Praying leaves

myke

Well-Known Member
We've all seen or had it,typically in the first weeks of flower.Praying for Magnesium some will call it.Some say its normal and a sign of healthy plants.

"Science suggests Magnesium is the powerhouse behind photosynthesis in plants. Without magnesium, chlorophyll cannot capture sun energy needed for photosynthesis. In short, magnesium is required to give leaves their green color. " --Copied--

So praying is the leaves having trouble absorbing the light?

I cant say Ive tried but will next time I see praying,reduce the light and see if leaves return to a more horizontal position.
 

Hollatchaboy

Well-Known Member
We've all seen or had it,typically in the first weeks of flower.Praying for Magnesium some will call it.Some say its normal and a sign of healthy plants.

"Science suggests Magnesium is the powerhouse behind photosynthesis in plants. Without magnesium, chlorophyll cannot capture sun energy needed for photosynthesis. In short, magnesium is required to give leaves their green color. " --Copied--

So praying is the leaves having trouble absorbing the light?

I cant say Ive tried but will next time I see praying,reduce the light and see if leaves return to a more horizontal position.
I've wondered about it also, and have been led to believe that it's from enzymes, but I don't really know why for sure.
 

Nutty sKunK

Well-Known Member
We've all seen or had it,typically in the first weeks of flower.Praying for Magnesium some will call it.Some say its normal and a sign of healthy plants.

"Science suggests Magnesium is the powerhouse behind photosynthesis in plants. Without magnesium, chlorophyll cannot capture sun energy needed for photosynthesis. In short, magnesium is required to give leaves their green color. " --Copied--

So praying is the leaves having trouble absorbing the light?

I cant say Ive tried but will next time I see praying,reduce the light and see if leaves return to a more horizontal position.
Plants that receive less light tend to perk more for me. It’s an interesting feature and it probably has multiple reasons why they do it
 

Hairybuds

Well-Known Member
My guess is the plant is changing its angle to adjust the amount of light absorbed. The higher the angle the less light is absorbed. Back to trigonometry. It also does this when it’s been exposed too long to light but looks saggy and limp, I use this sign at lights out to raise or lower my lights - the plants tell me. Both ways are signs of light stress and plant response. When I see them pray I just leave light intensity to be the same.
 

Hollatchaboy

Well-Known Member
Normally seen during stretch, so is it the plants just growing fast that makes the leaves pray?
Mine do it on veg also. In fact, since I've added water to my res, they're almost always standing. I don't believe my light levels are too low, but maybe.
 

PopAndSonGrows

Well-Known Member
I also think spectrum plays a big part.

I haven't seen many blurple grows with praying leaves, I'm not saying it doesn't happen, I just haven't seen it much or at all. Under CMH lighting, however, my plants prayed practically the entire grow.
 

Nixs

Well-Known Member
My guess is the plant is changing its angle to adjust the amount of light absorbed. The higher the angle the less light is absorbed. Back to trigonometry. It also does this when it’s been exposed too long to light but looks saggy and limp, I use this sign at lights out to raise or lower my lights - the plants tell me. Both ways are signs of light stress and plant response. When I see them pray I just leave light intensity to be the same.
Think of solar panels.
 

Hollatchaboy

Well-Known Member
My guess is the plant is changing its angle to adjust the amount of light absorbed. The higher the angle the less light is absorbed. Back to trigonometry. It also does this when it’s been exposed too long to light but looks saggy and limp, I use this sign at lights out to raise or lower my lights - the plants tell me. Both ways are signs of light stress and plant response. When I see them pray I just leave light intensity to be the same.
Too high of light levels maybe?
Seems kinda counterintuitive to get closer to the light at an angle, when they could just angle down and away.
Still it seems logical that it could be too much light.
 

Rurumo

Well-Known Member
I see it indoors and out, always on healthy plants. I think they are just orienting their leaves to get maximum light and since they do it outside too, I doubt it has anything to do with too much or too little light. Think about it, when was the last time you saw a plant with major issues praying? Definitely has nothing to do with magnesium. It's a cool phenomenon and I like to see it.
 

mudballs

Well-Known Member
I think it's a turgidity thing. Not light, or heat, or nutes...just water pressure. The managing mechanisms in the plant say it needs more pressure in the plant to accomplish something like new enzymes making or something like that..and leaves pointingup is just a byproduct...think it's a chemistry thing more so than outside stimuli. I also only see it in really healthy plants. usually a day or 2 after watering. Just a guess really, not a botanist, but i see on plants that dont need a darn thing, so it must be growth oriented right?
 
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