6 Best Prayer Plants

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The best prayer plants are adored by many around the world because of how they lift their leaves up.

As a result, many consider them to be praying as the sun goes down every evening.

Aside from this characteristic of prayer, these houseplants are also known for their spectacular foliage.

There is a wide spectrum of varieties available and that means the color combinations are stunning.

We put together a list of some of what we consider to be the most beautiful prayer plants we could find. Then we slimmed our selections down to the top 6 species.

Whatever your situation may be, there’s one thing we can likely agree on:

Choosing the best prayer plant may not be as easy as it first appears.

That’s why we have provided helpful information below.

Prayer House Plants (Detailed Summary)

Buying Guide For Prayer Plants

Prayer plants have a relatively small elevation or upward extension. They are often labeled as low-growing.

They thrive in environments that are humid similar to a greenhouse. They require warm airflow and fertilizer.

If a live prayer house plant is not kept in the right environment (eg too cold or too dry) it can lead to infection or loss of leaves, as well as root rot.

On the other hand, if the plant has too much sun exposure it can lead to spotting.

With this in mind, let's take a look at some additional information that is good to go over when intending on buying a prayer plant.

What Is The Best Lighting For Prayer Plants?

Indirect sunlight is best. This means you can place the plant in an area where it will not be directly in the sun. If a plant is placed in direct sunlight, it can become washed, blotchy, and can lose color. Again, it's ideal that it is placed in low light environments. During the winter keep light on the plants even though they are dormant.

What Is The Best Soil To Use For a House Prayer Plant?

Thankfully prayer plants can thrive in many different types of soils that have drainage. For example, make sure there is a drain hole and simply add gravel to help with drainage if you're concerned. Traditional potting soil works well for this as long as it is acidic with pH values of around 5.5 to 6. 

How Often Should I Water My Prayer Plants?

When it is the growing season prayer plants require a lot of watering. The water should be minimally room temperature. You can use the top layer of the soil as a guide. When you see that it is dry then it's time for another watering. However, it's very important to never let the soil dry out completely. It's a balancing act of steering clear of insufficient water and overwatering. 

What Is The Right Temperature and Humidity?

Ideally you want to keep your prayer plant in an environment of normal temperatures. If it is kept in a space with low temperature this can lead to plant damage and health issues. Stick with a humid atmosphere with temperatures around 60 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. To maintain proper humidity levels, you can place a bowl of water near the plant or a humidifier. Misting the plants with room temperature water works as well.

Prayer Plant Propagation

Believe it or not but propagating prayer plants is not as complicated as it may seem. Here are two popular options:

OPTION 1

For starters, while you are repotting, you have the option to actually divide the plant. First, be sure to shake off any loose soil that you find on the roots, then carefully separate them.

It's important that the amount of roots you have afterwards is sufficient. Truthfully, you should have a reasonable amount as well as the stems.

You then take these smaller plants and place them in shallow pots.

Over the next couple of weeks be sure to keep these new additions humid and warm until you see growth appear.

OPTION 2

Gently find a leaf node and make a stem cutting below it. Then take what you cut and place it in a rooting hormone.

Place the cutting into a jar of water.

Change out the water every 2 to 3 days.

You want to keep an eye out for roots to form. Once you see them place the cutting into moist potting soil.

Regular mist the new prayer plant and you'll be good to go.

Prayer Plant Care FAQs

How do you care for a prayer plant?

It's important that you keep the plant in soil that drains well. The soil should never go completely dry, and it should never be soaking wet. There's a balance that needs to be there. Mist the plant from time to time to keep it moist. Always use water at room temperature and feed the plant every 14 days with an all-purpose fertilizer.

Why is it called a prayer plant?

As one can imagine, this popular live houseplant got its name from the fact that its leaves fold together at night. Many say this symbolizes prayer. As the leaves move you can see the variety of colors each type of prayer plant has. Although these plants do flower, there isn't much too them.

Are prayer plants hard to take care of?

Caring for a prayer plant is simple. You'll need soil that drains well and regular watering is important. These plants require just the right amount of watering and fertilizer.

Why is my prayer plant not praying?

If you ever notice that your prayer plants is not praying or moving then it may be in an environment that it does not like. Be sure its not in direct sunlight and that it is getting the right amount of water as well as food.

How often should you water prayer plants?
The ideal watering schedule is once every 2 weeks, give or take. You don't want too much water and you don't want too little. The soil should never completely dry out. You'll be watering more often if you've placed your prayer plant well lit areas.