Calathea & Maranta Potting Mix

The manufacturer's published recipe lists the following ingredients for Calathea & Maranta Mix. Measure the stated parts by volume using the same scoop; minor additions have no specified fixed quantities.

• Coco coir: 1½ parts; provides the moisture-holding foundation.
• Worm castings: 1 part; a modest nutrient contribution.
• Perlite: 1 part; keeps the fine mix open.
• Vermiculite: 1 part; retains moisture around fine roots.
• Minor additions: A little activated carbon, lava gravel and organic nutrients; no fixed amounts published.

Keep the mix gently moist and airy. Check moisture around the roots before watering again, particularly in cooler rooms or covered containers.

• When to repot: repot when roots fill the pot, when soil drains poorly or when plants keep reacting badly despite careful watering.
• Preparing the plant: gently remove the plant from its pot and loosen old compost without tearing functional roots.
• Root check: trim dead or rotten roots with clean scissors. Rinse only if compacted soil cannot be removed safely by hand.
• Pot choice: use a pot with drainage holes and avoid oversized containers so the centre of the mix does not stay wet for days.
• Planting: add enough Calathea & Maranta Potting Mix to set the root ball at the right height, then backfill lightly without compressing the mix.
• First watering: water thoroughly to settle the substrate, then allow the surface to dry slightly before watering again.
• Ongoing watering: keep the mix lightly and evenly moist – never dust-dry, never swampy.
• Humidity & environment: stable warmth and higher ambient humidity reduce edge stress; grouping plants or using a humidifier is usually more effective than heavy daily misting.
• Feeding: because prayer plants are salt-sensitive, use dilute fertiliser in moderation on top of the nutrients already present in the mix.

• Substrate type: peat-free, coco-based mix with added mineral structure.
• Moisture behaviour: Coco coir and vermiculite help keep fine roots evenly moist, while perlite helps maintain air spaces in the mix.
• Texture: soft, fine-root-friendly base with small chunky particles for extra aeration.
• Nutrient level: moderate; primarily from worm castings and organic additives, designed for salt-sensitive roots.
• Structural stability: typically 3–4 years indoors before organic components break down enough that drainage noticeably slows.
• Recommended use-cases: Calathea, Maranta, Ctenanthe, Goeppertia and other humidity-loving, thin-rooted tropicals that prefer evenly moist soil.
• Safety: Potting substrates are for plant cultivation; do not allow children or pets to ingest substrate ingredients.