How to Propagate Prayer Plant? Easy Guide

Prayer Plants are effective air purifiers, meaning you will benefit greatly from propagating them.

Fortunately, propagating Prayer Plants involves a few simple steps that are best carried out using experts’ insights!

How to Propagate Prayer Plant?

Did you know the Prayer Plant is a rhizomatous species that produce underground tubers which can be separated and replanted each growing season?

Therefore, propagating Prayer Plants via root division is the best approach for quick results!

Besides, you can attempt to root stem cuttings or germinating seeds if you are familiar with the later approaches.

Materials Required

You must gather Pruning shears, Isopropyl alcohol, Prayer Plant seeds, homemade potting mix, a transparent vase, and a germination tray.

For potting mix, you can mix equal parts of peat moss, perlite, loam soil, and coarse sand.

1. Propagation via Root Division

Propagating Prayer Plants via root division is best done in early spring when the plant goes into a growth stage.

Trying to divide and propagate rhizomes in any other season may delay the growth or even damage the rhizome, especially in winter.

You can take the cuttings when repotting the plant in early spring, usually march.

How to Propagate via Root Division

Here are the detailed steps to propagate the Prayer Plant via root division.

#1 Step: Take the Cutting

• Water the plant a few hours before to ensure the rhizome easily slides out of the soil.
• Tilt the pot and gently shake it to loosen the soil as you grab the plant by its base and pull it out.
• After properly inspecting the roots, take a sterilized pruning shear, and remove fungal-infested dark, smelly, and mushy feeder roots.
• Now cut below the nodes closest to the bottom of the stem.
• Ensure each new part has a good mass of roots and stems, and avoid significantly cutting through the mother root to prevent severe damage.

#2 Step: Prepare the Potting Mix

• Prepare a potting mix at home using regular potting materials.
• Mix equal parts of peat moss, perlite, loam soil, and coarse sand.
• You can mix some homemade compost or worm castings to boost the nutrient.

#3 Step: Plant the Cutting

• Take a shallow pot, 3 to 4″ in diameter, and add the potting mix until half.
• Next, insert the rooted cutting. One pot for each cutting.
• Fill the top layer with the same potting mix and give it a gentle tap.

#4 Step: Aftercare

• Water the newly potted plant thoroughly and place it in an east or south-facing window with indirect sunlight and warmth.
• Keep the soil moist during the first few weeks and water every few days until new growth emerges.
• An ideal temperature between 73 to 77°F will ensure new feeder root growth.

Voila! The spring and summer weather will work wonders in boosting root cuttings.

2. Propagation via Stem Cuttings

You can propagate via stem cutting using two different mediums.

Water medium

Also known as hydroponic, you can submerge fresh cutting in a glass of water to induce feeder root growth.

Here are the steps to root stem cuttings using a water medium.

• Examine the mother plant for stems with vigorous leaves and avoid using branches with leggy growth.
• Identify the leaf nodes, the point at which leaves will form from the branch, and cut just below one of these.
• Next, remove all the leaves except the top two leaves and dip about an inch of the cutting in a rooting hormone.
• Insert the cutting in a glass of tepid water with leaves sitting outside the water, and keep it in a warm location with indirect sunlight.

• Change the water every 4 to 5 days and wait until it forms a new feeder root measuring about 1-2 inches long.
• The next step is transplanting it to a fresh potting mix container.

Potting Soil Medium

You can directly sow the fresh Prayer Plant cutting in an appropriate potting mix.

Here are the steps to root stem cuttings using a soil medium.

• Prepare a homemade potting mix and fill a small container, 2 to 3” in diameter, with the same blend almost until the top.
• Dip an inch of the stem cutting in a rooting hormone before inserting it in the potting mix.
• Water it thoroughly and place it in a warm location with indirect sunlight.
• The new feeder root will begin growing within a few days but may take 4 to 6 weeks before getting significantly bigger.
• Continue growing it in the same container until it is time to repot it in a larger pot.

3. Propagation via Seeds

Propagating Prayer Plant via seeds is a rather long process, as it may take months before the seedling takes shape.

Moreover, you cannot guarantee that each seed will sprout and become a vigorous plant; hence, the trick is to plant as many seeds as possible to increase the chances of growth.

Here are the steps to propagate the Prayer Plant via seeds.

• Start preparing the seeds by immersing them in warm water and a light scrubbing with your hand, allowing the seed shells to loosen.
• Prepare a germination potting mix of compost, coir, and perlite comprising organic and inorganic materials.
• Pour the mix onto germination kit pods and use 2 to 3 seeds per pod. Using an index finger, insert the seeds into the soil.
• Next, water the germination kit, cover it using a clear plastic bag, and place it under the LED grow light.
• Ensure the temperature stays between 55 to 65°F at all times, and water the kit every few days to maintain the moisture.
• In about 3 to 4 weeks, you will witness new saplings sprouting from the seeds.
• Continue growing it for 3 to 4 more weeks before transplanting it into a sizeable container with fresh potting mix.