How many of you have a prayer plant as a houseplant? IT looks like it is an easy one to grow.

image from pinterest.nz

      ​We had rain 1.5” which is nice to have.  It has been dry, and I have been watering pots, trees, shrubs.  Cloudy now at 8:30 AM  high today of 56F(13C)  let us see that it is cooler by 28 degrees.  This is more fall like.  Sweatshirt weather for sure.  Rain in forecast but most of it will be south of us.  Stay warm, stay dry, stay safe.
 
Now looking at the Australia family and friends for Tuesday Oct 7 they will have 69F( 20C) with clear conditions and wind gusts up to 9 MPH.  Stay cool, stay safe. 
 
I just brought in my assortments of houseplants, and I do believe I have a few prayer plants in them.  I usually can’t keep them alive over the winter as the greenhouse will get a few colder nights.  This year I am bringing them to the house.  I will see how that goes.  The color of them is giving some joy to the end of the gardening season. 
 
Prayer Plant Care: How to Grow a Healthy, Happy Maranta  Written By:  Lauren Landers  Master Gardener and Contributing Writer
If you’ve been praying for the perfect houseplant that’s both stunning and easy to care for, look no further than the prayer plant! These colorful beauties feature striking leaves with eye-catching patterns, but it’s their unique ability to move with the light that makes them truly remarkable. Plant care is simple once you understand their needs, and in this guide, I’ll share my top tips for keeping Marantas healthy, vibrant, and thriving indoors.
Prayer plants (Maranta leuconeura) belong to the Marantaceae family, which includes other popular houseplants like Calathea and Stromanthe. They are closely related to plants such as ginger and canna, which thrive in warm, tropical areas.
Native to the warm and humid rainforests of South America, they naturally grow in the dappled light cast by taller trees and shrubs. In the home, these plants are at their best in bright, indirect sun, which allows their showy leaves to unfurl fully. As night falls and shadows spread, the leaves turn upwards like hands in prayer, conserving moisture and creating an ever-changing, mesmerizing display.
Although most commonly grown in pots or hanging baskets, prayer plants can be trained to trail over the edge of outdoor planters and grown outdoors in USDA Zones 11–12. When well-cared for, Marantas typically grow about 1 foot tall and wide and may produce tiny purple or white flowers in summer—though flowering can be rare indoors. These houseplants are also nontoxic to pets, making them a safe and beautiful choice for homes where furry friends are afoot!
 
Planting
Bringing home a prayer plant is like adopting a little piece of the rainforest—vibrant, expressive, and surprisingly low-maintenance once it’s settled in. But first, it needs a proper welcome.
Inspect the plant: Before repotting, check for signs of stress like yellowing leaves or compacted roots. Gently remove any dead foliage and give the roots a quick look—if they’re tightly wound or circling the bottom, it’s time for a new pot.
Choose the right container: Prayer plants prefer snug quarters. Avoid oversized pots, which can lead to soggy soil and root rot. I always use terracotta pots that are just 1–2 inches wider than the nursery container. Terracotta breathes well and helps regulate moisture, especially in humid climates.
Use fresh potting mix: A well-draining mix is key. I like to blend standard indoor potting soil with a handful of perlite and a touch of orchid bark to mimic the airy, loose soil these plants love. You want moisture retention without sogginess.
Plant at the same depth: When transferring your prayer plant, keep it at the same soil level it was growing in. Gently firm the soil around the roots and water thoroughly to help it settle.
Find its happy place: They thrive in bright, indirect light and high humidity. Avoid direct sun, which can scorch the leaves. A north or east-facing window works beautifully, or you can supplement with a grow light if needed.
Water
Soggy soil is the number one nemesis of prayer plants and can cause root rot. To avoid this, grow your plants in well-draining pots, feel the soil before watering, and only water when the top 1 inch of potting mix feels dry. If your tap water contains salts or additives, consider using distilled or rainwater to prevent brown leaf edges.
Light
Bright, indirect light is ideal, while full sun can scorch or bleach delicate leaves. Prayer plants can tolerate lower light, but insufficient light may cause them to become leggy.
Humidity
High humidity helps these houseplants thrive and prevents leaves from turning brown and crispy. Keep your plants away from drafts, heaters, and air conditioners. If your home is dry, use a humidifier or place the plant in naturally humid areas like kitchens or bathrooms.
Temperature
Maintain indoor temperatures between 65° and 80°F (18° to 27°C) for healthy growth. Sudden drafts, cold windows, or heat vents can stress the plant, causing leaves to curl or brown. Avoid exposure to temperatures below 60°F (15°C), as cooler conditions slow growth and increase susceptibility to disease.
Fertilizer
Prayer plants grow best if you feed them about once a month during the growing season, and withhold all fertilizer in fall and winter. Ideally, you'll want to choose a liquid organic fertilizer intended for houseplants and feed your prayer plants about once a month from spring through fall—or according to the instructions on the fertilizer packaging.
Toxicity
One of the best things about prayer plants (Maranta leuconeura) is that they’re entirely nontoxic for pets, making them a safe choice for homes with curious cats, dogs, or other furry friends. You can enjoy the beauty of these vibrant, patterned leaves without worrying about nibbling paws or accidental ingestion.
Types
If you love the look of prayer plants, you may want to grow similar-looking houseplants, like calatheas or stromanthe. Alternatively, you can collect a few different color variants of prayer plants and display them all together for a colorful show that changes with the light!
Red Prayer Plant: Also known as the herringbone or tri-color prayer plant, red prayer plants have the most colorful leaves with deep red patterning and undersides!
Green Prayer Plant: These prayer plays have a lighter and brighter look with bright green leaves without any red coloration.
Rabbit’s Foot Prayer Plant: A lesser-known variety, ‘Rabbit’s Foot’ has dark splotches on its green leaves, which are said to look like the footprints of a rabbit.
Taken from https://www.almanac.com/plant/prayer-plant-care-how-grow-healthy-happy-maranta
Till next time this is Becky Litterer, Becky’s Greenhouse, Dougherty Iowa [email protected]  641-794-3337  cell 641-903-9365  Beckysgreenhouse.com  Facebook Becky Kerndt Litterer or Becky’s Greenhouse