Soil & potting mix
Best soil for Welwitsch's Anchomanes (Anchomanes welwitschii)
Also called Welwitsch Anchomanes, African Forest Arum.
More about welwitsch's anchomanes
About Welwitsch's Anchomanes
Anchomanes welwitschii · also called Welwitsch Anchomanes, African Forest Arum · tropical
Anchomanes welwitschii is a large, dramatic tuberous aroid from tropical West and Central African forests, producing a solitary compound leaf of enormous size on a prickly stem that emerges before or with the spathe. Rarely seen outside specialist collections. As an aroid it contains calcium oxalate crystals and is toxic to pets and humans.
Preferred mix: Rich, moisture-retentive, well-aerated tropical mix
Watch for — Leaf browning: Almost always low humidity or inconsistent watering; increase ambient moisture and maintain even soil moisture.
Why welwitsch's anchomanes needs this mix
Welwitsch's Anchomanes hates drying out, so it wants a mix that stays evenly moist — but it still needs perlite so "moist" never tips into "waterlogged".
- Welwitsch's Anchomanes comes from damp, shaded forest floors and has fine roots that scorch and brown the moment the rootball dries — the mix has to hold a steady reserve.
- Coir and compost give that reserve, while perlite keeps enough air that the constantly-moist mix does not turn anaerobic.
- Even moisture also keeps its thin leaves from crisping at the edges, which is this plant’s most visible stress signal.
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 welwitsch's anchomanes struggles, and the damage often shows up weeks later as a watering problem. For this species specifically:
- A free-draining, gritty mix dries too fast for welwitsch's anchomanes — you get crispy brown edges and frond or leaf drop within days of one missed watering.
- A pure, airless peat mix swings the other way: it holds water but suffocates the fine roots and rots the crown.
- Letting the mix dry to the point it shrinks from the pot is very hard to re-wet evenly and stresses the plant badly.
Using a sharp, fast-draining "houseplant" or cactus-leaning mix that lets welwitsch's anchomanes dry out. It needs a moisture-retentive but still airy blend.
pH — does it matter for welwitsch's anchomanes?
Welwitsch's Anchomanes prefers a slightly acidic mix (around pH 5.5-6.5); a peat-free compost-and-coir blend sits there naturally, so routine pH testing is unnecessary.
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 good peat-free houseplant compost works for welwitsch's anchomanes straight from the bag if you mix in some perlite for air. The DIY ratio above gives a more reliable moisture-to-air balance.
Drainage and the pot
Use a pot with a drainage hole but a less-porous material (plastic or glazed) so it does not dry too fast. Bottom-watering keeps the mix evenly moist without sogging the crown.
Peat-free mixes slump and compact as they hold moisture, so refresh welwitsch's anchomanes's mix every 12-18 months to keep air in the rootball even if the pot size is unchanged. When the time comes, our repotting guide for welwitsch's anchomanes covers the timing and technique step by step.
Welwitsch's Anchomanes soil — frequently asked questions
What is the best soil mix for welwitsch's anchomanes?
3 parts peat-free houseplant compost : 1 part coco coir : 1 part perlite. Welwitsch's Anchomanes comes from damp, shaded forest floors and has fine roots that scorch and brown the moment the rootball dries — the mix has to hold a steady reserve.
Can I use normal potting soil for welwitsch's anchomanes?
A free-draining, gritty mix dries too fast for welwitsch's anchomanes — you get crispy brown edges and frond or leaf drop within days of one missed watering. A good peat-free houseplant compost works for welwitsch's anchomanes straight from the bag if you mix in some perlite for air. The DIY ratio above gives a more reliable moisture-to-air balance.
Does welwitsch's anchomanes need a special pH?
Welwitsch's Anchomanes prefers a slightly acidic mix (around pH 5.5-6.5); a peat-free compost-and-coir blend sits there naturally, so routine pH testing is unnecessary.
Should I buy a bagged mix or make my own for welwitsch's anchomanes?
A good peat-free houseplant compost works for welwitsch's anchomanes straight from the bag if you mix in some perlite for air. The DIY ratio above gives a more reliable moisture-to-air balance.
How often should I refresh the soil for welwitsch's anchomanes?
Peat-free mixes slump and compact as they hold moisture, so refresh welwitsch's anchomanes's mix every 12-18 months to keep air in the rootball even if the pot size is unchanged. Use a pot with a drainage hole but a less-porous material (plastic or glazed) so it does not dry too fast. Bottom-watering keeps the mix evenly moist without sogging the crown.
Keep reading
- Welwitsch's Anchomanes care — the full brief (light, water, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water welwitsch's anchomanes — the schedule the mix feeds into
- Repotting welwitsch's anchomanes — when and how to refresh the mix
- Soil pH guide — test it and adjust it safely
- Underwatered plant — signs and how to rehydrate it
- Why is my plant wilting? Wet vs dry diagnosis
- Should I water my plant? The simple check first
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