Care Instructions for Maranta Prayer Plants

Cathedral Windows are easy to care for if you maintain consistent humidity and light, and unlike other houseplants, foliage curling isn’t always a sign of distress as they do this naturally at night. With that said, leaf curling during the day and browning could be a sign that something is wrong or when their potting mix gets a little dry. 

Pro-tip: If you would like your plant to grow in a clumping fashion, trim it twice a year with sterilized shears. 

Water every 3-5 days and keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy. Check the potting mix every three to five days and add a bit of water (ideally distilled or filtered) if the top 1-2 inches feels dry. Make sure the bottom holes are open to allow excess water to drain through as a way to help prevent waterlogging.

During the summer, check the potting mix more often (every 2-3 days) to make sure it doesn't dry out in the heat, especially if your Maranta is in a hanging basket on your porch or in an outdoor planter. If your leaves are curling into tubes or turning brown, water more frequently and make sure you water until the water drains from the drainage holes. This ensures the soil is consistently moist throughout. 

Provide 3 to 6 hours of bright, indirect sunlight each day by placing it in a room with windows, but not directly in the sunbeams (so place a few feet away from the window instead of directly on the windowsill). Maranta enjoys low to medium light and can survive in partial shade to mimic being under a rainforest canopy.

Fun fact: Maranta leaves are paper thin to touch so they are more sensitive to sunlight as they do not have the stored moisture within like Alocasia (Elephant Ears). The lighting changes throughout the day are enough to trigger nyctinasty in the plants.

Avoid exposure to direct sunlight by placing your Maranta by a window that receives no direct sun throughout the day, or by a window with light filtered by a gauze curtain or shade cloth. You can supplement with artificial grow lights if natural light is limited. 

Keep humidity levels between 50% and 80%, which may already be the current levels in your home in the lower range. To monitor and maintain humidity levels, try plant groupings, a pebble tray with water under the pot, or placing your Maranta in naturally humid rooms like the kitchen or bathroom.

While they can survive at 40%, they may suffer stress causing their leaves to curl and get crispy. If this happens, you’ll need to increase the humidity or risk the plant dying.

Keep indoor temperatures warm, between 65-75°F (18-24°C), for your Maranta plant as temperatures below 55°F (13 °C) can cause cold damage or plant death. Temperatures that are too high or too low can cause the leaves to curl. 

Pro-tip: Make sure your plant is not placed near any vents or fans to help maintain a constant temperature. 

Repot in the spring every 2-3 years after maturity, in a pot one size larger than the previous one (roughly 2 inches), with fresh potting mix. Choose a shallow and wide pot instead of a deep/tall one due to their shallow rhizomatous roots that prefer to grow across ground instead of downwards. Make sure there are drainage holes because a pot too big for the current root size will hold too much water, leading to root rot. 

Once you see roots blocking or going through the drainage holes, or the plant appears to droop even after watering, it is time to repot.

If you do not like pots, Maranta can also be grown in water (hydroponically) without any potting mix. If you have trouble figuring out a watering schedule and maintaining the humidity levels this may be a better option. 

Maranta are susceptible to the same issues as most tropical plants, sensitivity to minerals, root rot from waterlogging and trapped moisture, and leaf burn from too much sun exposure. If you see discoloration, wilting, browning, or crispy leaves, and upright curled leaves, your Maranta Prayer Plant may be sick.

If your plant is not flowering, that’s totally normal as Maranta rarely flowers when grown as a houseplant. 

Discoloration for Prayer Plants could be yellowing, browning, and non-natural colors appearing on the foliage. This is a sign your plant is struggling and you’ll need to troubleshoot.

Pro-tip: Curled leaves are not always a problem. New leaves will also be curled inward into a tube, but will be green. 

If the leaves are turning yellow, and curling into a tube, try reducing watering frequency. Your Maranta may also start dropping leaves if it's overwatered. Check the top few inches of your potting mix to make sure it isn’t waterlogged and there is no root rot. Remove the discolored leaves to promote foliage growth and prevent a leggy appearance. 

If the potting mix is very waterlogged, remove the root ball from the potting mix and place on a towel to allow the roots to slightly dry out (1-2 days). Then repot in fresh potting mix. 

Yellow leaf edges can also be a sign of shock due to watering with cold water. Use room temperature water instead. 

If the leaves are curling, wilting, or turning brown, check if the soil is too dry. Add water to the soil until it feels damp but not wet, and until water begins draining from the bottom of the pot. 

Low humidity can also cause brown, curled leaves. Add a humidistat, pebble tray, or create plant grouping with other tropical plants like Calathea to help maintain humidity levels above 50%.

Brown leaf tips can be caused by watering with tap water as this plant is sensitive to the minerals within. Switch to distilled or filtered water. 

If the leaves start to appear greener and lose their patterns, the issue is dim lighting and the plant needs to be moved closer to a window with brighter lighting or spend more time in the light. Maranta will become greener and lose its iconic patterns as they produce more chlorophyll, increasing its efficiency at absorbing light to compensate for decreased availability. 

For overall pale leaves, the issue is too much direct light, which causes the leaf color to fade by reducing chlorophyll production as a protective mechanism (bleaching). Move the plant out of direct sunlight or into the shade, and it should regain its original coloring. You can also switch to artificial grow lights scheduled to provide light for 6-8 hours a day, until the plant recovers.

Pale or greyish leaves might also be due to underwatering, so you’ll want to increase the watering frequency to keep the top 2 inches (up to your second knuckle) of soil moist. 

Loss of color or brown spots along the edges that progressively worsen, drooping leaves, and leaves that have turned brown and curled inwards into a tube are signs of leaf burn. 

If you notice these signs, do the following:

• Move the pot to another position with only indirect light exposure or into the shade.

• Prune any leaves that appear mostly brown/badly damaged to help the plant focus on new growth. You can also trim the crispy brown parts off with sterilized shears.

Maranta has shallow rhizomatous roots that like to absorb water, but they are prone to root rot if left in soggy soil where water fills the air pockets in the pot. Black spots on the roots, leaves, or stem, and a foul musky smell will be your first indications of root rot. 

If you suspect root rot, remove your plant from the pot to check for the above and follow the steps below:

1. Trim any rotting, discolored, smelling, or squishy roots with sharp, sanitized shears.

2. Treat the remaining roots with a hydrogen peroxide solution (3 parts water to 1 part peroxide) or plant-safe fungicide to make sure all bacteria and other potential threats are washed away. 

3.  Re-pot in a new well-draining potting mix, ensuring the pot has holes in the bottom for proper drainage and that you have treated the pot with a plant-safe fungicide as well.

Pro-tip: After watering, remember to wipe off excess moisture from the leaves and stem as this can also promote fungal and bacterial growth. Aim water at the soil, and remember to drain the saucer after watering to prevent stagnant water. 

Cathedral Windows need a well draining potting mix with plenty of materials to keep air pockets open, like perlite, peat, or vermiculite. 10-15% Moss or coconut fiber can help ensure the potting mix doesn’t drain too quickly. 

Our signature blend of potting mix Dirt Bag is designed specifically for plants that are susceptible to root rot and provides ample nutrients for growth. You can find all of our potting mixes here.

Maranta only need to be fertilized from March through September during their growing season. Follow the instructions on the fertilizer or plant nutrition formula you choose. We recommend Arber Organic Plant Food.

Not sure which Maranta to buy for your home? Here’s a few staff favorites to help you decide which ones are right for you!

Maranta leuconeura ‘Red Prayer’
This classic Maranta features soft green leaves with bold red veins and a herringbone pattern down the center. Its low, spreading habit makes it great for tabletop displays or small hanging planters. Easygoing and pet-safe, it’s a great intro to prayer plants.

Maranta leuconeura ‘Lemon Lime’
A more vibrant Maranta with light green leaves and electric yellow-green veining. It’s a favorite for its color and soft texture, and grows well in hanging baskets or wide pots where it can sprawl gently outward.