The Prayer plant (Maranta leuconeura) is one of the most beautiful, unique, and easy-to-grow houseplants. Its beautiful, decorative foliage makes it an attractive addition to any indoor or outdoor garden.
It got its name from its leaves, which stay flat during the day but fold up at night like praying hands.
Prayer plants are very easy to grow and care for. However, you need to provide them with the right soil type if you want them to thrive and maintain beauty. Using the best soil for Prayer Plant ensures healthy growth and lush leaves.
In this prayer plant care guide, we will explain in detail the best garden soil for prayer plants (Maranta species) and show you how to make an ideal potting soil mix for them. Read on.
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Brief Information On Prayer Plants
Before we discuss the best soil types for Maranta plants, let’s examine these vital details about prayer plants.
There are different prayer plant varieties, including Calathea, Stromanthe, and Ctenanthe, but the most common is Maranta.
There are also four most common types of prayer plants: the Lemon Lime Prayer Plant, the Herringbone Plant (Maranta leuconeura var. erythroneura), the Rabbit’s Foot Prayer Plant (Maranta leuconeura var. kerchoveana), and the Black Prayer Plant with silver-blue leaves.
Generally, prayer plants are slow-growing and sprawling, which makes them grow wide rather than tall. However, Maranta leuconeura can grow as tall as 30 cm at maturity.
These tropical, spreading plants are native to the tropical forests of South America and thrive in moist, humid, and warm conditions.
Prayer plants can be grown indoors or outdoors, in garden beds, containers, pots, or hanging baskets.
Nevertheless, how well your plants grow depends on the soil type you use to cultivate them. Prayer plants thrive best when they grow in conditions that mimic their natural habitat.
Now, let’s move on to the best soil types for prayer plants.
Best Soil For Prayer Plants
Generally, prayer plants do well in well-draining, nutrient-rich, loamy soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH.
Growing prayer plants in poorly drained, soggy soil can lead to root rot, collapse, or eventual death of the plants. So, ensure your container or pot has drainage holes and is filled with well-draining soil.
A high-quality potting mix, especially one designed for indoor plants, will work well for prayer plants. The next section will discuss how to make your ideal houseplant potting mix for your plant.
If you don’t have all the materials at home, you can explore nearby sources for quality soil options.
Related: Garden Soil Near Me – Where To Buy Quality Garden Soil
Apart from providing the best soil, this tropical plant loves tropical greenhouse-like conditions, which include warm, humid airflow and regular fertilisation.
Don’t expose your prayer plants to too much sunlight. Doing this can cause the plants to wash out and/or develop brown patches on their leaves.
Ideal Potting Mix For Prayer Plants
As said above, you can create a suitable potting mix to grow your prayer plants. All you need to do is combine:
- Two parts of sphagnum peat moss or coconut coir
- One part loamy soil
- Some high-quality composts or worm casting
- A little perlite or coarse sand
Purpose of Each Ingredient:
- The peat moss will aid water retention and create a slightly acidic condition.
- The perlite or coarse sand will improve soil aeration and drainage to prevent rot.
- The loamy soil will add some nutrients and structure.
- The compost will also boost the potting mix’s nutrient rate and organic matter.
If you’re unsure how to choose the right topsoil, check out this detailed guide:
Topsoil for Gardening – A Complete Guide
Please note that adding too much perlite can lead to fluoride burn, which may cause leaves to become brown.
Optional Additions:
The charcoal will also absorb excess minerals and salts that may be present in the soil.
You may add charcoal and orchid bark to promote soil aeration and prevent waterlogging.
Factors To Consider For Soil Selection
To grow healthy prayer plants, you need to consider certain factors when choosing the best soil type. These factors include:
1. Soil pH
Prayer plants love soils with slightly acidic to neutral pH (5.5–6.5). Alkaline soils make it difficult for plants to absorb the nutrients present in the soil, thereby preventing optimal growth.
Adding peat moss or coco coir to the soil can help maintain the right acidity.
2. Soil Texture
Soil with not too fine and not too coarse texture, such as loamy soil, is perfect for prayer plants. Such soil texture allows for proper aeration down to the roots, thereby enhancing a healthy root system.
Loamy soil also has good water-holding and drainage capacity.
3. Excellent Drainage
A well-draining but moisture-retaining soil is perfect for prayer plants. Over-retention of water leads to root rot and fungal problems, which can cause the leaf tips to turn yellow and then fall off. Under-retention can lead to the browning of leaves and wilting.
4. Required Plant Food
To help your plants grow healthy, big, and strong, you need to feed them well. The ideal mix should contain the required plant food. Otherwise, get a balanced, water-soluble organic or inorganic fertilizer suitable for most indoor or outdoor houseplants.
If the soil is lacking in nutrients, fertilize your prayer plant weekly to ensure that your prayer plant consistently gets the nutrients it needs.
5. Pest- and Pathogen-Free Soil
Common pests of prayer plants are spider mites and mealybugs. Using well-treated, sterilized soil provides a healthy growing condition for the plants. In cases of pest invasion, treat the soil with neem oil.
Other Ways To Care For Prayer Plants
Although providing your prayer plants with the right soil type is essential for their growth and well-being, it is just one way to show care for your plants.
Apply Fertilizer
Fertilise your plants regularly by applying a water-soluble houseplant fertiliser about once every two weeks. This is best done during its growing season—Fertilise only about once a month during winter.
Applying too much fertiliser can turn the leaves brown or kill the plant. Dilute the fertiliser to half strength before use.
Prune
Prayer plants do not naturally require pruning. However, pruning can be done to create a different growth pattern and remove dead leaves and stems.
Humidity
Prayer plants thrive well in moist growing conditions. If your plants are grown indoors, you may need a humidifier to increase the humidity. If you don’t have a humidifier, place the plants around your bathrooms and kitchen.
Keeping your plants in an area with low humidity can cause the leaves to appear with low brown tips.
Sunlight
Prayer plants require bright but indirect sunlight similar to that of their natural habitat. Without enough light, they will not open their leaves fully during the day.
Ensure that your plant is not placed in a completely dark area. Exposing the plant to direct sunlight will let the soil completely dry out and cause the leaves to fade.
Water Your Plants
Prayer plants like moist soil. Water your plants regularly, but don’t overwater them. When the soil becomes waterlogged, the roots will begin to rot and become infected, leading to the appearance of yellow leaves on a prayer plant.
Water your plant frequently and do not let the soil completely dry out, especially during its growing season. Use water at room temperature or water not warmer than 80°F.
Do not water plants with cold water. Use tap water or water from a solar heater for watering.
Repot Your Plant
Prayer plants are slow-growing, so repotting should be done only once every two or three years. Do this when the roots peek out of the drainage holes in the pots.
You should do this only if you’re growing your plants in pots and containers.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What type of soil is best for prayer plants?
The ideal soil for prayer plants is well-draining, nutrient-rich, loamy soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH. To create your potting mix, combine two parts of sphagnum peat moss or coconut coir, one part perlite or coarse sand, and one part loamy soil.
Can I use a regular potting mix or soil for my prayer plant?
You can use regular high-quality potting mix or soil for your prayer plant. You may need to add perlite if necessary to improve drainage.
