Soil & potting mix
Best soil for Maranta Arundinacea (Maranta arundinacea)
Also called arrowroot, West Indian arrowroot.
More about maranta arundinacea
About Maranta Arundinacea
Maranta arundinacea · also called arrowroot, West Indian arrowroot · edible
Maranta arundinacea, West Indian arrowroot, is a tropical rhizomatous perennial grown both as an edible crop and a leafy houseplant. Its starchy rhizomes are the source of culinary arrowroot powder, an easily digested thickener. Taller and plainer-leaved than ornamental marantas, it needs warmth, plenty of moisture and a long frost-free season to bulk up its rhizomes.
Preferred mix: Rich, moisture-retentive, free-draining loam
Watch for — Poor rhizome yield: Insufficient warmth, water or feeding limits the harvest. Give a long frost-free season, rich moist soil and generous feeding for plump rhizomes.
Why maranta arundinacea needs this mix
Maranta Arundinacea hates drying out, so it wants a mix that stays evenly moist — but it still needs perlite so "moist" never tips into "waterlogged".
- Maranta Arundinacea 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 maranta arundinacea 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 maranta arundinacea — 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 maranta arundinacea dry out. It needs a moisture-retentive but still airy blend.
pH — does it matter for maranta arundinacea?
Maranta Arundinacea 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 maranta arundinacea 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 maranta arundinacea'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 maranta arundinacea covers the timing and technique step by step.
Maranta Arundinacea soil — frequently asked questions
What is the best soil mix for maranta arundinacea?
3 parts peat-free houseplant compost : 1 part coco coir : 1 part perlite. Maranta Arundinacea 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 maranta arundinacea?
A free-draining, gritty mix dries too fast for maranta arundinacea — you get crispy brown edges and frond or leaf drop within days of one missed watering. A good peat-free houseplant compost works for maranta arundinacea 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 maranta arundinacea need a special pH?
Maranta Arundinacea 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 maranta arundinacea?
A good peat-free houseplant compost works for maranta arundinacea 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 maranta arundinacea?
Peat-free mixes slump and compact as they hold moisture, so refresh maranta arundinacea'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
- Maranta Arundinacea care — the full brief (light, water, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water maranta arundinacea — the schedule the mix feeds into
- Repotting maranta arundinacea — 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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