It's always a pleasant surprise when any houseplant flowers. Did you know that Maranta leuconeura, or the common "prayer plant" can flower indoors? Learn everything you wanted to know about prayer plant flowers in this post, in addition to some handy care tips so that you can ensure your plant can thrive in your home.
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Like any plant in the Marantaceae family, prayer plants are known for their leaves folding up and "praying" during night time, and then relaxing back down during the day.
1. What does a prayer plant flower look like?
Although this is a flowering plant, the reason we all grow this plant is for the striking foliage. Flowers are very small and are normally white and purple.
Depending on the species and variety, the amount of white and purple will vary in the flower, as will the coloration in the foliage.
The flowers have 3 petals and two larger staminodes.
Many sources online call them rare, but I can tell you from personal experience that they are not. Like anything, this of course depending on your ability to provide good conditions for your plant.
I had a prayer plant once in a prior home that bloomed regularly throughout the year.
It lived in a warm bathroom right in front of a north-facing window which received bright but indirect light.
It was even watered with plain tap water and received no special treatment. Be sure to read my section on water quality later in this post though, as this can have a big effect on your plant over time.
3. When does a prayer plant flower?
Blooming tends to occur the most during the active growing seasons of spring and summer.
4. How to get a prayer plant to flower
Providing good conditions, similar to growing conditions in their native habitat, will help encourage blooming. Here is a quick recap of general care for prayer plants:
LIGHT
Prayer plants are rainforest floor dwelling plants, so a window with bright light (without direct sun) will work well. A little direct sun indoors won't harm them, but they do not like too much.
If your plant is in too dark of a location, growth will suffer and you probably won't get any blooms. Sufficient light is important in encouraging any flowering plant to produce flowers.
TEMPERATURE
It's important to provide consistently warm temperatures for these plants. They will not tolerate cold temperatures or cold drafts.
Make sure your plant isn't located in any areas where they could potentially receive cold drafts from vents or doors opening and closing during cold weather. They prefer consistently warm temperatures.
Watering my prayer plant in the sink
HUMIDITY
These plants will appreciate high humidity. If you can situate them in a bathroom, which is naturally more humid, this would be ideal.
Otherwise, invest in a great humidifier so that they can have their best chance at being happy in your home.
WATERING
Prayer plants like consistently moist conditions.
Never allow the soil to dry out completely, otherwise you will quickly get plenty of curling and brown leaves. I have a separate blog post where I discuss the issue of curling, brown leaves in prayer plants.
Allow no more than approximately the top inch of soil to dry out before watering again.
FERTILIZING
Be sure to fertilize regularly during active growth. I like to use Dyna-Gro Grow for most of my plants. It is a urea-free, complete fertilizer that contains all the micro and macro nutrients that plants need to thrive.
WATER QUALITY
Maranta plants don't like tap water, and over time, can develop brown tips due to fluoride and other additives found in tap water. Use rainwater or distilled water if you can. (Please note that brown edges on leaves in general are also commonly caused by leaving your soil too dry.)
In addition, when foliage is wet with hard water, it can leave mineral deposits on leaves.
Hard water deposits on my prayer plant leaves
5. Should i cut prayer plant flowers off?
If your prayer plant has bloomed, and you've been satisfied with witnessing the (insignificant) flower show, it is probably best to cut off the flower spikes.
This will simply allow your plant to redirect its energy to focus on foliage growth versus on flower production.
That being said, your plant won't necessarily suffer if you leave the flowers to develop. At a minimum, I would just make sure to remove any spent flowers and flower stalks after blooming is over in order to keep your plant tidier.
Has your prayer plant bloomed for you? Comment below. I'd love to hear!
I have a story to tell. I have a prayer plant that was given to me 3 years ago. I was concerned it wasn't happy. Just looked less than optimal. Five weeks ago I received a breast cancer diagnosis, requiring surgery. One week before the scheduled surgery my prayer plant flowered!! I never knew it could. I had thought I was losing it. I cried! Don't tell me prayers aren't answered, even acknowledged through a plant! Lesson learned: be encouraged and trusting. Plants can pray 🙂 God speaks through his creations.
I have my prayer plant for maybe 4-5 years and it starts to bloom just this year 2023; it's amazing and it's been blooming for three months now, I love it but I cut the spent one every time.
My prayer plant is over 40 years old, and it flowers. However, recently it has spread out, it was really upright before, it is very healthy and still prays.
Any suggestions.Sg
Mine bloomed when I first got it in June and now it's flowering again! (October) I'm in Illinois so it's pretty cold now too, so it was definitely surprising.
My prayer plant blooms frequently. It started in the winter with a few but recently is blooming quite vigorously. I do not give it extra TLC just a west side window. Fertilizer once a month and tap water. I did transplant it this summer and may again come springing it keeps growing this fast. It seems very content .
My prayer plant started flowering in May 2022 and hasn't stopped since (it even went through a 9 hour car ride during this time)! I'm thinking it's time to start nipping back the flower stalks. It's got about 6 different stalks all with multiple blooms and it's also put out a few new leaves. I think it's lost its mind!
I just saw 2 flowers on my wandering prayer plant. Winter time it is in a north east window. Right now being summer, it is out on my front porch (has a roof) and it grows and thrives like crazy. It was given to me 4 1/2 yrs ago when my husband died. It was in a mixed pot. Every plant is in its own pot all are thriving. I don't know what the other 2 plants are.
But in the winter I have a problem with a pest that likes to eat the leaves. I think they are stink bugs. I have been having quite a problem with them, just in the winter.
Hi Linda, sorry to hear about the stink bugs! I've seen them occasionally in our house as well, but I don't think they've ever eaten any of my plants' leaves.
My Prayer Plant is 3 to 4 feet tall plus width , they produced flowers on the fish bones , once they all bloomed it started to turn brown so I decided to cut of the fish bones on the stem but left the stems hope this will not effect my plant , had my plant for 3 years and never have a problem . I did not know u had to trim them and put new soil I was worried it might breaks some leaves of my plant.
Wow! It sounds like you have quite a specimen, so keep doing what you're doing! It will not harm your plant at all if you leave them...When they get totally brown and and dry, you can carefully snip them off if you'd like.
Yes! I’ve taken up houseplants as a hobby and the last year and picked up a prayer plant without any knowledge and she is thriving, surprisingly! Tons of new growth and after about 3 months she started to put out flowers! She in a north facing window (it’s and old window that is very drafty) but I’ve been so pleased with this plant!
We just found a flower on our prayer plant! Tiny little thing. It normally sits on the floor by a north-facing window. I think the warm weather this week sparked some inspiration.
My prayer plant has 2 flowers so cute
They are very cute!
Everybody talks about how rare it is for Prayer plants to bloom inside the house/office. What about blooming OUTSIDE, is that even more rare?
This is actually the first time I've ever seen a Prayer plant bloom. I didn't know that they would flower.
It's definitely not rare. The word rare is used much too frequently 🙂 It will probably bloom even more freely outside.
I have a story to tell. I have a prayer plant that was given to me 3 years ago. I was concerned it wasn't happy. Just looked less than optimal. Five weeks ago I received a breast cancer diagnosis, requiring surgery. One week before the scheduled surgery my prayer plant flowered!! I never knew it could. I had thought I was losing it. I cried! Don't tell me prayers aren't answered, even acknowledged through a plant! Lesson learned: be encouraged and trusting. Plants can pray 🙂 God speaks through his creations.
Wishing you a speedy and full recovery!
I have my prayer plant for maybe 4-5 years and it starts to bloom just this year 2023; it's amazing and it's been blooming for three months now, I love it but I cut the spent one every time.
Sounds like it's a happy plant 🙂
My prayer plant is over 40 years old, and it flowers. However, recently it has spread out, it was really upright before, it is very healthy and still prays.
Any suggestions.Sg
I'd have to see a photo, but it sounds like your plant is fine. Maybe it just got too big and is more spread out from the weight?
i got a bloomer. a nice surprise, yes?
It is!
Were can I get one &for how much my wife loved her prayer plant but let it when we moved
Prices will vary, but you can find them practically at any garden center that carries houseplants. I even see them in grocery stores.
Mine bloomed when I first got it in June and now it's flowering again! (October) I'm in Illinois so it's pretty cold now too, so it was definitely surprising.
Plants will have a mind of their own sometimes 🙂
My prayer plant blooms frequently. It started in the winter with a few but recently is blooming quite vigorously. I do not give it extra TLC just a west side window. Fertilizer once a month and tap water. I did transplant it this summer and may again come springing it keeps growing this fast. It seems very content .
Sounds like a very happy plant, Amy!
My prayer plant started flowering in May 2022 and hasn't stopped since (it even went through a 9 hour car ride during this time)! I'm thinking it's time to start nipping back the flower stalks. It's got about 6 different stalks all with multiple blooms and it's also put out a few new leaves. I think it's lost its mind!
Sounds like it is very happy!! 🙂
I just saw 2 flowers on my wandering prayer plant. Winter time it is in a north east window. Right now being summer, it is out on my front porch (has a roof) and it grows and thrives like crazy. It was given to me 4 1/2 yrs ago when my husband died. It was in a mixed pot. Every plant is in its own pot all are thriving. I don't know what the other 2 plants are.
But in the winter I have a problem with a pest that likes to eat the leaves. I think they are stink bugs. I have been having quite a problem with them, just in the winter.
Hi Linda, sorry to hear about the stink bugs! I've seen them occasionally in our house as well, but I don't think they've ever eaten any of my plants' leaves.
I inherited my prayer plant from my mom. I have it in a shady north facing window and it has double in size and is flowering profusely.
Sounds like it's very happy 🙂
My Prayer Plant is 3 to 4 feet tall plus width , they produced flowers on the fish bones , once they all bloomed it started to turn brown so I decided to cut of the fish bones on the stem but left the stems hope this will not effect my plant , had my plant for 3 years and never have a problem . I did not know u had to trim them and put new soil I was worried it might breaks some leaves of my plant.
Wow! It sounds like you have quite a specimen, so keep doing what you're doing! It will not harm your plant at all if you leave them...When they get totally brown and and dry, you can carefully snip them off if you'd like.
Yes! I’ve taken up houseplants as a hobby and the last year and picked up a prayer plant without any knowledge and she is thriving, surprisingly! Tons of new growth and after about 3 months she started to put out flowers! She in a north facing window (it’s and old window that is very drafty) but I’ve been so pleased with this plant!
Sounds like you're doing a great job with your plant! 🙂
We just found a flower on our prayer plant! Tiny little thing. It normally sits on the floor by a north-facing window. I think the warm weather this week sparked some inspiration.
It's always a nice surprise!
My prayer plant has bloomed once in over 20 years and I was totally surprised because I had no idea that they ever bloomed.
Aren't they cute little flowers? 🙂