Prayer plants are well-known for their colorful, curling leaves that unfurl at the dawn of a new day. These compact tropical houseplants are fairly easy to grow as long as they receive the right environmental conditions. Prayer plants can also help to promote good feng shui in your home. In this article, we’ll discuss where to position prayer plants in the home.
- Where to Position Prayer Plants in the Home – The Essentials
- About Prayer Plants
- Prayer Plants and Feng Shui
- Where to Position Prayer Plants in the Home
- Where NOT to Place Prayer Plants in the Home
- Where to Position Prayer Plants Outdoors
- Essential Prayer Plant Care
- Where to Position Prayer Plants FAQs
- Wrapping Up
Where to Position Prayer Plants in the Home – The Essentials
For optimal care, position prayer plants in areas with bright, indirect light away from cold or dry drafts. These plants need warm, humid conditions around them. In feng shui, prayer plants are linked to the Wood element and work best in eastern or southeastern areas, according to the Bagua map.
About Prayer Plants
Prayer plants (Maranta leuconeura) are one of approximately 50 recognized species within the Maranta genus. These species belong to the arrowroot family (Marantaceae). Prayer plants hail from the tropical rainforests of Brazil and grow in the warm, humid conditions of the forest floor.
Prayer plants have iconic leaves that curl up at night, resembling a pair of hands clasped in prayer. In the morning, the oval-shaped green leaves unfurl to reveal vibrant patterns. This is how the Maranta leuconeura species earned its common name.
These tropical plants stay compact and manageable when grown indoors. They typically grow up to 12 inches tall and wide, with each leaf measuring up to 5 inches long.
Prayer Plants and Feng Shui
While these plants look gorgeous, they aren’t just for show. These plants can even help improve the feng shui within your home. As living things, prayer plants are intimately linked to the Wood element and also represent good luck and prosperity.
According to Five Elements Theory (Wu Xing), the elements of Earth, Fire, Metal, Water, and Wood all have specific attributes. Each element also corresponds to certain areas of the Bagua map, which helps organize the feng shui of your home. The Wood element is associated with creativity, emotional support, good luck, growth, prosperity, renewal, and vitality.
Prayer plants can also help reduce negative energy or chi in your home. As living things, plants can absorb negative energy while radiating positive energy. Negative energy tends to collect in empty corners or spaces.
Prayer plants can also help increase positive energy by purifying the air. Prayer plants can absorb harmful VOCs (volatile organic compounds) such as benzene and formaldehyde. These compounds are produced by the likes of cleaning products or paint and can pose numerous health risks.
Where to Position Prayer Plants in the Home
According to Care Requirements
Prayer plants need approximately 6 to 8 hours of bright, indirect, or filtered sunlight during the day. Position prayer plants about 3 feet away from east or southeast-facing windows to get the right amount of light. In south or southwest-facing rooms, position prayer plants about 6 feet from the window to protect them from direct sunlight.
Prayer plants also need warm, humid conditions that replicate their natural rainforest habitat. Maintain temperatures between 60 and 80ºF (15.5 to 26.5ºC) and humidity levels between 50 and 60%. Bathrooms can be ideal locations for prayer plants as long as they provide bright, indirect light.
Wherever you position your prayer plant, you can increase humidity using humidifiers or pebble trays combined with regular misting. Protect prayer plants from cold or dry drafts as these can lower both temperature and humidity.
According to the Bagua Map
You can use the Bagua map to organize the feng shui within your home. The Bagua map divides your home into nine zones representing the directions of the compass around a central point. Each section of the Bagua map is linked to a specific element and affects different aspects of your life.
Here’s a rundown of the nine zones of the Bagua map and their corresponding elements:
- East (Zhen) = Family (Wood)
- Southeast (Xun) = Prosperity and Wealth (Wood)
- South (Li) = Fame and Reputation (Fire)
- Southwest (Kun) = Relationships (Earth)
- West (Dui) = Children (Metal)
- Center (Tai Qi) = Health (Earth)
- Northwest (Qian) = Helpful People (Metal)
- North (Kan) = Career (Water)
- Northeast (Gen) = Knowledge (Earth)
As your prayer plant is linked to the Wood element, position it in the eastern or southeastern areas of your home. According to the Bagua map, these areas are linked to family and prosperity or wealth. Placing a prayer plant in these areas can help attract positive energy to these two aspects of your life.
The Wood element represents growth and creativity, so place prayer plants somewhere where you want to cultivate these qualities. The Wood element is also associated with active, masculine yang energy. This means that prayer plants could work well in a home office.
According to Five Elements Theory, some elements can strengthen, weaken, or clash with others. Wood is strengthened by Water, but it also weakens Earth and clashes with Metal. Wood also strengthens Fire.
Positioning your prayer plant near objects associated with Water can boost the power of the Wood element. Consequently, you could also use your prayer plant to boost the Fire element, which governs fame and reputation. The Fire element is most substantial in the southern section of the Bagua map.
If you have empty spaces or sharp corners, these areas could harbor negative energy. However, you can dispel this negative energy by positioning your prayer plant in these spaces. Instead, your prayer plant will radiate positive chi, improving energy flow around your home.
Where NOT to Place Prayer Plants in the Home
Wood weakens Earth and clashes with Metal, so avoid placing prayer plants in areas associated with Earth or Metal. Earth governs health, knowledge, and relationships, while Metal governs children and mentors. Earth is linked to the southwest, center, and northeast, while Metal is strongest in the west and northwest.
Take care to keep your prayer plant away from cold, drafty areas. Drafts can reduce the temperature and humidity around your prayer plant, weakening it. They are usually caused by air conditioning units, open windows, radiators, and vents.
Avoid placing prayer plants in direct sunlight, especially during the afternoon. Bright, direct sunlight is too intense for prayer plants and can scorch or discolor the leaves. In bright rooms, position prayer plants at least 6 feet away from the window. Alternatively, you can filter the light through blinds or net curtains.
Where to Position Prayer Plants Outdoors
Prayer plants need tropical conditions, so most areas of the United States will be unsuitable for growing prayer plants outside. However, prayer plants can be grown outside in USDA Zones 11 and 12. Grow prayer plants as ground cover in a warm, sheltered location that receives dappled shade.
Essential Prayer Plant Care
Prayer plants need 6 to 8 hours of bright, indirect, or filtered light daily. Prayer plants also need warm, humid conditions with temperatures between 60 and 80ºF and humidity levels between 50 and 60%
Water prayer plants approximately once per week or whenever the top 2 inches of soil have dried out. Grow prayer plants in well-draining, slightly acidic soils that can still retain some moisture. Fertilize prayer plants once a month during spring and summer and repot the plant every 2 to 3 years. It’s also prudent to keep an eye out for common prayer plant pests and diseases affecting plant growth.
Where to Position Prayer Plants FAQs:
East or southeast-facing rooms are ideal for prayer plants because these areas provide bright, indirect light.
How Far Away From a Window Should a Prayer Plant Be?
In a room with bright, indirect light, position prayer plants approximately 3 feet from the window. In brighter rooms with direct light, move prayer plants about 6 feet away from the window to avoid yellowing prayer plant leaves.
Can I Put My Prayer Plant In a Corner?
Prayer plants work well in corners because they can absorb negative energy congregating in sharp, empty corners.
Can Prayer Plants Thrive In Low-Light Environments?
Prayer plants can thrive in low-light conditions, although they do still need some light.
Can Prayer Plants Tolerate Drafts?
Prayer plants cannot tolerate drafts as this can lower the humidity or temperature around the plant.
Wrapping Up
Prayer plants work best in warm, humid rooms with bright, indirect, or filtered sunlight. According to feng shui, prayer plants work best in the eastern or southeastern areas of the Bagua map. These areas govern family and prosperity. Due to active Wood energy, prayer plants can work well in a home office.
For more, see our in-depth guide on how to grow and care for prayer plants at home.
Edd is a budding content writer and gardener living in the United Kingdom. He has a bachelor's degree in Creative and Professional Writing and has written for several gardening publications online. He is passionate about nature and sustainability with a focus on gardening and wildlife.
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