Prayer Plant Calathea or Maranta

Prayer Plants: A Field Guide

Prayer plants are tropical houseplants with strikingly variegated leaves and belong either to the Maranta or Calathea genera. Both need similar care: bright indirect light, well-draining soil, and high humidity.

Design tip: Grow this non-poisonous, spreading plant in a hanging container or encourage prayer plant’s horizontal habit to creep over shelves and long tables. Because of its shallow roots, a prayer plant should be in a container that is more squat than deep. Feed a prayer plant every couple of weeks—spring through fall—with an all-purpose fertilizer. Also use warm or at least room temperature water when giving it a drink.