I just got the prayer plant and I determined to save it . I have no idea what is wrong it. The plant is currently next to northeast facing window
The pot has a drainage hole and i just repotted it using the same soil .
I did water it after today after repotting yesterday. The soil was a bit dry
Should i repot it with a different soil , or pot.
Please i need a step by step guide , i am just getting into plants
by aadesina
7 Comments
Here’s a guide that may be of some help to you:
https://www.thespruce.com/grow-maranta-inside-1902647
im not experienced with this type of plant, but search up what light and humidity levels it needs, what soil it likes to be in (maybe do a repot) and how much it needs to be watered. thatll be a good starting point, from there youll hopefully be able to find out which of those aspect it is making the plant be like that.
Sorry, but this is a canon event that all people who have bought these plants have to go through….
(Calatheas in general are very hard to keep happy, this is not a beginner friendly plant sorry to say)
I’m not really any help with saving it as I have killed more of them than I care to remember.
However, I have one I received when my mother died last year that I decided to take advice and treat it like the drama queen it is. I only water it with distilled water. Twice in the 9 months I’ve had it I watered it with fish tank water. It’s still alive and about doubled in size so apparently this one is appreciative of this treatment.
It’s in a forest shaded south facing window, canopied by a couple of other plants.
These plants love consistent moisture, but also hate sitting in waterlogged soil. Because of that, I suggest 1/3 potting soil, 1/3 [coco coir](https://www.amazon.com/Compressed-Substrate-Nutrition-Gardening-Starting/dp/B0CB1HRL3G?th=1) (which maintains an even moisture level and also won’t become hydrophobic if it dries out, unlike peat moss), and 1/3 chunky drainage material (like [orchid bark](https://www.amazon.com/Better-Gro-Orchid-Bark-Development-Phalaenopsis/dp/B00CMJARIW?th=1) or [coco chunks](https://www.amazon.com/Gro-Med-Coco-Substrate-Brick-Husk/dp/B0C6H89H53?th=1)).
These plants do have a reputation for being tricky, but if you put them in the soil they prefer they’ll be happy!
One thing about these plants is that they don’t like a ton of light. I keep mine on a shelf where it gets “dappled” light from a grow light on an upper shelf. And this is in my north-facing office. And I live in Oregon where it’s dark for a lot of the year.
https://preview.redd.it/el5vcsfw8fae1.jpeg?width=2252&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=489b2b13c96698a165c0791f64bba4b599115846
Prayer plants need very high humidity. Higher than most people have in their home, especially during winter.
Without enough humidity, the leaves will wilt. Most people respond by watering more, which rots the roots and causes more problems because it slows the water intake and wilts further and this cycle repeats until the plant dies.
The solution is generally to put it near a humidifier.