To Stake or Not to Stake? The Epic Dilemma for Your Prayer Plant!

Have you decided to stake your prayer plant that is not having proper growth on all sides? I think you are here from the confusion that how much this staking is beneficial to your plant.

Should I stake my prayer plant? To answer this question, I have to provide one more piece of information on whether the plant has climbing properties or not. 

Prayer plants normally grow from the existing stems. They don’t climb up like pothos or philodendron plants. As a result, it won’t be served to the prayer plant even if you put a straight stake. But you can use a wire cage for staking purposes.

Still, I have to answer a lot that why staking is not so helpful for this plant and if used why wire cage? Let’s enter all of these answers.

What are the causes of prayer plant side growing?

Prayer plants, in other words, Maranta leuconuera, is a plant native to Brazilian tropical forests under the family Marantaceae. They are perennial plants. 

The leaves are broad (around 12cm) and green-colored. The veins are near to white. Grayish, light green or brownish spots are seen on the leaves that are arranged systematically. 

They are grown as near to bushy plants as they grow stems from the side of the main stem. But sometimes this systematic growth is hampered and unwanted side growing is caused.

Before revealing the causes of prayer plant side growing, I want to discuss the plant type of a prayer plant because it will help you to understand the difference between normal growth and side growth.

The prayer plants always love to create a bushy formation by their stems. They can grow almost around 10 inches. Instead of growing upward, they produce stems and leaves around from each stem and grow horizontally. 

Though this natural growth is suitable, sometimes some abnormal side growing can also happen as a new experience for you. But the experience may not always be pleasing because sometimes this may lead the plant to death.

Let’s check out the causes of side growing. 

Sunlight issue

This issue concludes in the plant’s excessive growth in a certain portion and the death of other portions of the full plant. But what’s in the starting?

Yeah! I will tell you so. The factor is that the prayer plant needs a definite amount of sunlight in a certain range all over the day. If you put your plant in such a situation where any definite plant part is getting more sunlight than the others, only that part will be nourished properly and stems will come out from that side.

But the other sides will remain unimproved and there will be no growth there. So the plant will exhibit side growth. 

Solution

Keep the prayer plant near the window or in a place from where it can get enough sunlight. The sunlight should be indirect and the temperature should remain between 16-26°c.

Overwatering

Overwatering is another culprit that may disturb your plant if you are not conscious. The all-over improvement of a prayer plant remains on how you treat it. Watering is an important issue for its growth. 

Sometimes overwatering can cause the drooping off some leaves. Again, pest attacks can also happen because of it. Aphids, mites, scales etc. pests will harm your plant.

At that time, the plant feels stressed and it grows stems without any definite arrangement. That creates an unwanted shape of your prayer plant.

Solution

Let your plant dry properly from the inside. The soil should not be too dry to break up like clogs but it should get enough moisture and watering. High humidity is also important to the improvement of this plant.

Natural growth

Though you are sure of not happening any unwanted things such as underwatering, failure in nutrient management, overwatering etc. side growing can also be seen and that is natural.

When the plant starts to grow stems between leaves, the natural balanced formation of the plant is embarrassing. In this case, one specific part becomes leggy and others may remain dwarf. 

But this kind of imbalance without any reason is rare. This can happen because of the weather and climatic conditions of your region.

Do prayer plants need staking?

Suppose, you are taking a plant. But if it is not of climbing type, will the stake be helpful for that plant?

I think you are thinking that it is useless. But this is an incident that happens to a prayer plant. Like every plant, a prayer plant also has its type to grow and develop. Simply think to yourself. The plant rises only around 10 inches, how can it climb a stake?

Prayer plants normally form a braky outlook on the forest floor. It has no climbing procedure in its inner mechanism. It also cannot grow through a moss pole. So, the staking process will not have any notable influence on a prayer plant.

But still, I can suggest specific staking that may have a little effect on the side growing of a prayer plant.

Which is the best tool for staking prayer plants? 

As I have mentioned earlier, prayer plants normally don’t need any staking because of a lack of climbing procedure in their natural growth mechanism. So you have no advantages in traditional staking. But sometimes specific staking can be of your use and that is “wire cage”.

But why is this staking? 

As a concerned gardener, you must know about the topic of how a plant growth retards. One of the most important facts, in this case, is some obstacles that a plant faces in its growing period.

At that time, if the causes of side growing do not happen, you may easily control the overgrowth in any side of the plant. If the plant starts to deform its shape, the cage will create barriers to its growth and the plant won’t be deformed so much.

How can I stake my plant?

In the case of staking a prayer plant, a wire cage is the best option for you. Using a wire cage is a simple and non-troubling method.

You can have a wire cage from shops or you can make it yourself. You don’t need to tie this with the plant. Just simply put it around your plant. When you place the cage, the plant will get a fixed space to grow. 

But you have to make sure that the plant is getting enough space for its normal growth. The wire cage won’t be able to stop the side growing. It is only a barrier. You have to stop the irregularities that are happening with the plant at the same time. Then, this wire cage will be more helpful.

As a prayer plant is not so dependable on staking, you should not expect much influence from the cage. But it may have a beneficial effect on your plant.

Will staking lose the beauty of the prayer plant? 

What do you think? Well, frankly speaking, a prayer plant that is in a wire cage won’t serve you more with its supreme beauty.

Why do we call it a prayer plant?

The beautiful leaves of the plant that have marked spots are the main attraction of a prayer plant. This plant is called a prayer plant as the leaves are folded in the evening in such a form that it looks like they raise their hand for praying.

The staking may create obstacles in this extraordinary view. Honestly speaking, staking won’t lose the beauty of your prayer plant but it will create an obstacle that may reduce the enjoyment of the beauty.

Will staking be harmful to prayer plants?

No! Staking won’t be harmful to prayer plants. Staking is just done around the plant. It only covers the surroundings. Perfect staking won’t block the plant from the proper establishment.

To get better ideas about a prayer plant caring, enjoy the following video. You may also enjoy the folding of a prayer plant from here.

Final thoughts

Well, now it is the time for wrapping up. Hopefully, you have gotten the answer to your confusion about whether you will stake your prayer plant or not.

The prayer plant is glamorous in its look. The blotches are the ultimate style of them and the rhythm of their evening activities is enough for the peace of mind. It won’t need excessive care. But some specific matters will decrease their side growing percentage and you won’t need to be thoughtful for their staking.

Staking is not an appropriate solution for their side-growing problem. So try to keep balance in their natural beauty while maintaining their demands.