Prayer plants, encompassing genera like Maranta, Calathea, Stromanthe, and Ctenanthe from the Marantaceae family, are popular houseplants known for their striking foliage. Despite their common name and sometimes elongated stems, prayer plants do not inherently climb. They lack the specialized structures, such as tendrils or aerial roots, that allow true climbing plants to ascend surfaces.
Understanding Prayer Plant Growth
Prayer plants exhibit diverse growth habits, none of which involve true climbing. Many varieties, particularly within the Maranta genus, are characterized by a trailing or sprawling growth. Their stems elongate, allowing the foliage to spread horizontally across surfaces or cascade downwards when placed in elevated positions. This natural tendency to creep along the ground is how they grow in their native rainforest habitats.
Other genera, such as Calathea, typically display a more upright and clumping growth habit. While these plants can reach heights of up to 3 feet, they do so by producing new leaves and stems from their base rather than by vining or attaching to supports. Some prayer plant stems may become long or “leggy” over time, which can mistakenly suggest a vining nature, but they will not actively climb a support structure on their own.
Managing Prayer Plant Growth
Since prayer plants do not climb, managing their growth involves accommodating their natural trailing or clumping forms. Trailing varieties are well-suited for hanging baskets, allowing their attractive foliage to elegantly cascade over the sides. They also thrive on shelves or tabletops where their spreading stems can be admired. For a bushier appearance, stems can be pruned by cutting just above a leaf node, which encourages new growth to emerge from that point.
Pruning helps maintain the plant’s shape and can remove any leggy or discolored growth. While prayer plants do not require staking for climbing, a small stake can provide structural support for particularly long or heavy stems that might otherwise flop over. This support is purely for aesthetic arrangement or stability, not to facilitate an upward climbing habit.
Optimal Care for Prayer Plants
Proper care contributes to the healthy growth of prayer plants in their natural forms. They thrive in bright to medium indirect light, mimicking their native understory environments where they receive filtered sunlight. Too much direct sunlight can scorch their delicate leaves and cause patterns to fade. Consistent watering is important, keeping the soil evenly moist but never waterlogged to prevent root rot. Allowing the top inch or two of soil to dry slightly between waterings is often a good practice.
High humidity is another important factor, as prayer plants are native to tropical rainforests. Low humidity can lead to crispy leaf edges or browning. Maintaining humidity can be achieved through methods like using a humidifier, placing the plant on a pebble tray with water, or grouping it with other plants. These conditions support the lush foliage and characteristic movement.