Prayer Plant Toxicity
Houseplants bring the outdoors in and add greenery and life to the home. However, some houseplants are extremely toxic or poisonous. Animals often like to nibble on plants and children will put anything in their mouths at a certain age. This is why it's important to know if your plants are toxic or non-toxic. The prayer plant is a common houseplant grown primarily for its brightly veined leaves and colors. The plant doesn't need a lot of special care and can be grown indoors in any climate.
Identification
Prayer plant is a houseplant or greenhouse specimen that is only hardy in zones 11 to 12. The plant grows in a bushy shape with large oval leaves highlighted with colored veins. The leaves fold at night as if in prayer and this characteristic provided its name. There are a couple of species with leaf variations. M kerchoveana has light green leaves and brown color between the veins, while M erythrophylla has multi-colored leaves.
Care
Prayer plant is also known as Maranta leucoreura. It is a heat-loving plant that needs high humidity to grow well. The sunlight should be indirect to prevent burning of the foliage. Prayer plants prefer nicely damp, but not soaking soil, and should not be kept sitting in water. The plant needs to be fertilized every two weeks, from spring to fall. Prayer plants go dormant in the winter and will have less needs during this time. The soil can be kept dryer, fertilization should cease and it can tolerate cooler conditions (60 degrees Fahrenheit). Misting the plant daily helps keep the humidity surrounding the leaves. The leaves should be kept dusted.
- Prayer plant is a houseplant or greenhouse specimen that is only hardy in zones 11 to 12.
- The sunlight should be indirect to prevent burning of the foliage.
Non-toxic Plant Lists
Plants rate third in cause of poisonings in children, next to medicines and household chemicals, according to the University of Nebraska. The worry that your child (or pet) might get into a toxic plant and be harmed is enough to scare most parents away from indoor plants. But there are numerous agencies--from Poison Control to university extensions--that publish non-toxic plant lists. It is easy to identify your plant and check its toxicity before you bring it into the home.
Prayer Plant Toxicity
The Prayer plant is listed as non-toxic on several websites for pet owners. It is also listed as non-toxic on the University of Nebraska Extension's toxicity pages and numerous individual state publications. It seems unanimous that the plant is not dangerous either through digestion or contact. It makes an excellent addition to a home with little ones and four-footed friends. It is also non-toxic to birds and can be added to a terrarium with invertebrates.
- Plants rate third in cause of poisonings in children, next to medicines and household chemicals, according to the University of Nebraska.
- It is also listed as non-toxic on the University of Nebraska Extension's toxicity pages and numerous individual state publications.
Plants to Avoid
Prayer plant is safe for the home environment and your family. But numerous other common houseplants are not. The Garden Helper lists philodendrons, crown of thorns, amaryllis, spider plants and ivy as dangerous. Other plants include: azalea, bird of paradise, iris, lily of the valley, tulips, daffodils and numerous other plants. It is best to consult your local Poison Control to verify the safety of any plants you bring into the home.
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Writer Bio
Bonnie Grant began writing professionally in 1990. She has been published on various websites, specializing in garden-related instructional articles. Grant recently earned a Bachelor of Arts in business management with a hospitality focus from South Seattle Community College.
