainwater, keeping the mix lightly moist.
Medium to bright indirect light; strong sun fades the vein colors and scorches leaves.
Half-strength balanced fertilizer every 2–3 weeks during active growth.
Mistakes that kill this plant
- Soggy soil in a cold room over winter.
- Direct summer sun through glass.
- Bone-dry air paired with missed waterings.
Seasonal tips
- Trim leggy stems in spring — cuttings root easily in water and thicken the parent.
- Slow watering in winter and hold fertilizer entirely.
- If nightly leaf folding stops, check for stress: light too strong, or soil too dry.
Is it safe for pets?
We couldn’t place Prayer Plant on a toxic or a non-toxic list, so its toxicity is unconfirmed — which is not the same as safe.
Full pet-safety details for cats & dogsCare for your Prayer Plant on autopilot
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Toxicity here is informational, not a safety guarantee. Those are our own records, compiled by following the ASPCA's published toxic and non-toxic plant lists and Pet Poison Helpline's plant poison list rather than copied from them — confirm anything that matters against those lists or with your vet. If your pet ingested this plant, contact your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.