Bigfan, I'm happy to hear your prayer plant is doing well..how's it doing in summer? Do you have it outside or indoors? What type of light is it getting? Are you bottom-watering or top? I'm sorry I didn't see your question when you asked about bottom watering..it's done by using a semi-deep saucer, then pouring water in the saucer instead of the top soil. I find this works well w/some plants like African Violets, but not prayer plants. Since it's so hot in our house, I usually take my prayer plants to the sink and hose them..even though I prefer using water that's been sitting out over 24 hours, they do fine w/my tap water..A couple look bad, but I'm thinking once it cools off they'll resume health. Do you have a pic of yours? If so, please send it..Toni

Welcome to the world of the prayer plant. I've been there several times. You buy a pretty maranta. After a few weeks: yellow leaves, dried leaf tips, etc. I'm thoroughly convinced unless you can simulate the rain forest on your home that you will have some type of problem. Tip:. They cannot be in direct sun. Best spot is indirect, bright window. Watering is also a challenge. Overwatering can cause yellow leaves but underwatering causes dry leaf tips. Best bet: Water when the first inch of soil is dry. PS. Don't feel bad. You are not alone, it is difficult finding the right balance but it is possible. Just takes time. :)

Is it really dry air where you're located? It's not where I am. If it is dry air where you are, then the pebble tray is ok. But I think skip the misting for a while and see how it does. I wouldn't worry too much about your plant. Sometimes overthinking it can make you stressed and the plant doesn't do as well. I had to learn that by trial and error. I also learned that my prayer plant does best when ignored except for watering. No moving around, just leaving it where it is. So here is a photo of mine for comparison. I keep it in a 6" pot and medium light, and water it each time with a low dose liquid fertilizer. I never let it dry out completely- I let it go until the pot feels lighter, then I water. Plastic pots are best for these plants, with good drainage. It really should be hung from the ceiling now, but it does ok draping over this little hamper. At night, the leaves move so they are vertical, like yours in the first photo. That is why its called a prayer plant, like hands together praying. Also, weirdly, this plant likes to grow during our winter. I know that's strange, but it really does. Eventually your plant will grow large enough so that if there is a leaf with brown edges, you can just cut it off. I wouldn't do any trimming right now to yours though, because it's much smaller and needs the leaves to photosynthesize. Sometimes, if it's really quiet towards night and you set something next to the plant, sit and wait, you can hear and see the leaves moving because it gets caught on whatever is sitting next to it. Pretty neat.

If all else fails, put it bare root or a cutting in water. It should grow new roots within a week or two. The cuttings rooted in this way are easily repotted and take to soil without too much trouble. I found a part of my plant shriveling a week or 10 days back. On further inspection that branch just came off and seemed to have no roots. The leaves were quite leathery and dehydrated. I left it submerged in water for 3-4 days till the leaves and regained moisture and then kept just the stems in water. Sure enough, it now has mostly recovered and growing roots in water. The point of my story is that these plants are very resilient and hopefully it will revive one way or the other. I prefer water for suffering plants that easily root in water because it takes the guess work of good/bad soil, over/under watering out of the equation. Also, any soil born disease or infection. I might just grow this one in water permanently.