Prayer Plant Propagation (3 Easy Methods)

Are you fascinated by the elegant prayer plants with their leaves mimicking a worshiping stance? Then, it’s only natural to desire to multiply your beautiful green companions with striking foliage. You can expand easily your plant collection if you know how to propagate a prayer plant.

There is more than one method of propagating prayer plants, depending on the variety you have - in water, in soil, and by division. All three are pretty straightforward, especially if you understand the importance of where to cut the prayer plant for propagation. What tools and supplies you need for player plant propagation are also key, as well as the right timing to achieve success. 

So, keep reading to find out everything that there is to know about growing new prayer plants. 

All About Prayer Plants

Prayer plants are a popular name given to a variety of plants from the Maranta or Calathea genus. They’re called prayer plants because of their interesting leaf movement called nyctinasty. In the morning, the leaves are upright and spread out and in the evening, they fold, resembling an action of prayer. Their foliage displays various shapes, variegations, spots, strokes, and colors. However, there’s one thing common among most of them. The leaves have a touch of purple on the underside, which is revealed when they fold at night.

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Both types of prayer plants enjoy similar growing conditions. But while Maranta plants can be, sometimes, finicky, caring for Calatheas is usually easy. These tropical plants grow best in warm temperatures between 60°F and 75°F. Calathea prefers high humidity levels, while Maranta can handle medium humidity well. They should be watered every 1-2 weeks and be placed in a spot with medium bright, indirect light.  

Popular varieties are the Peacock Plant (Calathea roseopicta), Calathea ‘Freddie’ (Calathea concinna 'Freddie'), Calathea Rattlesnake (Calathea lancifolia), Calathea Orbifolia (Calathea orbifolia), Maranta Red Prayer Plant (Maranta leuconeura var. kerchoveana), Maranta Marisela (Maranta leuconeura /Marisela’) and more.

These are pet-friendly plants that can safely add beauty to a home with pets. In addition, both Maranta and Calathea plants are famous for their strong air-purifying properties. That's why propagating prayer plants is a good idea. You can expand your collection or share your baby prayer plant as a gift with someone special.

Related: Calathea Plants and Pet Safety: Toxicity Concerns for Cats and Dogs

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Prayer Plant Propagation: Tools and Supplies 

To propagate a prayer plant, you will need a few tools and materials like the following:

• Scissors or knife
• Disinfectant
• Container with water
• Potting mix
• Planting pots
• Rooting hormone (optional)
• Plastic bag or clingfilm

Sanitize your cutting tools with rubbing alcohol before use to prevent the risk of infecting your new plants with pests or diseases.

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When to Propagate a Prayer Plant

The best time to propagate a prayer plant is early spring. This is when the plant wakes up and enters its active growth phase. Environmental factors like light and temperature are also optimal during this time of the year, which enhances the propagation process. 

How to Propagate Prayer Plant in 3 Easy Ways 

Propagating prayer plants can be done by both seasoned and beginner gardeners. It’s a satisfying experience that can be done in three easy ways: in water, in soil, or by division. It’s worth noting that the 3 techniques are equally viable for propagating Maranta plants. On that note, Calathea propagation is best done by the method of division.

1. Can You Propagate a Prayer Plant in Water?

Prayer plant water propagation is one of the easiest ways to grow new plants. You’ll need a stem cutting for this purpose. Cut a section of a healthy stem of your Maranta plant, one inch below a node, making sure it has a few leaves. 

To propagate a prayer plant in water from cutting, follow the steps below:

• Fill a container with filtered or overnight water at room temperature. Place the cutting in it with the leaves above the water surface. 
• Place it in a spot that receives bright, indirect light. Change the water weekly.
• Within 3-4 weeks, the cutting should develop roots of roughly 1”-2” in length. At this point, transfer it to a pot with soil.   
• Water the plant to keep the soil moist. 

Here’s a video that shows you how to propagate prayer plants in water.

2. How to Propagate Prayer Plant in Soil

Prayer plant propagation in soil is another method of growing new prayer plants from an existing one (applies to Maranta plants). In this case, too, you’ll need a stem cutting that’s cut 1” below a node. Then, follow the steps below:

• Dip the cut end into the rooting hormone to speed up root growth. 
• Fill a planter with well-draining soil and place the cutting in it.
• Cover it with clear plastic to create a humid environment. 
• Place the pot in bright, indirect sunlight. 
• Water the soil to keep it moist.  
• Once roots develop in a few weeks (check by tugging very gently on the plant), remove the plastic cover.

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3. How Do You Propagate Prayer Plants by Division?

To propagate prayer plants by division (the ideal method for Calatheas), you have to divide a mature plant into sections. This is usually done when you’re about to repot the plant into a larger pot. Instead, you will transplant the smaller divisions into individual smaller pots. Here are the steps to do that:

• Gently pull the prayer plant out of its current pot. 
• Remove excess soil to get a clear view of the root ball. 
• Identify the sections you’re going to separate and gently cut through the root system of the plant with a sharp sterilized knife. 
• Each division should have healthy roots, stems, and leaves to survive on its own. 
• Place each new section in a separate pot with potting mix. 
• Water your new plants thoroughly and place them in bright, indirect sunlight.   

Check out the video below to learn how to divide a Calathea prayer plant.

How Do You Propagate and Care for a Prayer Plant? 

Here are a few prayer plant care tips to enhance the propagation and healthy growth of these gorgeous houseplants:

1. Soil: Use a well-draining potting soil. Adding peat moss, vermiculite/perlite, and compost can create a nutrient-rich medium.
2. Water: Make sure that the soil is properly watered. Give the plants a drink regularly to ensure the soil is moist but not soggy; avoid overwatering, which can lead to leaf curling and other issues. 
3. Fertilizer: Give your prayer plants a water-soluble balanced fertilizer once every 2 weeks during the growing season. Reduce it to once a month during the dormant season.
4. Light: Keep your newly propagated Maranta or Calathea prayer plants in a spot with bright, indirect sunlight. Keep them away from direct, scorching light. 
5. Environment: Ensure your prayer plants are kept in  a warm, humid environment that mimics tropical conditions. 

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Prayer Plant Propagation: FAQs

Q: Can prayer plants grow in water?

A: Prayer plants can easily be propagated in water. If they belong to the Maranta genus. You need a cutting from the parent plant, which you'll then place in water. Once the roots form and become a couple of inches long, you need to move the cutting to a pot with soil. 

Q: How do you transplant a prayer plant?

A: Transplanting a prayer plant is easy. Start by watering it in its current pot. Let the water drain, and then remove the plant gently from the pot. Then, take a pot 2" larger than the previous one and fill it, halfway, with a well-draining soil mix. Place the plant in it and cover it with more soil. 

Q: Where do you cut a prayer plant to propagate?

A: To propagate a prayer plant from cutting, it’s important to choose a healthy stem with a few leaves and make a cut one inch below a node. A node is the thick part of the stem at the base of a leaf. 

Q: What is the soil mixture for Prayer Plants?

A: Prayer plants can grow in any type of universal potting mix. But you can also make a nutrient-rich blend of well-draining soil mixture yourself. Combine one part of loamy soil and one part of perlite, vermiculite, or coarse sand with two parts of sphagnum peat moss.   

Q: Do Prayer Plants like crowded roots?

A: Prayer plants do not like root crowing as it can restrict their growth. They also do not like too much space as excess soil can hold a lot of water, causing root rot. What they need is a balanced, snug fit in the pot. 

Conclusion 

Propagating a prayer plant is a great way of expanding your plant collection and adding more greenery to your home. And since the process is not too complicated, you will have more plants in no time to even give away to friends and family.