How to Propagate Prayer Plant - Maranta Leuconeura Propagation

It's simple to learn how to propagate prayer plants because you have to because they grow so quickly. There are several ways to multiply your maranta plant, with water propagation being the most well-liked and fruitful method.

How to Propagate Prayer Plants

These particular plants and their variations come to mind when we discuss the propagation of Prayer plants.

Maranta Tricolor (Herringbone Plant), Maranta Leuconeura, and Maranta Leuceneura Kerchoveana. The same method is used to propagate variegated varieties and other special varieties of these types (like Maranta Lemon Lime).

Calathea, Ctenanthe, and Stromanthe, which come in a variety of forms, are other members of the maranta group that are also known as prayer plants. However, these do not propagate in all the ways a "regular" prayer plant would. The most typical method of propagation for these is root division.

Maranta Prayer Plant Different Ways to Propagate

• Water propagation
• Propagating in soil
• Propagation from seed
• By root division

How to Water Propagate Maranta Prayer Plant

This method of growing prayer plants is by far the simplest.

The stem of our maranta leuconeura kerchoveana variegata was broken and suffered damage. With many plant species, this can be a depressing event; however, with prayer plants, it's typically a fantastic chance for reproduction! You can succeed without using any additives, including rooting hormones.

What you need?

• Plant
• Scissors or a sharp tool
• Glass jar
• Water
• Clear bag

1. Cut Bellow the Node

Cut the stem below the node where you can see it on your plant. To spread your maranta in water, only one node is required. Three of the nodes in the stem (all of which are circled in the image below) are where we will propagate the plant because it was hurt at the soil level, which is not visible from this angle.

On prayer plants, nodes are small bumps from which new growth and leaves emerge, and they are simple to identify.

You must leave between 1 and 2 cm (or roughly half an inch) of stem below the node.

The cutting tools you use should be well-kept and precise. Make a clean cut.

2. Place the Plant in Water (Make a Propagation Station)

Introduce the plant cutting to the water. Plant-friendly water must be at room temperature, and if you're using tap water, you should let it sit for at least 24 hours before using.

The leaves should not be submerged in water, only the nodes should. If there are too many leaves, you can remove a few of them so that the plant concentrates on growing roots. This step isn't necessary, though, especially if you have ideal conditions for a prayer plant, as it will quickly develop roots and won't have any trouble producing a leaf or two in the interim.

You can buy a fancy propagation station; there are plenty of eye-catching ones available in shops and online, but any glass jar will work just as well.

3. Bag It

If the conditions aren't ideal, cover the plant with a clear bag to increase your chances. Your plant will remain happier if you do this.

Its environment will be even friendlier if you blow air into it with a straw.

Put your propagation station in a well-lit area away from the sun.

4. Waiting and Changing Water

Starting now, the waiting It is important to note that checking your plant for evidence of new roots every 5 minutes is completely normal. Everybody does that.

Within just two weeks, your prayer plant will be prepared for soil planting. Don't give up if it takes a month or longer; there is no set timeframe for when the roots will be large enough for you to plant them. You shouldn't worry about it if the plant appears healthy and you can see new growth.

Water jar size does have some bearing on how frequently it should be changed. While some people never change the water, others insist that it is best to do so every two days. The water was changed once during the month it took for our plant to establish roots that were ready for planting.

The water is suitable if it is clear, devoid of algae or other contaminants, and the roots are growing (you can observe changes in size every few days).

One week

This is how our water-propagated prayer plant looked after about a week. Notice the emerging tiny white roots?

Two Weeks

The roots are already nicely developed and lengthened after two weeks. Here the water was altered because the growth had slowed. Room temperature water was used, just like the first time.

3rd Week

The prayer plant began producing brand-new leaves in the third week. We began water propagating this maranta plant, which currently has two leaves and one more on the way. It had five leaves by the third week, and another one was on the way.

4th Week

Keep in mind that the amount of time it takes for the roots to become strong enough to support the cutting when it is planted in soil can vary. You can transfer your plant from the water container to the soil once you can see healthy roots (inch and a half to two inches; 5 cm).

5.Planting Your Water Propagated Prayer Plant in Soil

Choose a pot that isn't too big but has enough space for the roots of the prayer plant to spread out freely. Prepare the new potting soil as well.

Put some soil in the pot's bottom layer. Place the potted plant with roots inside.

Pay careful attention when adding soil.

In order to help it survive once it is planted in soil, you can water it and cover it with a bag for a few days. If your home has dry air, the bag is useful.

A clear bag will help this maranta maintain the ideal humidity levels since it was propagated during the winter, which is not ideal because the air is drier due to heating.

We sincerely hope you will give it a try now that you are aware of How to Propagate Prayer Plants in Water.

How to Propagate Prayer Plant Maranta in Soil

Although this method is straightforward, it isn't as effective as water propagation because you won't be able to see the roots develop.

When you want to add cuttings to an established plant in the same pot to make it appear fuller, soil-based propagation is best.

Cut below the node, leaving enough stem below the node, just like with maranta water propagation.

The cutting's tip should be dipped in rooting hormone first, then in water (about an inch). "Plant" the cutting into soil, either into a new pot or in the same pot with the mother plant. Water.

While roots are developing, make sure the soil is on the moist side. If there are too many leaves, we advise pruning them since the plant has to work harder to reproduce in soil. A bag can be placed on top of the plant, similar to water propagation, to maintain high humidity.

Propagating Prayer Plants from Seed

If your prayer plant blooms, you can also try starting it from seed to grow more of it. It's really satisfying to watch something from a seed grow. But this approach is more difficult than other ones for growing prayer plants.

These flowers are small and attractive; you will probably find a lot of them, but you should keep in mind that each blooms for a brief period of time, so you should plan accordingly if you want to collect them.

They should be sown in a moist medium and kept warm (in a bag). In a few weeks, if you're lucky, you should be able to see the plant sprout.

How to Propagate Prayer Plants

by Root Division?

If your mother maranta plants are large enough, have numerous stems poking out of the soil, and you feel comfortable splitting them into two when it's time to repot them, you might give this a try if everything looks good. Propagating by division is more common for calatheas, stromanthes, and ctenanthe plants (which are also prayer plants).

Slip division is another name for this. Once you have the plant out of the pot and roots cleaned, gently "untangle" and tease apart roots with your fingers. Different stems should be relatively simple to distinguish.

Maranta Propagation in LECA

My favorite technique lately is to root plant cuttings in LECA because it is just so simple. The moss won't dry out unless you keep an eye on it. Additionally, because they are not submerged in water, the roots usually develop a little more robustly.

Plant propagation in LECA is very easy, and I have a whole post dedicated to it. First, gather some LECA, or simply clay balls. Next, add a little LECA to your container.

To hold the cutting in place, add it and then cover the surrounding area with more LECA. And then fill the jar with water until it reaches the very bottom of the cutting, just below the nodes. The nodes should not be submerged in water; rather, they should only be in moist clay balls. Yummy.

Simply plant your cutting into soil when it develops some robust roots, and then continue to care for your new prayer plant as usual. Although I find that growing roots in LECA is much easier than growing them in water, it's fun to experiment with both.

LECA Vs. Water Roots

A comparison between water and LECA roots is something else I want to do for you all. This demonstrates why I adore LECA for propagation. The two cuttings in the picture below were both taken at the same time.

LECA roots are present in the cutting on the left, while a single tiny was root is present in the cutting on the right. The LECA roots not only appear to be stronger, but they are also bigger and more developed. The water root is not bad and will eventually succeed, but it is unmistakably different.

Prayer Plant Care

Bright, indirect sunlight is ideal for growing prayer plants. Low light is sufficient for them, but indirect light is ideal.

In order to prevent the roots from becoming soggy after watering, your pot must have good drainage. Root rot can result from wet roots. Either choose a pot with a drainage hole or fill the bottom of your pot with numerous pebbles.

If your home isn't naturally humid, you can use a spray bottle to simulate the humidity that prayer plants prefer. Use only filtered water, rainwater, and water that is at room temperature!

Placing your prayer plant close to other plants and leaving a small bowl of water nearby are additional ways to promote humidity.

Problems and Pests

Brown, Crispy Leaf Tips

This typically means your prayers aren't getting enough humidity. It might also indicate that you're watering unevenly or keeping the soil too dry. Keep in mind to consistently water your prayer plant.

Pale Or Yellowing Leaves

Prayer plants' yellow leaves could indicate that you're watering incorrectly (using too much or too little water) or that your plant is receiving excessive light. Consider your plant's surroundings to identify potential causes.

Root Rot

It's simple to overdo it and accidentally overwater a plant if it likes to stay a little moist. Too much overwatering may cause root rot. For more information, see my post on root rot.

Leaves Curling

It's too dry when the leaves on your prayer plant start to curl. After you give your plant a good watering, the leaves should return to normal.

Pests

Spider mites, mealybugs, and fungus gnats are examples of potential pests. For assistance with those pests, see my posts on getting rid of mealybugs and fungus gnats.

Providing your prayer plant with enough humidity will benefit it because spider mites prefer dry environments. Spray your plant with a hose or the shower to get rid of any pests if you see spider mites.

Apply an insecticidal soap next to the plant. If you have children or pets, read the label carefully and proceed with caution.

FAQs

Should I Mist My Prayer Plant?

These are tropical plants, and they do indeed naturally grow in humid environments. Your prayer plant gets the humidity it needs by being misted. For them to truly flourish, they require misting or a humidifier. Always use distilled or rainwater because the fluoride in tap water can cause brown spots on these plants.

Why Does My Prayer Plant Have Brown Tips?

Lack of water (humidity or otherwise) OR too much sun both result in brown spots on the leaves of prayer plants.

In the event that your plant turns brown, check to see if the brown appears crispy. If so, sunburn is most likely the cause. Its water content is low if it becomes more limp.

What Insects Get into Prayer Plants?

Before bringing indoor plants that have been outdoors, make sure they are free of spider mites, mealybugs, and aphids. This is especially true of prayer plants.

Can I Divide Prayer Plants?

Yes, you can create multiple plants from a large prayer plant by root dividing it.

Just take your plant out of the pot, then gently separate the roots. Repot the plant in new pots after you've broken it up into the desired number of pieces!

When is the Best Time to Propagate a Maranta?

The best time to propagate plants is in the spring and summer, when they are actively growing. But as an indoor plant, you can successfully multiply all year long!

Can You Propagate a Prayer Plant from a Leaf?

For a prayer plant cutting to take root, you need a node. A leaf cannot develop roots on its own!