Soil & potting mix
Best soil for Amorphophallus abyssinicus (Amorphophallus abyssinicus)
Also called Ethiopian voodoo lily.
More about amorphophallus abyssinicus
About Amorphophallus abyssinicus
Amorphophallus abyssinicus · also called Ethiopian voodoo lily · tropical
Amorphophallus abyssinicus is an African tuberous aroid from Ethiopian and tropical highland regions. From a dormant corm it sends up a single short-lived inflorescence followed by one finely divided umbrella leaf on a speckled petiole. It needs warm, moist soil while in leaf and a dry dormant rest, and the whole plant is an oxalate-bearing aroid.
Preferred mix: Rich, loose, free-draining loam with plenty of organic matter
Watch for — Tuber rot in dormancy: Cold, wet compost during the rest period rots the corm. Store the dormant tuber dry or guarantee sharp drainage, and resume watering only when growth restarts.
Why amorphophallus abyssinicus needs this mix
Amorphophallus abyssinicus is an easy-going houseplant — it just wants a free-draining general mix that holds some moisture but never stays soggy.
- Amorphophallus abyssinicus is adaptable, but like most houseplants it still needs air at the roots — a mix that drains freely while holding a working moisture reserve.
- A little perlite or bark stops ordinary compost compacting into an airless block over time, which is the slow, common cause of decline.
- It is not fussy about pH or special ingredients; getting the air-to-moisture balance right is what matters.
For the full picture on what makes up a good mix, see our guide to the main types of soil and potting media — it explains why each ingredient above behaves the way it does.
What goes wrong with the wrong mix
The wrong soil is one of the most common reasons amorphophallus abyssinicus struggles, and the damage often shows up weeks later as a watering problem. For this species specifically:
- Plain garden soil or a cheap, claggy compost compacts in the pot and slowly suffocates amorphophallus abyssinicus's roots.
- A pure peat mix that dries to a hard, water-repelling block is hard to re-wet and stresses the plant.
- No drainage hole turns even a good mix into a stagnant, root-rotting sump.
Reusing tired, compacted old compost or skipping the perlite. A free-draining mix in a pot with a hole solves most "why is it struggling" cases for amorphophallus abyssinicus.
pH — does it matter for amorphophallus abyssinicus?
Amorphophallus abyssinicus is not fussy about pH — a slightly acidic to neutral mix (around pH 6.0-7.0), which a standard peat-free compost provides, is perfectly fine. No testing needed.
If you want to check or adjust it, the soil pH guide walks through testing and the safe ways to nudge a mix more acidic or more alkaline.
DIY mix vs a bagged one
A decent bagged houseplant compost works for amorphophallus abyssinicus as long as you mix in perlite for air. The simple DIY ratio above is cheap and more reliable than a budget bag alone.
Drainage and the pot
A pot with a drainage hole and a saucer you empty after watering is all amorphophallus abyssinicus needs — the free-draining mix does the rest.
Refresh amorphophallus abyssinicus's mix every 18-24 months; even good compost slumps and compacts, and fresh, airy mix is often the simplest fix for a tired plant. When the time comes, our repotting guide for amorphophallus abyssinicus covers the timing and technique step by step.
Amorphophallus abyssinicus soil — frequently asked questions
What is the best soil mix for amorphophallus abyssinicus?
3 parts peat-free houseplant compost : 1 part perlite : 1 part orchid bark or coco chips (optional). Amorphophallus abyssinicus is adaptable, but like most houseplants it still needs air at the roots — a mix that drains freely while holding a working moisture reserve.
Can I use normal potting soil for amorphophallus abyssinicus?
Plain garden soil or a cheap, claggy compost compacts in the pot and slowly suffocates amorphophallus abyssinicus's roots. A decent bagged houseplant compost works for amorphophallus abyssinicus as long as you mix in perlite for air. The simple DIY ratio above is cheap and more reliable than a budget bag alone.
Does amorphophallus abyssinicus need a special pH?
Amorphophallus abyssinicus is not fussy about pH — a slightly acidic to neutral mix (around pH 6.0-7.0), which a standard peat-free compost provides, is perfectly fine. No testing needed.
Should I buy a bagged mix or make my own for amorphophallus abyssinicus?
A decent bagged houseplant compost works for amorphophallus abyssinicus as long as you mix in perlite for air. The simple DIY ratio above is cheap and more reliable than a budget bag alone.
How often should I refresh the soil for amorphophallus abyssinicus?
Refresh amorphophallus abyssinicus's mix every 18-24 months; even good compost slumps and compacts, and fresh, airy mix is often the simplest fix for a tired plant. A pot with a drainage hole and a saucer you empty after watering is all amorphophallus abyssinicus needs — the free-draining mix does the rest.
Keep reading
- Amorphophallus abyssinicus care — the full brief (light, water, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water amorphophallus abyssinicus — the schedule the mix feeds into
- Repotting amorphophallus abyssinicus — when and how to refresh the mix
- Soil pH guide — test it and adjust it safely
- Should I water my plant? The simple check first
- Overwatered plant — signs and recovery
- Root rot — how the wrong soil starts it, and how to save the plant
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- All 5561 soil and potting-mix guides in the Growli library