Calathea & Maranta Potting Mix

• 3 parts Coco coir – coir-based, moisture-retentive base that stays soft and airy.
• 0.5–1 part Vermiculite – increases water-holding capacity for an evenly damp root ball.
• 1 part Worm castings – gentle, slow-release organic nutrients.
• 1.5 parts Perlite – brings fine air spaces and reduces compaction.
• 1 part Pumice – stabilises the mix and improves drainage without making it too dry.
• 0.5 part Fine bark – brings fine organic structure without making the mix dense.
• A little bit of Activated carbon – brings a small porous carbon fraction for damp, moisture-retentive mixes.
• A little bit of lava gravel – brings long-term structure and extra aeration.

To mix your own: aim for 10 parts total using the ratios above. Increase vermiculite or coir if your environment is very dry and pots dry quickly; increase perlite or pumice if pots stay wet for too long.

• 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: high moisture retention with enough mineral fraction to keep the substrate breathable.
• 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.
• Pet considerations: No – potting substrates and mineral components are not intended for ingestion by pets or children.