I have a new plant in my collection! A Prayer Plant...I can't believe as old as
By sjohnson628
@sjohnson628 (3197)
United States
June 12, 2007 1:36pm CST
I am I have never heard of or saw this type of plant before! While on my recent visit back to my mom's house she had this plant on her kitchen table. I was in awe at the beauty of it and then she told me it was a prayer plant and at night the leaves close up like it is praying. I told her I would like to repot hers for her (since it was getting too big for its pot) and she offered to me to take some of the plant home with me. It has become my new favorite house plant!
Has anyone ever heard of this type before? It originated in Brazil and grows as ground cover there.
It is also known as The Ten Commandments plant.
I just thought I would share this information with others and see if I have been in the dark ages not knowing about this plant until now.
Do you have a favorite house plant? If so which one? Do you have any special names for your plants? I don't but I have heard of people naming there plants (and talking to them)
Please share your thoughts here and thanks!
9 people like this
12 responses
@ctrymuziklvr (11057)
• United States
12 Jun 07
I haven't thought of this plant in years! There was a time when I tried to keep plants alive but soon found that I don't have a green thumb. Prayer Plants certainly are gorgeous and now that you brought it to my attention that is going to be at the top of my list of things that I want to buy in the very near future. I won't give up trying to keep plants alive. When I did have plants I gave them names and talked to them because they used to say talking to plants helps them thrive. I'm here to say that it didn't work for me! lol...
3 people like this
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
12 Jun 07
I have seen this plant numerous times. I think we had one years
ago in an apartment we libed in. I never knew it's name then.
I'll have to get one now. Thanks. More money spent gardening.
Hahahaha! rated and left a comment on the photo also.
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!~
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
12 Jun 07
This is my favorite house plant. I had to run and take a photo of it just now. HAHAHA. I believe its a non flowering Fig Tree of some sort but just not sure. Maybe someone knows. Some friends say I have a grewen thumb yet I hardly know the names of things I plant or buy, HAHAHA! Please let me know what this is? And no I do not talk to nor name my little green friends. Hahahaha!!HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB!!~
2 people like this
@sjohnson628 (3197)
• United States
12 Jun 07
I believe that is a Ficus and yes it is in the fig family my brother use to have one and they get huge. It turns into a tree! If I am corect. LOL your funny running and taking a pic of it!
2 people like this
@sjohnson628 (3197)
• United States
12 Jun 07
http://www.evergrowing.com/tips/ficustree.htm
2 people like this
@gewcew23 (8007)
• United States
13 Jun 07
I have never heard of it either. I think that this would be a cool plant to have. I can't have plants inside because of my cats. I will have to tell my grandmother though and see if she has ever heard of it before. I think that this would be cool in their R.V.. Thanks for sharing this. I will look into this.
Here is some information I thought you might like to know:
The Prayer Plant needs light shade, away from bright sunlight. The soil should be kept slightly moist in winter and moist at all times in summer. You should fertilize from May to September every two to three weeks. Warmth in winter is essential to prevent leaves turning brown and shriveling. Misting leaves in dry air helps prevent this also. Direct sunlight can cause leaves to become bleached, especially if exposed to it in summer.
2 people like this
@sjohnson628 (3197)
• United States
13 Jun 07
That is great information! Thank you! My mom had hers on the kitchen table and about four of her leaves turned white or brown. Now I know that it is probably from the sunlight. (She gets too much sun there for that plant) I will have to tell her this. I like the idea of spraying the leaves also another thing I will do. And I think your grandmother will love this plant. It looks so cool at night when the leaves curl up like it is praying.
Thanks again!
@samtaylorskykierajen (7977)
• Canada
13 Jun 07
The prayer plant is a beautiful plant . I had one of these a few years back but it was going to die on me because I couldn't seem to get it to grow right and I knew I was going to lose it so I gave it to a friend who has beautiful plants and today it is gorgeous and really big . They do actually close at night and if you watch it you will actually see the leaves on it that will be moving looking like it is praying . I was fascinated the first time I saw mine moving .
My favorite plant would be the goldfish plant . It has little flowers on it that actually look like little goldfish all over it and is very beautiful . They do say if you talk to your plants it will keep them healthy , not sure if this is true or not but do know that the friend I gave my prayer plant to does talk to her plants and they are beautiful and full and seem to thrive at her place while mine either die or are dying and I always have to replace them .
2 people like this
@sjohnson628 (3197)
• United States
14 Jun 07
Wow I didn't know you could actually see the leaves moving I will have to make a video of that. That's cool! This pant like I said is all new to me. I have only had it for about 5 days so far. And the goldfish plant? WOW I have never seen one of those either. I will have to look for one of those also. Thanks!
1 person likes this
@brand4less (1061)
• Indonesia
13 Jun 07
wow,can the plant grows in tropical climate?i also have a bizarre plant.the name is Nepenthes. the plant has somekind of pocket and if flies,ants,butterflies stick to it then they will stuck and the pocket will eat them.seriously! my mom lit bit afraid w/this plant but me and my hubby think it awesome,lol.
1 person likes this
@sjohnson628 (3197)
• United States
13 Jun 07
Yes I believe it does grow in tropical climates. It originated in Brazil it grows as a ground cover there. That plant that you are talking about sounds like what we call here a venus fly trap. Neat!
@restlesslimbs (174)
• United States
13 Jun 07
We have one of these plants also. They can be kind of scary if you don't know that they are supposed to fold up at night. You can actually hear the leaves moving sometimes.
1 person likes this
@sjohnson628 (3197)
• United States
14 Jun 07
Omg really? That is eerie! Yep this is going to be my favorite plant. Thanks for letting me know this. I will have to study it at night. Another person commented saying that you can actually see the leaves moving also. Thanks!
@kareng (54724)
• United States
13 Jun 07
I used to have a Prayer Plant, and yes, they are gorgeous! I haven't kept many plants in the last couple of years except in the office here at work. I think Prayer Plants are very unique and I love the way they fold up their leaves at the end of the day! I'm glad you are enjoying your new houseplant!
1 person likes this
@dlkuku (1935)
• United States
13 Jun 07
Yes, that is a beautiful plant, I remember my mom having one. I have been trying to get plants for my house in the last few months, I left all mine behind when we moved. I've been rooting them from other people's plants, except for one that someone gave me and one I bought. I will have to put a prayer plant on my list, they are lovely.
1 person likes this
@rainbow2007star (920)
•
13 Jun 07
Can you upload a photo of this plant 'cause If my memorie doesn't lie to me I think I've already seen one plant like this when I was child.
I like a plant that is called inmy country "Don't touch me flower"
@rainbow2007star (920)
•
13 Jun 07
I saw the photo. Sorry for my response. I saw it late
1 person likes this
@Woodpigeon (3710)
• Ireland
13 Jun 07
I have one of those as well, but mine is the variety that is lighter, so the spots are more disinctive. They really pop off the leaves.
I like good old spider plants. They are totally indestructable, and best of all are always producing 'babies', so there are pletny to give away to my friends. I even gave a bunch of them to the kids' school because they are supposed to be really good at filtering gunk out of the air.
1 person likes this
@liyan97 (2127)
• Northern Mariana Islands
13 Jun 07
I have never heard of that plant, but before responding to your discussion I asked my mom about it...My mom is a "planter", she can plant anything with roots...lol..She told me that she has seen it and it is trully beautiful! She would love to have one in her kitchen but aparently the only place that sells it charges an arm and a leg for it. So she says, I think she's just hinting for me to get it.....lol...My favorite plant that we ofen cut and make arrangments is the "Bird of Paradise", we have the yellow and red. It is a beautiful plant! I use it in my livingroom. Since it grows in my moms back yard I switch from yellow to red every week.
@tredale (1309)
• Australia
14 Jun 07
Hi if you love the prayer plant you would also love moses in the cradle, its the same family just with skinner leaves. It is a wonderful indoor plant and is easy to start it grows fast but not big. I talk and name most of my plants and have been caught on number of occasions talking with them. My biggest question to them is are you thirsty little one. lolo
1 person likes this
