When to Repot and Propagate Prayer Plant

Best time to repot

Late winter to early spring. UF/IFAS Extension in Nassau County recommends February or March, and only when the plant has outgrown its container. N.C. Cooperative Extension gives the same reasoning for houseplants in general: a plant repotted in spring has the whole growing season to root into the new mix. A prayer plant repotted in fall sits in a larger volume of damp soil through its slow winter months, when NC State already advises letting the surface dry between waterings.

Signs it needs repotting

Prayer plant spreads sideways from rhizomes, so a clump that has filled the pot from rim to rim is a strong hint. N.C. Cooperative Extension lists the other general signs:

• Roots coming out of the drainage holes or appearing on the soil surface.
• Mix that dries out much faster than it used to, so the plant wilts between waterings.
• Lower leaves yellowing, or slow growth even with spring and summer feeding.

Rule out the usual causes of yellow leaves first. Wet soil or water left on the crown rots the stems, and that looks nothing like a crowded but healthy root ball when you slip the plant out.

Pot and mix

Keep it shallow. UF/IFAS notes the roots are shallow and recommends shallow pots. Choose one with a drainage hole and no more than 2 inches wider than the old pot, the general limit in the Wayne County Extension guide, which also advises against adding gravel at the bottom because it slows drainage. Use regular, well-drained potting mix, set the plant at the same depth, and water it in thoroughly.

When and how to propagate

Divide prayer plant at repotting time, in late winter or early spring. NC State and UF/IFAS both give division of the rhizomes as the way to propagate it.

1. Ease the plant out of the pot and gently pull or cut the clump into sections, each with roots and several leaves.
2. Pot each section in a small, shallow pot of fresh mix at its original depth.
3. Keep the mix evenly moist and the air humid while new growth starts.

When to move it outdoors

Prayer plant is tropical and, according to NC State, does not tolerate low temperatures or cold drafts. UF/IFAS gives 60 to 85°F as its usual range. That makes the stricter of the extension thresholds the right one. University of Maryland Extension says to put houseplants out only after night temperatures stay above 60°F, usually mid-May or early June in Maryland. Iowa State uses 50°F for houseplants in general, which is too cool for this one.

Put it in full shade first and keep it there or in light shade. Iowa State warns that outdoor shade is many times brighter than indoors, and NC State says direct sun bleaches prayer plant’s leaf colors. Outdoors, check the soil often; it should stay evenly moist through summer.

When to bring it back in

Bring it indoors as night temperatures begin to drop below 60°F, which University of Maryland Extension says is usually mid-September in Maryland. Do not wait for frost.

Check it carefully first. Maryland Extension notes that aphids, spider mites and scale are kept in check outside by beneficial insects but can multiply once indoors, and suggests treating plants with a labeled insecticidal soap or horticultural oil before moving them in. Iowa State adds rinsing the foliage outside and keeping the plant apart from other houseplants for 3 to 4 weeks. Back inside, give it bright, indirect light, a humid spot away from cold windows, and less water as winter approaches.