Prayer plants, also known as Maranta leuconeura, are popular indoor plants because of their cool trait of “praying.” This talks about the movement of their leaves, which fold upwards at night and open up in the morning. But, some people with prayer plants might notice their prayer plant not praying and might start to worry. It’s important to get why this is happening and how to fix it.
Why do prayer plants “pray”?
Prayer plants display a unique movement behavior where their leaves fold upwards at night, then reopen with the morning light. This motion is enabled by specialized joints called pulvini at the base of each leaf stalk. The pulvini contain cells that expand or contract in response to biochemical signals.
At night, the pulvini cells on the underside of the leaf stalk elongate, while cells on the upper side contract. This causes the leaf blade to fold upwards into a vertical position. In the daytime, the upper pulvini cells elongate instead, straightening the leaf out horizontally to maximize light absorption.
The actual trigger for this daily cycle is changing light intensity, not temperature. As light dims in the evening, biochemical signals are transmitted to the pulvini initiating the upward folding motion. This is an example of nastic movement called nyctinasty, quite common in the Marantaceae family of plants.
The prayer plant’s nyctinastic behavior serves multiple ecological purposes. Folding the leaves upward at night reduces water loss, protects the leaf surfaces from fungal infection, and conserves energy since less photosynthesis occurs in the dark. Pointing the leaves upward during the day helps the understory plants capture sparse light in the rainforest floor habitat where they evolved. So the unique “praying” movement allows prayer plants to thrive in low light tropical environments.
Why Is The Prayer Plant Not Praying?
The prayer plant might not move its leaves or “pray” because of stuff around it like not enough light or extreme temperatures, plant health issues like inadequate water or nutrients, changes in the plant’s environment, and bugs and illnesses. To help the plant get its ability to “pray” back, it’s important to address these issues and provide the best growth conditions.
Environmental factors
One of the most common reasons is because of stuff around it. Prayer plants need certain needs to do well, including bright, non-direct sunlight, and moderate temperatures between 65-80°F.
If the plant is not getting enough light or if the temperature is too cold or too hot, it might not be able to move its leaves. For example, if the plant is in a place with low light, the plant will not get the necessary stimulus to move its leaves.
Similarly, if the temperature is too cold, the pulvinus hinge joint will chill out, making the leaves droop and stopping their motion as expected.
Plant health issues
Another reason why prayer plants might not “pray” is because of plant health issues.
If the plant is not getting adequate water or nutrients, it might not have the energy to move its leaves. For example, if the soil is too dry, the plant might not be able to take in enough water to support its processes to live, including the movement of its leaves.
Similarly, if the plant is not getting the right nutrients, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, it might not be able to make enough energy to move its leaves.
In addition, bugs and illnesses can also affect the plant’s ability to move its leaves. For example, a bug infestation can hurt the plant’s leaves, which might stop them from moving as expected.
Changes in the plant’s environment
Changes in the plant’s surroundings can also affect its ability to “pray.” For example, if the plant is moved to a new spot, it might go through a settling in time where it’s not able to move its leaves as you’d expect.
Similarly, if the plant is exposed to bad conditions, it might not be able to move its leaves as expected.
Pests and diseases
can be one of the reasons why your prayer plant is not praying. Bugs like spider mites, mealybugs, and scale insects can hurt the plant’s leaves, making them less responsive to light and less likely to move. These bugs feed on the plant’s sap, causing the leaves to turn yellow, curl, and eventually drop, and can even kill the plant.
The capacity of the plant to move its leaves can also be hit by ailments like bacterial and fungal diseases. The leaves might wilt, turn yellow or brown, and develop patches or lesions because of these diseases.
As the plant gets weaker from the disease, it may lose its ability to respond to light and move its leaves.
In short, there are several common reasons why prayer plants might not be able to move their leaves or “pray.” These include stuff around it such as not enough light or extreme temperatures, plant health issues such as inadequate water or nutrients, changes in the plant’s environment, and bugs and illnesses.
By dealing with these issues and providing the best growth conditions, prayer plant owners can help their plants to get their ability to “pray” back and show off their unique leaf folding habit.
How to help your prayer plant “pray” again
If your prayer plant ain’t praying right, you can do a few things to bring back its night-time moves. Here are some hacks to find and fix what might be stopping your plant from doing its leaf dance:
- Evaluate the plant’s growing conditions: Make sure the plant gets enough light, but not direct sunlight, and that it’s not too cold or hot. If it’s dark, think about moving it somewhere brighter or giving it some fake light. If it’s cold or hot, play with the thermostat or move it somewhere comfy.
- Check the soil moisture: prayer plants like their soil kinda wet, but not soggy. Feel the soil with your finger. If it’s dry, give it some water. If it’s waterlogged, the plant might have root rot, which is bad news. You might need to change the soil and cut back on the watering.
- Ensure adequate humidity: Prayer plants dig humid places and won’t be happy if the air’s dry. Think about getting a humidifier or misting it with water to keep the air moist around the plant.
- Fertilize the plant: To stay healthy, prayer plants need a good feed. During growing time (spring and summer), feed it every two weeks; when it’s taking a break, feed it less.
Allow for an adjustment period: If you’ve just moved the plant or changed things around it, it might need time to settle in. Be cool and give it time to get used to the new digs. - Address pest and disease issues: Pests and diseases can mess with the plant’s ability to do its leaf dance. Keep an eye out for signs of bugs or sickness, like brown spots or discolored leaves. If you see anything off, hit it with some bug spray or fungus killer.
Hacks for your prayer plant’s growth and health
Tips for your prayer plant’s growth and health
- Use well-draining soil: Prayer plants need good draining soil full of organic stuff. Use quality soil that’s made for indoor plants.
- Pick a good pot: Go for a pot that’s a bit bigger than the one it’s in now, with holes in the bottom so it doesn’t get waterlogged. Too big can lead to too much water and root rot.
- Water consistently: Prayer plants need steady water, but not soggy soil. Water it when the soil feels dry, but don’t drown it. Always water at the base of the plant, not the leaves, to avoid fungus.
- Provide appropriate light: Prayer plants dig bright, indirect light, not direct sunlight. Put it near a window with filtered light or use fake light if needed.
- Prune as needed: Cut off any dead or damaged leaves to make room for new growth and keep the plant looking good.
Conclusion
Prayer plants are cool indoor plants that are famous for their “praying” behavior. If your prayer plant not praying, it might be because of stuff around it or plant health issues.
By following FamiPlants tips and fixing anything that might be stopping your prayer plant from “praying,” you can help your prayer plant recover and exhibit its distinctive movement once again.
