Prayer plant night time movement — 30-day time lapse
My Maranta leuconeura (prayer plant) folds its leaves upright every night like clockwork. I set up a time lapse to see what triggers it. Here's what I found after 30 days.
The data: Every night, leaves start folding at 7:45 PM, fully folded by 8:00 PM. Morning unfold starts at 5:30 AM, fully open by 6:00 AM. This is nyctinasty—a circadian rhythm, not light response.
Room conditions: Temperature 72-74°F, humidity 50-55%. I covered the plant with a box at 4 PM one day—leaves didn't fold early. It's the internal clock, not the light.
What disrupts it: If I leave a grow light on past 8 PM, the leaves stay partially open. Consistent 12-hour dark cycle is essential for full movement. I now run grow lights 7 AM to 7 PM on a timer.