Maranta Red Prayer Plant - Everything You Need To Know

The Maranta Red Prayer Plant is a great-looking plant and one of those amazing indoor tropical plants that add a lush feel to your home. This is why more people acquire this plant for interior design and to improve their home's overall appeal and style. With that being said, it's important to learn how to take care of a Maranta Red Prayer and what requirements it has. Here are some guidelines you need to consider.

For the Soil

The recommended soil type for a Maranta Red Prayer is moist. However, we recommend having proper drainage, as this is important for this plant. Otherwise, you can encounter problems, and that's the thing you want to consider the most. Another thing about Maranta Red Prayer soil is that you need the pH to be neutral to acidic. It will help your plant thrive, and the overall results can be amazing. Of course, that's the thing to remember as much as possible here.

Watering

The watering schedule for any Maranta Red Prayer plant is not overly complicated. Generally, you need to water it once a week. It's a plant that likes to stay moist. You don't have to water it every 2-3 days, but it still needs weekly watering to survive and thrive in the long run. This is a light care plant, so you never must worry about dealing with major requirements. But it still has its fair share of guidelines and things to consider.

For the Temperature

Most prayer plants like the Maranta Red Prayer prefer regular home temperatures. So, you will be fine if it's anywhere between 60 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. This plant simply cannot withstand low temperatures; if anything, that will damage the leaves. Sometimes, their leaves will end up dropping from the plant.

As we said earlier, this works great in a humid environment. It's a clever idea to have a humidifier near it. Or you can have the plant on a tray filled with water and small stones. Also, you can even mist those leaves frequently with water at room temperature, which is a clever way to ensure your plant is always moist without any issues.  

For the fertilizer

For fertilizing, your Maranta Red Prayer must be done every 2 weeks. Starting with the early spring and then through the fall, but you can do it once a month during the winter. Some water-soluble fertilizer diluted to half its potency is what you want to focus on.

The important thing here is that if there's not enough fertilizer, the plant won't grow, sometimes not even a little bit. If you add too much fertilizer, you end up on the extreme side because the fertilizer can burn the roots of this plant. The leaves will become brown, and eventually, the plant dies.

Pruning

The Maranta Red Prayer needs pruning too. You want to cut above the leaf nodes with a pair of sterilized scissors. Don't prune too often, 2-3 times every year can be a great option, which will help make the plant look amazing in the long run. Doing this also makes it easy to remove dead leaves or any of the leggy stems. As we said, don't prune the plant too often, but adequate pruning is necessary, and it will make a difference.

Repotting

One thing to remember with the Maranta Red Prayer is that you don't need frequent repotting. Sometimes, this might be needed, but it usually happens every 2-3 years. What signs should you look for? One of the main signs is that the plant is becoming larger and larger, and it's outgrowing its pot. The foliage, in particular, is dwarfing the pot. When that happens, you want to address the situation the best way you can. Repotting becomes a necessity at that point.

Cleaning

There aren't a whole lot of things to do for cleaning. However, there are a few ideas to focus on. For example, once every month, you can wipe the leaves with a damp cloth. This helps remove dust, and it will also make it easier for the leaves to breathe properly. You want to avoid watering the leaves directly. As we said earlier, a little water mist can be ok, but watering directly can damage the leaves, which is one of the important aspects to consider here.

Propagating

You'll notice that the process is not that complicated for propagating the Maranta Red Prayer plants. When you start repotting, divide the plant into smaller plants. Now you want to be certain that each plant has plenty of roots and some stems too. Then you must pot the new plants separately; use shallow pots if possible. Making sure that the divisions are moist and warm in the first couple of weeks is ideal, as it will help prevent any possible problems.

Conclusion

As you can see, nurturing the Maranta Red Prayer and taking diligent care is not that complicated. This plant has some unique requirements, so addressing those from the start is a great idea. We always recommend avoiding any rush and ensuring you understand this plant's needs. Once you do that, tackling any challenges becomes much easier. Thankfully, the Maranta Red Prayer has few pests and a plant that can withstand a week without watering. It's a good idea to follow the guidelines above, as that will help prevent any possible issues in the long run!