Question
I have a small prayer plant (five inches tall at its tallest leaf, with six leaves).  It is planted in a small plastic pot, and it gets medium, indirect sunlight. I have had it for five months, and it has been healthy for four of those months.
The problem: Four of its leaves have been completely curled up for about a month and they feel dry (a bit brittle) to the touch, though they are still green and nicely coloured.  When its leaves first started to curl, the plant was not taking any water, so its soil stayed moist for over a week.  I suspect that the soil is too heavy; however, as it is in a fragile state right now, I am concerned about transplanting it.  What are the steps I should take to nursing this plant back to a healthy state?  

Answer
Hi Laura,

Leaf curling happens in very poor light. I will assume that is not the case with your Maranta. It should be located close to a window but out of the direct rays of the sun.

If the leaves remain curled even after the soil is moistened, then that suggests that the roots are not absorbing water. That would happen if the roots are seriously damaged from either root rot, soil compaction, or from drying out completely.

Remove the plant from its pot and gently remove the soil from around the outside. Look for healthy roots that are not soft and mushy or dry and brittle. If you find some healthy roots, then loosen the soil in the rootball and replace some of the older soil with a peat-based, soilless potting mix. Do not move it into a larger pot. With patience, good light, and proper watering, it should gradually recover.

If you do not find any healthy roots, then the prognosis is not good. You can try taking some stem cuttings and rooting them in moist potting mix in a pot inside a clear plastic bag  that will keep the humidity high around the plant. Rooting Marantas from cuttings is not easy, but it is possible.

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.

Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

You can E-mail me directly at: [email protected]

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