Prayer plants (Maranta leuconeura) are popular houseplants because they grow well in many conditions, require little maintenance, and do not need too much light. They are often grown on window sills or near a window where they can get natural sunlight.

However, if your prayer plant leaves are turning yellow then you may be experiencing an issue that requires attention. This blog post will review the common reasons why prayer plant leaves turn yellow and what you should do to fix it!

Why Are My Prayer Plant Leaves Turning Yellow?

Your prayer plant leaves are turning yellow because it has been overwatered, not received enough sunlight, or is under stress.

I will now go more in-depth into each of these causes and what you can to prevent them from happening in the future…

Yellow Prayer Plant from Overwatering

One of the most common reasons why prayer plant leaves turn yellow is because it has been overwatered. If you are watering your plants too much then this can lead to root rot which will kill the roots and eventually, cause older outer leaves to die off as well.

You should water your plants when the topsoil feels dry up until about an inch below the surface, making sure not to over-water them. You can do this by sticking your finger into the top inch of the soil. Alternatively, you can use a moisture meter to measure the moisture level in the soil.

If the plant has developed root rot, then you need to take action immediately. The best thing you can do is re-pot the plant into a container with new soil and take steps to prevent this from happening again.

Yellow Prayer Plant from Too Little Sunlight

Another reason why prayer plant leaves turn yellow is that they are not receiving enough sunlight. If you do not place your plants in a window that receives at least four hours of morning or afternoon sun, then this can cause older outer leaves to die off as well, turning them yellow and crispy.

To fix this problem, move your prayer plant to a location where it will receive more sunlight. If you can’t do this, then you may want to think about using grow lights (Amazon link).

I use grow lights on nearly all of my houseplants during the winter months. It gives them a helping hand to receive the amount of light they need to stay healthy and happy.

Yellow Prayer Plant Leaves from Stress

Another common reason why prayer plant leaves turn yellow is that they are under stress. There can be many reasons for this, such as repotting them too soon, pruning the roots while transplanting, or moving them to a new area that has different humidity and/or temperature levels than where they came from.

This is why it’s important not to re-pot your prayer plant unless absolutely necessary, like when it’s getting root bound from growing too fast.

If you do need to re-pot your plant, be sure to follow the proper steps to do so, like using high-quality potting soil and not pruning its roots while transplanting.

If you are moving it into an area that has different humidity or temperature levels than where they came from then take some time acclimating them before leaving them in this new location on their own.

Yellow Prayer Plant Leaves FAQs

Prayer plants are rather mysterious. In fact, they close at night! As such, I will now cover some of the most frequently asked questions when it comes to prayer plants and their leaves.

Should I cut yellow leaves off the prayer plant?

Yes, prayer plant leaves that are turning yellow and crispy should be cut off. As with most houseplants, pruning is necessary if you want them to keep growing fast and healthy.

Prune back any dead or dying branches so new growth can start from where they were once attached before they started dying/yellowing out.

Is it normal for my prayer plant to lose some of its lower leaves?

Yes, it is normal for your prayer plant to lose some of its lower leaves. This is one way that it naturally sheds older, dying leaves to make room for new ones.

Will too little light cause my prayer plant to turn yellow?

Yes, not receiving enough light from a window can cause your prayer plant to turn yellow. If you do not have access to natural sunlight, then an artificial grow light would be the best option if you want it to continue growing fast and healthy in the long term.

Will too much water cause my prayer plant leaves to turn yellow?

Yes, overwatering your prayer plant can cause it to turn yellow. If you water the plants too often or do not properly drain them, then this could even cause root rot too.

Will yellow prayer plant leaves turn green again?

No, yellow prayer plant leaves will not turn green again. They should be cut off if they are dying or turning crispy and brown to make room for new growth. You can learn more about this here.

Conclusion

In conclusion, prayer plant leaves turn yellow for many reasons. One of the most common ones is because it has been overwatered, has not received enough sunlight, or is under stress.

It’s important to try to avoid over-watering your plants, place them in sunlight that receives at least four hours of indirect morning or afternoon sun, and not to re-pot the plant unless absolutely necessary.

Thank you for reading! If we helped answer any questions, then please let us know in the comments section below. We also welcome all feedback on our posts too, so be sure to reach out!