Prayer plants are popular houseplants because of their vividly colored leaves. Like most tropical plants, it's uncommon for prayer plants to bloom when kept as houseplants. However, given the right conditions, you might still notice the pleasant surprise of flowers on your prayer plant. Here is a basic guide to what you should know about prayer plant blooms:
How to Recognize Prayer Plant Flowers
Prayer plant blooms are small and can be easy to miss due to the plant's growth pattern. You can recognize early signs of blooming by long, slender stalks resembling stems rather than unwrapped leaves. The flowers are usually white or pale purple and similar in shape to sweat peas or snapdragons. Though it's very faint, the flowers have a sweet scent.
Why Is My Prayer Plant Blooming?
Prayer plants grown indoors tend to bloom in spring and summer. Even if you keep your home's climate and light conditions regular throughout the year, plants will still follow the changing of seasons for growth and dormancy. Like most plants, prayer plants tend to go dormant in the winter and produce new growth in the warmer months.
However, every plant's behavior is unique. Some prayer plants bloom well into the fall and continue to push out new growth through the winter. If your prayer plant blooms, it's a sign of a healthy plant in ideal conditions.
Should I Prune Prayer Plant Flowers?
When plants bloom, they focus their energy into the flowers rather than creating new foliage. If your prayer plant produces flowers, you'll likely notice a decrease or complete lack of new leaf growth. A shift in behavior like this is normal, but if you want to prioritize new leaves and overall plant growth, you can prune the flowers. Pruning is as simple as snipping or pinching off the flower stalks as they appear.
While more common than many houseplants, prayer plant blooms are still a rarity. If your plant blooms, you know it's happy in your care.
About the Author
Debbie Caldwell
When you first meet Debbie Harris-Caldwell, you are immediately drawn to her charming Welsh accent and the twinkle in her eye. The well-traveled transplant from Wales is quick to set you at ease and time spent with her promises to be time well spent.
Debbie has been a real estate agent for 40 years and takes great pride in her customer service skills. "I make myself available to my customers when they need me, whether it's on a Sunday Evening or after their long day at work. I make my schedule fit theirs. I also keep my customers updated on everything happening with their listings or purchase, I am their conduit for information." She has built a business following her key principles of clear communication, attention to detail, client advocacy, and comprehensive knowledge of the area. Debbie comes to every new transaction with positive energy, determination, a strong understanding of the currents driving the market, and the expertise that comes from a lifetime of experience. She knows the importance of marketing and whether a home is for sale for $200,000 or for $2 million, she always has professional photography done and creates a listing presentation that best shows off her customer's home.