Praying plants: the secret of Maranta
11.2.2026
Translation: Eva Francis
The Maranta plant looks spectacular and has a very special trick: at night, it lift its leaves to form a shape that looks like hands in prayer.
The Maranta plant looks divine with its feather-patterned leaves. No wonder it’s one of the best-selling houseplants – despite being a handful. If it doesn’t get enough humidity and indirect light (link in German), it folds in on itself. And then all you can do is say a quick prayer...
Then again, the Maranta already does all the praying itself. Wait, what?
The Maranta’s nightly show
You read that right: at night, the Maranta folds its leaves up. This movement resembles hands folding together in prayer (link in German), and it happens because of nyctinasty, or the sleep-like movement of plants.
Source: Tanya_Terekhina/Shutterstock
So how does it work? The Maranta has motor cells at the attachment of its leaves, allowing it to redistribute water within the cells, which changes the internal pressure. During the day, the cells are full, resulting in the leaves of the Maranta opening up and performing maximum photosynthesis. In the night, the pressure drops and the leaves fold up. This protects the plant from water loss, cold and predators.
Healing powers
By the way, both the Maranta and the Calathea belong to the Marantaceae family, but only the Maranta is a true Marantaceae. Calathea is a genus of its own. It’s also called Arrowroot,
as its roots contain substances that used to serve to neutralise arrow poison and other toxins. The starch in its roots can bind certain toxic substances, giving this plant healing powers. So here’s a little prayer of praise:
Holy Maranta, fold up your leaf,
when our care schedule brings you grief.
Forgive us dry air and lapses in care
and please, please don’t topple in low-light despair.
Have a prayer plant in your home? Tell us about it in the comment section.
Header image: Maritxu/Shutterstock
Darina Schweizer
Senior Editor
Darina.Schweizer@digitecgalaxus.chI love everything with four legs or roots – especially my rescue cats Jasper and Joy and my collection of succulents. I’m happiest following the scent of stories about police dogs and cat groomers – or cultivating thoughtful tales in garden flea markets and Japanese gardens.
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