Why Is My Prayer Plant Dying?

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Why is my prayer plant dying is a question that no house plant enthusiast wants to be asking. But if you are asking this question then it’s important you diagnose the issue as quickly as possible in order to give your plant the best chance of survival. A dying plant isn’t a dead plant and although it can be unsettling, there still might be a chance to save it. So let’s take a look at some of the possible reasons your prayer plant might be dying.

Improper Watering

The first major cause of a dying prayer plant is improper watering. This may be caused by either overwatering or underwatering. A prayer plant likes to be kept relatively moist, this doesn’t mean the plant should be sat in heavy wet soil constantly but it is also doesn’t want to be left to dry out completely. Instead you want to wait until the top two inches of soil have dried out before watering your plant again.

If you constantly top up your plant and keep it wet then you may notice the leaves start to yellow. This is one of the first signs of overwatering. If you continue to overwater then your plant may develop root rot and drown. If you allow your prayer plant to dry out completely between waterings then you’ll notice the leaves start to droop before turning brown and crispy and falling off. An underwatered plant will also often have bone dry soil and a light pot compared to an overwatered plant that will have wet soil and a heavy pot.

Using Unfiltered Water

If you’re convinced that you’re watering your prayer plant the right amount then the issue could be that you’re using unfiltered water. This problem won’t affect everyone as different countries have different minerals in their tap water. But some regions waters are harsher on plants than others. Crisping on the tips of your prayer plant could indicate that your plant needs filtered water. Simply invest in a water filter and use that to water your plants. The tips that have already crisped won’t return to normal but it can prevent further damage from being done to your plant.

Inadequate Or Too Much Light

Light could be your answer to why is my prayer plant dying. A prayer plant needs medium to bright indirect light. If you place your plant in direct sunlight this can cause it to dry out rapidly, the leaves can become scorched and your plant can start to die of dehydration. Alternatively this plant needs some light, so if you’ve put it in a dark corner of a room where it receives little to no light this is also going to kill your plant. Look at where it’s placed, look at the light it’s receiving and if necessary move it!

Non Draining Soil

As we mentioned earlier overwatering can kill a prayer plant. However, this doesn’t just happen with how frequently you water your plant but also how able the water is to move through the soil. If you use a heavy non draining soil then water will sit around the plant’s roots for much longer and it can experience a death similar to overwatering. Use a typical houseplant potting mix for your prayer plant with added perlite for aeration. Stay away from compost and outdoor soils as these can be too heavy and retain water.

Lack Of Drainage Hole

Again linked to overwatering, lack of a drainage hole can cause water to pool in the bottom of your pot and drown your roots. If you want to use a decorative pot that doesn’t have a drainage hole then simple keep the plant in its nursery pot and place that pot inside of the decorative pot. When it’s time to water your plant, take it out of the decorative pot and allow the excess water to drain away before placing it back inside.

So there you have the main causes to why is my prayer plant dying. If you have tried all of these and you’re still having issues with your plant then let us know in the comments below. Try to include as much information as possible about your plant and its environment and we’ll do our best to help you figure out what’s going on.

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