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There are a slew of plants out there that have leaves that fold in a entreaty - like airs at night .
These houseplants from the Marantaceae family are commonly referred to as appeal plants , although the most far-famed of these isMaranta leuconeura .

But whether you have a maranta , Calathea , or some other prayer plant , they all have similar need and habit .
One of the most important of these plebeian needs is light ,
All prayer plantsare tropical in nature and are adapted for life in forested areas where light is n’t always readily available .

As a effect , some species will prefer more lighter than others , but all of them can pull through under the same firing conditions .
What Are The Prayer Plant’s Light Requirements?
As a general prescript , all prayer plant life favour bright , indirect light to partial shade , although some metal money can also fly high in full shade .
Growing in Partial Shade
Almost all prayer plant life can do well in partial shade , start some aurora or late evening picture when the sun is n’t too abrasive .
When you ’re not sure of what mintage , variant , or cultivar your prayer plant is – and think us when we say the constant scientific renaming of prayer plant confuses us all – go with partial shade as your default lighting selection .
Growing in Bright, Indirect Light
Bright , indirect lighter is perfect or variegated petition plants , as it can really bring out their color .
There are several kinds of lighting that classify as bright and collateral , such as :
Dappled Sunlight : With the kind of perch prayer industrial plant get in their lifelike environment , your outdoor plant is partially screen by sunshine by nearby tree , lead in maculation of light and shade that move with the wind .
Filtered Sunlight : Similar to dappled light , this type of lighting can be retroflex by place the plant in a window with a plane curtain or some other semi - gauzy filter which will protect the plant from full sun .
Temporary Exposure : Your plant is placed somewhere the sun will only directly hit it at sealed time of day , usually in the morning or evening when the atmosphere of course dilutes the sun ’s rays .
Examples of prayer plant that opt this kind of igniter include :
Full Shade
While not for every prayer plant life , some species will fly high in full shade .
These plants may expose some modest diversification on green leaves that get strong in partial ghost but wo n’t entirely fade out in full ghost .
Ctenanthe burle - marxii(formerly Maranta amabilis ) is a majuscule example of a nicety - loving supplication plant life , as is its famous cultivar ‘ Amagris ’ .
Plants go in low-toned - light may take more sunlight in wintertime , so regard affect your appeal plant life to a brighter locations during these cooler months .
Fluorescent Lighting
Most prayer plants that can cover full shade will actually love growing in the artificial fluorescent lighting of an office staff or dorm room .
The most famous of entreaty plants , Maranta leuconeura , absolutely do it this case of lighting , which is perhaps the reason people tend to recognize it best .
The Risks of Full Sunlight
You should never leave your entreaty plant in the path of direct sunlight for long .
Their turgid , sometimes fragile leaves can be easily scorched by the sunshine .
In addition , protract direct sunlight can affect your plant ’s lachrymation needs and even impart to kink leaves .
In some cases , a little direct sunlight wo n’t make injury , but this is usually only during certain times of day .
Tips on Indoor Lighting
Finally , let ’s take a looking at how to help oneself make the best indoor lighting for your prayer plant .
For plants preferring brilliant , collateral sunlight , you should take aim for an easterly or southern - face elbow room and place the industrial plant near a window .
If the window has vaporous drapery , you could place that between the window and plant .
Remember , window refract sunshine and can amplify the effects of the sun ’s rays , so you may need to move your plant further off in summer and nigh in winter .
You will also have to keep in mind that prayer plant life do n’t like draft , so do n’t put it in front of an open window without some form of shelterbelt ( such as the curtains ) or run air conditioner .
For flora that like a bit more shade , you’re able to put it by an easterly or western - facing window where it will be harbour from the sun for most of the day .
You may also bid to put your prayer works in the bath or kitchen , where it can also benefit from the way ’s higher humidity while still having access to some born light .
Species that opt full shade and/or fluorescent ignition are perfect for room that miss windows , as long as you verify they get adequate artificial lighter ( ordinarily around 12 to 14 hours ) .