Plant care guide
Maranta Propagation: Divide the Clump or Root a Cutting
Updated
How do you propagate a Prayer plant?
Prayer plant (Maranta leuconeura) is easiest to propagate by dividing its rhizomes when you repot. Stem or basal cuttings with at least one node also root, in mix or water, if you keep them warm and humid.
What to do first
In spring, unpot the plant and split the clump into sections that each have roots, rhizome and leaves, then pot them in fresh mix. For cuttings, cut just below a node, keep two nodes bare for the mix, cover with a clear bag and keep warm in bright, indirect light.
Prayer plant (Maranta leuconeura) spreads sideways from creeping rhizomes. NC State Extension’s Maranta profile says it spreads horizontally and recommends propagating it by rhizome division. The RHS Maranta leuconeura page lists basal cuttings, division and seed.
Division is the most reliable for home growers. Cuttings work too, and they let you multiply a plant without unpotting it.
Choose a method
| Method | Best for | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| Division | A full pot with several clumps of stems | A clean knife, fresh mix and a pot for each piece |
| Stem or basal cutting | A plant you don’t want to unpot, or a stem broken off | A stem with at least two nodes, rooting mix, a clear bag |
| Water rooting | Watching roots form | A jar, clean water, a stem with a node |
Iowa State University Extension’s propagation guide lists division as the best method for prayer plant. It says early spring through summer is the best time, and to use only healthy, vigorous plants. Skip any plant with pests or mottled, weak growth.
Dividing a prayer plant
- Ease the plant out and shake or tease off the old mix so you can see the rhizomes.
- Find natural breaks. Look for separate groups of stems, each with its own roots.
- Pull the clump apart. The University of Nevada’s houseplant propagation fact sheet advises pulling apart by hand as far as possible before using a knife, to limit root damage.
- Pot each section at the depth it grew before, in fresh, well-drained potting mix. Illinois Extension’s repotting page gives the same depth rule for any houseplant.
- Water, then keep evenly moist. Illinois Extension’s prayer plant page warns not to let water stand on the crowns, because the stems rot easily.
Make sure each piece has its own roots and leaves.
Stem cuttings
The University of Nevada lists stem cuttings as well as division for prayer plant. Its method for soft-stemmed houseplants:
- Cut a 7.5–10 cm (3–4 in) piece from a stem tip, just below a node. A node is the slightly swollen joint where a leaf meets the stem.
- Strip the lower leaves, leaving at least two nodes bare to go into the mix.
- Dip the base in rooting powder if you like, then insert it into moist potting mix.
- Water and cover the pot with a clear plastic bag to hold in humidity.
- Keep it warm and out of direct sun. New growth is the sign roots have formed. Then remove the bag and gradually give more light.
Illinois Extension’s cuttings guide adds the timing. Tender cuttings may root within a week; tougher ones take 10 to 14 days. Pot them up when roots are about 2.5 cm (1 in) long.
The RHS also lists basal cuttings, taken from shoots at the base of the plant.
Rooting in water
A stem with a node will often root in a jar of water. The University of Nevada advises changing the water every few days to keep it fresh. It also warns that cuttings may suffer some shock when moved from water to soil. Pot them up once a good root system has formed, and keep the mix evenly moist while they settle.
Aftercare
NC State says prayer plant needs bright, indirect light and high humidity. Too much sun bleaches the leaf colours. The RHS gives a minimum of 10 °C (50 °F), and NC State warns the plant is intolerant of low temperatures and cold draughts.
- Keep the mix evenly moist through the growing season, as NC State advises, and slightly drier in winter.
- Stand pots on a tray of wet pebbles for humidity.
- Watch for spider mites and mealybugs, which NC State and the RHS both list.
Prayer plant is safe to grow around pets. The ASPCA lists prayer plant, including Maranta, as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses.
Our prayer plant care guide covers light, water quality and feeding for the new plants. If leaves curl after dividing, see our prayer plant curling leaves guide. For how Maranta differs from Calathea, see Calathea vs Maranta. Other species and methods are in our houseplant propagation guide.
References
- NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox: Maranta leuconeura
- RHS: Maranta leuconeura, prayer plant
- Illinois Extension: Prayer Plant
- Illinois Extension: Cuttings
- Illinois Extension: Repotting
- Iowa State University Extension and Outreach: Propagating Houseplants
- University of Nevada Cooperative Extension: Propagating Houseplants (FS-98-92)
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: Prayer Plant
How this guide was put together: NC State Extension, RHS, Illinois Extension, Iowa State University Extension, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension and ASPCA guidance.