Beautiful leaves makes the prayer plant (Maranta leuconeura) one of the most distinctive tropical houseplants. Its leaves are flat during the day and curl up like praying hands at night, hence its common name.
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As it grows slowly, the prayer plant can grow to be up to a foot tall inside. People like to keep them as pets, and you can plant and care for them inside at any time of the year.
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People who want a plant that is safe for their pets will be glad to know that prayer plants are safe for both people and pets1.
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Low-growing, spreading prayer plants flourish in tropical greenhouse-like circumstances with warm, humid airflow, well-draining, nutrient-rich soil, and regular fertilization.
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Root rot or collapse can kill plants in poor soil.2 Overexposure to sun can wipe out plants and discolor their leaves.2
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Prayer plants grow in bright to mild indirect sunshine. Avoid extended sunshine, which can damage this plant's fragile leaves.
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Prayer plants tolerate low light but may grow lanky in very low light. Keep plants growing in bright light during winter hibernation.
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Indoor prayer plants grow in loamy, acidic, well-draining soil. Most potting mixes work, but you may make your own by mixing two parts sphagnum peat moss, one part loamy soil, and one part perlite or coarse sand.
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