Question
Regarding the roots of a prayer plant.  I dug a prayer plant from the pot.  I noticed that there are balls attached to the roots about the size of a peanut M&M candy.

Is this common?

Thanks

Answer
Brenda,

No, it is not normal and I suspect that your plant has Meloidogyne incognita ?Southern root-knot nematode. This species of root-knot nematode cannot withstand freezing and so is limited to soils that do not freeze.

It often occurs on plants in the home, in greenhouses, and close to cellar foundations, where freezing conditions do not occur. The southern root-knot nematode is capable of overwintering in the field in parts of southern Illinois, particularly in sandy soils. It is the most frequently introduced species on transplants from the south. Although it may damage infected transplants and neighboring plants severely during the ensuing season, populations usually die out during the first winter in all but southern Illinois. Stunting,
yellowing, and wilting are much more severe and death of young plants more common than with M. hapla. Root galls usually are much larger than those of the northern root-knot nematode.

M. incognita causes damage to a number of crops including alfalfa, asparagus, beans, cabbage, cantaloupe, carrot, celery, chard, clovers, corn, cotton, cucumber, eggplant, grape, lespedezas, lettuce, okra, onion, peach, pepper, potato, radish, rhubarb, soybeans, spinach, squash, sweet potato, tobacco, tomato, turnip,
vetches, and watermelon. Ornamentals commonly affected are abelia, African violet, azalea, begonia, boxwood, camellia, caltha, coleus, collinsia, daylily, dahlia, gardenia, geranium, hibiscus, hollyhock, iris, peperomia, petunia, prayer plant, rose, schefflera, and willow.

Because of this I would dispose of the plant by sealing it and the potting soil in a ziplock bag and putting it in the trash so that it will leave your property and not infect any other potting soil or other plants in your home. If you have more questions feel free to write again. Good luck.

Darlene