Plant Care Moi Moi

Moi Moi

About Moi Moi

Thaumatococcus daniellii, otherwise known as the sweet prayer plant, is a plant that is rapidly increasing in popularity. Native to Western Africa, they have long been grown and cultivated for their wide variety of uses. The sweet prayer plant is a natural source of thaumatin, an important sweetener that’s over 3000x times sweeter than sucrose. The plant has gained attention around the world and their genes have even been added to cucumbers to increase their sweetness. 🍬

Some research suggests that they also have antimicrobial properties. Many parts of the plant have important uses. The seeds have jelly that can be used to replace agar, their fruit is used in traditional medicine as a laxative, the leaves are used for wrapping foods and weaving mats and roofing, and the leaf sap used as antivenom for stings and bites. They are also used to prevent weeds, as the foliage grows across the ground and prevents weeds from sprouting up. 🌱

Taxonomy

Thaumatococcus daniellii
Thaumatococcus
Marantaceae
Zingiberales

Also known as

Sweet Prayer Plant, Sweet Prayer Plant and Thaumataococuss daneillii

How to care for Moi Moi

💦 Water

How often to water your Moi Moi

Water needs for Moi Moi
0.5 cups
every 7

Moi Moi needs 0.5 cups of water every 7 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Calculate water needs of Moi Moi

Water 0.5 cups every
7

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

Select the pot size

5"
☀️ Light

Finding light for Sweet Prayer Plant in your home

Light needs and placement for plant Moi Moi: 1ft from a window
1ft or less from
a window

Moi Moi love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

Moi Moi does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Moi Moi in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Moi Moi

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Moi Moi: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Moi Moi after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

💡 FAQs
⭐ Difficulty Level

Moi Moi is generally easy to care for, though some plant parents report facing challenges with growing it. Check out the reviews down below to read more about their experiences!

How to Grow Sweet Prayer Plant →

Benefits of Growing Sweet Prayer Plant →

Common Sweet Prayer Plant Problems →

Outdoor Care Guide for Sweet Prayer Plant →


💦 Water Needs

Moi Moi is sensitive to dry soil and should be watered frequently. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Sweet Prayer Plant Water Frequency →

Sweet Prayer Plant Root Rot →


☀️ Sunlight Needs

Moi Moi requires abundant, bright and direct light. Place it less than one foot from a window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

Sweet Prayer Plant Light Requirements →

Sweet Prayer Plant Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →


🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Moi Moi is not known to cause harm to humans or pets. Regardless, if you, a family member, a cat, or dog has ingested any plant material, please consult a doctor or a veterinarian.


💨 Humidity

Moi Moi doesn’t require additional humidity. Plants absorb most water through their root system rather than their leaves, so the best way to provide humidity for your plants is through watering the soil.

Sweet Prayer Plant Humidity Needs →


🪴 Soil

Moi Moi does best in well-draining soil. A good soil will contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir as well as perlite or vermiculite to help with drainage. Adding a handful of perlite to regular store-bought potting soil should do the trick!

Best Soil Mix for Sweet Prayer Plant →

Best Pots for Sweet Prayer Plant →

When and How to Successfully Repot Sweet Prayer Plant →

What Are Healthy Sweet Prayer Plant Roots →


💩 Fertilizer

Moi Moi should be repotted after it doubles in size or once a year, whichever comes first. Fresh potting soil has all the nutrients your plant needs, so as long as it’s refreshed yearly, you shouldn’t need to use fertilizer. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!

How Much and When to Fertilize Sweet Prayer Plant →


❄️ Dormancy

Moi Moi does not have a typical pattern of dormancy. If you notice their growth slowing down substantially, double check that they are getting enough sunlight and water to thrive!


🌎 Native Region

Moi Moi is native to Western Africa.


🌸 Flowers
⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

Moi Moi is a clumping plant, meaning new growth will emerge from the soil around the parent plant.

Sweet Prayer Plant Lifecycle →

Sweet Prayer Plant Size Guide →

How and When to Prune Sweet Prayer Plant →


🌦️ Growing Outdoors
🌱 Propagation

Moi Moi can be propagated by division into new individual plants.

  • Check to see if there is more than one plant. In some cases they may still be beneath the soil surface. If you feel confident, you may remove the soil to check for baby plantlets below!
  • If there are multiple plants growing, unpot the plant and gently tug the plants apart, being careful not to disturb too many of the roots. They may be connected by large root segments which you may need to break to free the plantlet.
  • Pot up the new plant in well-draining soil
  • Repot the parent plant back into its original pot

How to Propagate Sweet Prayer Plant →


🍂 Yellow Leaves

Yellow leaves aren’t always a reason to panic, and can be a normal part of a plant’s life cycle. Unless brand new leaves are turning yellow or all the leaves change color at once, it’s likely just your plant retiring old leaves.

If it seems like there’s a problem, the most likely cause of yellow leaves in Moi Moi is underwatering. The leaves may also appear to be curling or drooping. Yellow leaves can less often be caused by overwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or pests.

Give your plant a good drink and it should perk back up and download Greg to make sure your plant never goes thirsty again!


🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.


Care Summary for Moi Moi

Moi Moi

Moi Moi


Greg recommends:

Water

0.5 cups every 7 days

Placement

< 1ft from a window

Nutrients

Repot after 2x growth

Based on the 4” pot your plant is in, and that it doesn’t get direct sunlight.

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