Low humidity
Crispy brown edges and curling leaves in dry air are the classic prayer plant complaint.
Diagnosis
Low humidity
What's happening
Maranta comes from the humid floor of Brazilian rainforests and is one of the thirstiest-for-humidity houseplants there is. In dry indoor air, especially near a heating vent or air conditioner, its thin leaf margins lose water far faster than the shallow roots can replace it, so the edges brown, crisp, and curl inward.
How to fix it
Raise the humidity around the plant well above average room level: set the pot on a tray of pebbles and water, group it with other plants, or — most reliably — run a small humidifier nearby, and move it away from vents and drafts. Trim the worst of the browned edges with clean scissors, following the leaf's natural shape, so it looks tidy while new growth comes in fuller.
What fixes it
- A small room humidifier — A small humidifier near the plant is the most reliable fix — Maranta wants humidity well above typical room air.
If that doesn't fix it
This is general guidance based on common symptoms; individual plants vary.
Read the full Red Prayer Plant care guide →
Reviewed June 2026 · how we check this