How to Prune and Propagate Night Blooming Jasmine (Raat ki Rani) for More Flowers Night Blooming Jasmine ( Cestrum nocturnum ) is one of those plants that can transform an ordinary balcony into a fragrant evening garden. During warm weather, its small greenish-white flowers release a powerful fragrance after sunset. However, this fast-growing shrub can become difficult to manage in a container. You may have noticed long, thin branches spreading over the balcony railing, fewer flowers than expected, or a plant that produces plenty of green leaves but very few fragrant flower clusters. Sometimes, an older Raat ki Rani looks attractive for a few weeks during its flowering season and then becomes an untidy collection of long branches. Regular pruning can help solve these problems. It encourages branching, removes damaged growth and helps maintain a compact shape. Healthy branches removed during pruning can also be used to propagate new plants through stem cuttings....
Prayer Plant Care: How to Grow Maranta leuconeura and Make It Pray Again
Calathea is often called Prayer Plant, but it's NOT the true one. The true Prayer Plant is Maranta leuconeura. Only Maranta folds its leaves up at night like hands in prayer. If your plant stopped praying, or you are seeing brown edges and yellow leaves, it's telling you something is wrong with its care.
In this complete guide to prayer plant care, I will show you the difference between true vs false prayer plant, 5 varieties including Red Prayer Plant and Lemon Lime Prayer Plant, why brown edges happen, how to fix yellow leaves, and how to propagate Prayer Plant in water and by division. This plant is also pet safe and perfect for beginners.
This is Maranta leuconeura — native to Brazil, from the Marantaceae arrowroot family — a low, trailing houseplant that loves hanging baskets.
What is Prayer Plant? The TRUE Prayer Plant Explained
Botanical Profile
Maranta leuconeura is not just a pretty face. In the wild it grows on the rainforest floor in Brazil, under big trees, where light is filtered and humidity is high.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Maranta leuconeura |
| Family | Marantaceae - arrowroot family |
| Native region | Brazil |
| Growth habit | Trailing / spreading, low and wide |
| Mature size | Around 12-15 inches tall and spread |
| Light | Bright indirect light, tolerates medium light |
| Soil | Moist but well-draining, slightly acidic pH 5.5-6.0 |
| Humidity | Moderate to high, 40-50% minimum |
| Pet safety | Non-toxic to cats and dogs - ASPCA listed |
The name leuconeura means "white-veined" — you can see that pale vein pattern on the leaves.
Why Is It Called a Prayer Plant?
Because of nyctinasty. It's a natural movement where:
Day → leaves spread flat and wide to catch light
Night → leaves move upward and fold together
In the evening, if your room is quiet, you can actually see the leaves slowly lift. That's why it's called Prayer Plant. It looks like hands folded in prayer for evening vespers.
[IMAGE: Prayer Plant day vs night - leaves flat vs folded upward]
Quick Facts Box
Common names: Prayer Plant, Herringbone Plant, Rabbit Tracks, Cathedral Windows
Size: 12-15 inch, perfect for shelves and desks
Toxicity: Non-toxic to cats and dogs per ASPCA - pet safe
Habit: Trailing, perfect for hanging baskets, great for low light offices
Prayer Plant vs Calathea: Are You Growing the Wrong Plant?
This is the section that will get you ranked on Google. Most nurseries mislabel them.
Both plants belong to Marantaceae family and both come from tropical forests. But only Maranta is the true prayer plant.
| Feature | Prayer Plant - Maranta | Calathea - Goeppertia |
|---|---|---|
| True Prayer Movement | YES - strong nyctinasty every night | No / very weak, not true prayer plant |
| Leaf Shape | Consistently oval-shaped | Varied - round, oval, lance-shaped |
| Growth Habit | Trailing / prostrate, great for hanging baskets | Upright, clumping |
| Pattern | Symmetrical veins and ribs, red or lime veins on midrib | More variable, painted patterns, more pronounced |
| Price | $6-$28, easier to find online and in stores | $16-$38 for rare types like White Fusion |
Only Maranta are true prayer plants — both belong to Marantaceae family but only Maranta performs the true prayer ritual every night. Calathea varieties also move a little, but not as strongly.
How to Tell Which One You Have:
Look at your plant right now. Are the leaves all oval with a very clear herringbone pattern in the middle? Does it trail over the pot edge? Does it fold up dramatically at night? That's Maranta.
Are the leaves round like Orbifolia, or long and wavy like Rattlesnake, and does the plant grow upright in a tight clump? That's Calathea.
This distinction is better than calling Calathea "fake" — it is not fake, it is just a cousin.
Internal link idea: Link to your future post "Prayer Plant vs Calathea: What's the Difference?"
5 Prayer Plant Varieties You Can Buy
These are the varieties your readers can actually find on Etsy and Amazon right now.
1. Red Prayer Plant - Maranta leuconeura var. erythroneura
This is the Herringbone Plant everyone knows. Dark green leaves with strong red veining that goes from the midrib to the edge. The underside is a little purplish. It's the most popular for a reason — $6 to $19 for a small pot, it shows you when it needs water, and it even has the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. Beginners love it. Best on a tabletop where you can see the red veins up close.
2. Lemon Lime Prayer Plant - Maranta Lemon Lime / Marisela
A vibrant relative of the Red one. Instead of red, it has bright lime-green, chartreuse, and emerald veins. It feels fresh and modern. It trails really well, so it is perfect for hanging baskets and high shelves. I have mine in a 6-inch hanging pot and it spills over beautifully. Usually $7.49 to $32.95 depending on pot size.
3. Kerchoveana - Rabbit's Foot
Light green leaves with darker green or brown blotches between the veins on either side of the midrib. People call it Rabbit's Foot because the blotches look like footprints. More subtle than Red, very charming. Also an RHS Award winner. Great if you like a calmer look.
4. Beauty Kim
This is the variegated Prayer Plant — green with splashes of white and cream. It is rarer and often sold as a starter plant. Because of the white parts, it needs a bit more bright indirect light to keep its variegation. Care is same but avoid direct sun, it burns white leaves faster.
5. Fascinator Tricolor
Deep green velvety leaves with yellow splotches down the midrib and arching red veins traveling to the leaf margins. Three colors in one leaf — collectors love it for photos. Slightly more demanding about humidity but still easy compared to Calathea.
[IMAGE: Collage of 5 varieties with labels - Red, Lemon Lime, Kerchoveana, Beauty Kim, Fascinator]
Which Prayer Plant Is Best for Beginners?
Start with Red Prayer Plant or Lemon Lime Prayer Plant. They are cheap, $6-$15, forgiving, trail beautifully, and available everywhere. Once those thrive for a few months, try Kerchoveana, then Beauty Kim.
Affiliate Box: Shop My Top 3 Beginner Prayer Plants - Red + Lemon Lime Bundle - Low Light & Pet Safe
How Much Light Does Prayer Plant Need?
Prayer Plant is one of the few patterned plants that tolerates lower light, which is why it's great for offices.
Ideal Light: Bright indirect to partial shade. An east-facing window with a sheer curtain is perfect. A few feet away from a south or west window is also great. It can tolerate any lighting conditions except harsh direct sun — but low light tolerance doesn't mean dark corner.
Too Much Sun: Washed out coloring, faded patterns, brown patches where sun hits, crispy leaves. Direct afternoon sun will scorch it.
Too Little Light: Leggy growth with long stems and big gaps, smaller new leaves, slow growth, less vibrant patterns, soil stays wet for too long.
Tip: Lower light is okay, but not a dark corner far from a window. If you can read a book comfortably without a lamp for most of the day, it's probably enough.
Watering and Soil - Why Yellow Leaves Happen
How Often to Water?
This plant does NOT like dry soil. But it also hates soggy soil that causes root rot. So the balance is:
Water when the upper layer of soil begins to dry, then water thoroughly and allow excess water to drain out the bottom. Don't let the pot sit in water.
In summer, when it's warm and growing, you may water every 7-10 days. In winter, growth slows and soil stays wet longer, so every 14-20 days. Small pots and warm rooms dry faster.
Best Soil for Prayer Plant
You need soil that holds moisture but also drains well and stays airy.
Ideal Soil Characteristics: Moisture-retentive, well-draining, aerated, slightly acidic pH 5.5 to 6.0
Easy DIY Mix I use: 2 parts coco coir or peat moss + 1 part perlite + 1 part orchid bark
Coco coir holds moisture without getting soggy. Perlite keeps it airy so roots can breathe and don't rot. Orchid bark adds drainage and a little acidity, just like forest floor.
If you buy bagged mix, get regular indoor potting mix and add 20-30% extra perlite.
What Water Is Best? This is Critical
Prayer Plant is sensitive to fluoride, hard water minerals, and salts from tap water and water softeners. These build up in soil and cause yellow and brown leaves.
Best water: Rainwater, distilled water, or filtered water.
Okay: Tap water left out overnight in an open jug — chlorine evaporates a bit, but fluoride stays.
Avoid: Very hard tap water, softened water which is salty.
If your tap water is hard, you will see white crust on soil and brown tips even if you water perfectly. Flush soil 2-3 times a year by watering heavily with clean water and letting it drain completely.
Overwatering Signs
Yellowing starts on lower older leaves first. Leaves feel soft and mushy, not crispy. Stems may feel soft. Soil smells sour or musty from drainage holes. This is root rot starting. You need to unpot and check roots.
Humidity and Temperature - Stop Brown Edges
Humidity
High humidity helps Prayer Plant thrive and prevents leaves from turning brown and crispy.
Needs: 40-50% minimum to prevent dryness, browning, and curling. 50-60%+ is better and you get bigger, glossier leaves.
5 Ways to Boost Humidity:
Humidifier nearby — best and most reliable
Pebble tray with water under pot — pot sits ON pebbles, not in water
Group with other plants — they create humid microclimate together
Kitchen or bathroom placement — naturally humid if you have bright indirect light there
Misting — okay as a bonus, but not reliable long-term. Don't let water sit in new curled leaves overnight, it can cause rot.
Also keep away from dry air from AC and fans blowing directly on it.
Temperature
Ideal indoor temperature is 65-80°F (18-27°C). Cooler temps slow growth and keep soil wet too long, which promotes root rot. Low humidity makes leaves dull and causes browning edges. Avoid extreme changes, cold drafts from windows and doors, and sudden temperature drops in winter.
Fertilizing Prayer Plant
Feed every two weeks with warm water diluted fertilizer during growing season (spring and summer). Use balanced houseplant fertilizer at half strength. In winter, reduce to monthly or stop. Overfeeding causes brown edges — if you see brown tips after feeding, flush soil with clean water.
Why Is My Prayer Plant Not Praying?
This is a low competition keyword and you can rank fast.
What is Praying?
Leaves fold upward at night, spread flat during day. Healthy plants do it every evening.
4 Reasons It Stopped Praying
Not enough light during day — needs bright indirect light during day to trigger strong movement at night
Stress from overwatering / underwatering — yellow leaves + not praying often means overwatering and root stress
Low humidity / cold shock — dry air or cold draft from window
Plant is too young or recently repotted — transplant shock wilting, roots disturbed, needs 1-2 weeks to settle
Fix: Give stable bright indirect light, consistent moist soil with filtered water, 50%+ humidity, no cold drafts, and don't move it around. Most plants start praying again within a week once stable.
Common Prayer Plant Problems - Diagnostic Table
This is the most bookmarked section for readers.
| Problem | What You See | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brown Edges / Tips | Dry, brown crispy edges | Dry air, hard water with fluoride, overfed | Boost humidity to 50%+, use distilled water, flush soil, don't overfeed |
| Yellow Leaves | Bright yellow, lower leaves drying | Overwatering, poor drainage, water quality, alkaline soil | Reduce watering, improve drainage, use filtered water, check pH 5.5-6 |
| Curling Leaves + Brown Tips | Curling inward, brown tips | Not enough humidity + underwatering | Water thoroughly, add humidifier |
| Dropping Leaves | Sudden leaf drop | Shock from extreme temp/humidity change, pest, drought, excessive fertilizer | Keep stable temp, avoid drafts, consistent watering |
| Not Praying / Not Closing | Leaves stay flat at night | Stress, too little light, overwatering | Bright indirect light, correct watering, high humidity |
| Wilting After Transplant | Wilting after repotting | Transplant shock, roots disturbed | Keep moist, humid, no direct sun, don't fertilize for 2 weeks |
Pests: Spider mites look like black dots with yellow/brown spots and fine webs. Mealybugs look like white powdery clumps. Leaves may curl and have sticky substance. Inspect every time you water, especially undersides. Wash plant in shower and treat with neem oil or insecticidal soap.
How to Propagate Prayer Plant in Water and by Division
Unlike Calathea which is division only, Prayer Plant can be propagated BOTH ways — that's why it's easier.
Method 1 - Division (Easiest)
Best in spring during repotting.
Water the day before so roots are flexible
Take plant out of pot, gently dust soil off roots
Gently split into 2 or more sections, each with healthy roots and leaves
Plant each section in new small pots with fresh soil
Keep in humid environment, keep soil moist but not soggy, no direct sun
Method 2 - Stem Cuttings in Water
Cut a healthy stem below a leaf node — you MUST have a small portion of stem, not just a leaf. The node is the bump where leaf meets stem.
Optional: Dip broken end into rooting hormone — helps faster rooting
Place in distilled water, change water every other day or couple days
Wait until roots are about 1 inch long — 2-4 weeks in water, 3-5 weeks in soil
Plant in soil, keep moist and mist occasionally. New growth means success.
Note: A single leaf without a node will NOT root. It will sit and rot. You need a node.
[IMAGE: Close-up of cutting below node + roots in clear glass jar]
Affiliate idea: Small propagation glass jars + rooting hormone powder
Can You Propagate Prayer Plant in Water?
Yes, you can. Water propagation is easy — cut below node, distilled water, change water regularly. Roots in 2-4 weeks. Transfer to soil once roots are 1 inch. Long-term growing in water only is not ideal — soil gives stronger growth.
Is Prayer Plant Safe for Cats and Dogs? Benefits
Pet Safe
Non-toxic to dogs and cats per ASPCA. This is a huge reason people buy it. Though mild stomach upset can occur if a pet chews a lot of leaves, just like with many houseplants. Best practice is to keep houseplants out of reach of small children and pets and discourage chewing.
Air Purifying and Placement
Ideal way to purify air in a pet's favorite laundry room or basement hideaway — it prefers little sunlight and tolerates lower light, so you can put it where many plants fail. It helps remove indoor toxins and makes home feel fresher and cleaner. It is also perfect for hanging baskets, shelves, and desks because of its trailing habit 12-15 inches. It tolerates low light better than Calathea, so it works great as a low light office plant.
FAQ - People Also Ask
Is Prayer Plant the same as Calathea?
No. Both belong to Marantaceae family, but only Maranta leuconeura is the true prayer plant with true nyctinasty — folding every night. Calathea is a different genus, now mostly Goeppertia, with upright growth and varied leaf shapes.
Why is my Prayer Plant not praying / not closing at night?
Usually stress — low light during day, overwatering or underwatering, low humidity, cold draft, or transplant shock after repotting. Give stable bright indirect light, consistent moist soil, and 50% humidity.
Why does my Prayer Plant have brown edges?
Dry air below 40%, hard tap water with fluoride, overfertilizing, or letting soil get too dry. Boost humidity with humidifier or pebble tray and use distilled or rainwater.
Why are my Prayer Plant leaves turning yellow?
Overwatering is the most frequent cause, plus poor drainage, root rot, hard water minerals, or alkaline soil causing iron deficiency. Check if soil is wet for long periods and improve drainage.
How often should I water Prayer Plant?
Keep soil moist but not soggy. Water when top inch begins to dry, water thoroughly and drain. Usually 7-10 days in summer, less in winter. Use filtered, rain, or distilled water if possible.
Is Prayer Plant safe for cats and dogs?
Yes, ASPCA lists Prayer Plant as non-toxic to cats and dogs. It is pet-friendly and good for homes with pets.
How to propagate Prayer Plant?
By division when repotting in spring — split root clumps — or by stem cuttings below a node in distilled water. Roots appear in 2-4 weeks in water. A single leaf without node will not root.
Does Prayer Plant need sun?
No direct sun. Bright indirect to partial shade is ideal. Tolerates medium to low indirect light but may become leggy and lose pattern in very low light. Direct afternoon sun causes brown patches.
Conclusion + CTA
True prayer plant is Maranta leuconeura, not Calathea. It wants bright indirect light, consistently moist but well-draining soil with distilled or filtered water, 40-50%+ humidity, warm stable temps 65-80°F, and light feeding in spring and summer.
A healthy Prayer Plant doesn't need complicated care. It needs consistency. Keep its environment stable for a few weeks and it will reward you with new patterned leaves and that quiet nightly prayer movement.
Start with Red Prayer Plant or Lemon Lime Prayer Plant — both forgiving, cheap at $6-$15, pet safe, and trail beautifully in a hanging basket.
Your turn: Does your Prayer Plant pray at night? Which variety do you have — Red, Lemon Lime, or Kerchoveana? Drop a photo in the comments — I read every one and will help troubleshoot brown edges or yellow leaves.
Free download: Get my Prayer Plant Watering Checklist — filtered vs tap water guide + humidity tracker.
Shop: My beginner bundle Red + Lemon Lime 4-inch pots for hanging baskets.
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