Care Tips for Calathea Triostar

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Calathea Triostar is a tropical, moderate-to-difficult to care for plant. This houseplant is adored by plant collectors for its unique appearance and feel. Its elegant leaves, with their vivid pastel stripes, truly bring out the dreamy feel of any garden.

We’re presenting the most essential techniques and tricks for raising a Calathea Triostar!

We have various reasonable options for you to acquire one. Continue reading to discover Stromanthe’s intriguing features.

What Is Calathea Triostar?

Calathea Triostar is the botanical name for Calathea Stromanthe Triostar, Calathea Sanguinea, and Tricolor Stromanthe, known for its tricolor foliage.

Calathea Triostar is tropical and elegant because of its elliptical and pastel-colored leaves.

It can be cultivated indoors near an east or west-facing window or outdoors in hardiness zones 9-11.

Origin And Family

Calathea Stromanthe Triostar belongs to the Stromanthe genus in the Marantaceae family. Natively, it’s from the rainforests of Brazil.

Another fact about this beautiful Marantaceae family is that its plants are known to be “Prayer Plants.” This adds to the appeal of this prayer plant. On the other hand, this plant can be sensitive and have specific water requirements.

Where To Buy

Calathea Triostar plants can be found at your local nursery or home improvement store for a meager price. If not available, order one from Etsy.

The pricing of Calathea Triostar ranges between $15 for small plants to $30 for larger plants.

Calathea Triostar Plant Size

The Calathea Triostar grows about 2-3 feet tall and 2 feet wide as a houseplant. This stunning perennial prefers to be placed near an east or west-facing window and is considered a moderate grower.

Calathea Triostar Care Needs

Sanguinea Triostar plants require consistently moist soil all year. Water your summer plant when the top inch of soil is dry, and pour until water drains from the drainage hole. Empty the catch plate to prevent root rot.

See this complete care guide for your Calathea Triostar!

Care Difficulty

Calathea Sanguinea is moderately tough to care for. The most critical factors for its beauty are well-drained soil and ample sunshine.

Growth Rate

Tricolor Stromanthe’s growth rate is typically moderate. It should reach about 2-3 feet in height as it matures indoors.

Calathea Stromanthe Triostar 😍#FlowersOnFriday #plants #GardeningTwitter #calathea #HouseplantHour #houseplants pic.twitter.com/ah2zlB2nUl

— plants.rs (@plantguyserbia) February 5, 2022

Potting

A medium-sized container is usually acceptable. Plastic, terracotta, and clay pots all work well.

Calathea Stromanthe Triostar is susceptible to root rot. Make sure there are drainage holes in its pot.

Repotting

Moving your Calathea Triostar to a larger pot enables root expansion. Repot when the roots start to push out the drainage hole.

Repot this tropical plant every year or two. Replace old nutrient-deficient soil with a fresh batch of ordinary commercial potting soil when filling the new pot. It’s also a good idea to be very careful not to touch or disturb its root system too much. This beauty can be pretty temperamental.

Soil

Calathea Sanguinea prefers commercial potting soil. This plant’s roots prefer a damp environment; therefore, choose components that retain moisture well. Make your own soil with peat moss and perlite.

Root rot and other diseases can be avoided with efficient drainage. Consider adding chunky and gritty materials to your soil to improve aeration.

These are some excellent substrate options for your plant:

pH

A soil pH of roughly 6.0-7.5, neutral to acidic, is ideal for the Tricolor Stromanthe. You can test your soil’s pH with an inexpensive pH meter.

To reduce pH, use sulfur or aluminum sulfate. CaCl2, Dolomitic Lime, and Wood Ash can raise pH.

Water

Check the pot for moisture with your finger. Water when the dirt is dry.

In terms of water choices, it’s best to use distilled or filtered water to quench this beautiful plant. Tap water contains chlorine and fluoride compounds, which this plant hates, and rainwater is another option. Should you prefer to use tap water, let it sit overnight for up to 24 hours to allow the chemicals to evaporate.

Calathea Stromanthe Triostar needs drainage holes and aerated soil to drain excess water. You don’t want your plant sitting in too much water for an extended period; this plant doesn’t like soggy soil.

Light

Calathea Triostar prefers bright indirect sunlight for 6-8 hours per day. Remember, you’re trying to recreate the growing conditions in the rainforests of Brazil. Placing this plant near an east or west-facing window works well in most situations.

Your Calathea Triostar is getting too much light when its leaves will scorch and may lose their color. On the other hand, if it doesn’t get enough light, its growth will worsen.

Avoid putting your Calathea Triostar in direct sunlight or near a natural light source, as this could severely damage or even kill it. On the other hand, this plant can also thrive in partial shade or medium light conditions and place it in any dimmer spot in your home.

Fertilizer

Plants, like people, need more food when they are actively growing because they are using up a lot of their energy. For the Calathea Sanguinea, this growth spurt usually happens in spring and summer. During this time, you can apply a water-soluble fertilizer once a month.

You don’t need to fertilize at all in the winter months because plants’ roots usually go dormant in the cold. This means they won’t need extra food for growth.

Propagating Calathea Triostar

You may easily replicate your Calathea Triostar. See below for detailed instructions on each propagation method.

Pretty in Pink…a splash from a modernist's palette this #houseplanthour
Calathea (Stromanthe?!) Triostar

Happy houseplants, everyone 🌴✨ pic.twitter.com/TCw9i1IRUI

— Jack is so WOKE 💚 He/Him 🇺🇦🦖🏳️‍⚧️🦖 (@Pumpkinjack14) July 27, 2021

Division

The division is a standard method for propagating plants with pups emerging from the roots.

To split Tricolor Stromanthe stem clusters, follow these steps:

1. Dig up. Remove the plant from its pot. The plant’s natural divisions should be visible.

2. Separate. Gently separate the parts using your fingertips. Entangled roots may require shears to sever.

3. Repot. Plant each portion in fresh pots with the same soil.

Humidity And Aeration

Your Calathea Triostar needs high humidity between 70% and higher for rich-colored leaves and lush growth.

If you’re worried about humidity or observe browning edges on your plants’ leaves, buy a humidifier and keep it near them. To boost humidity, use a pebble tray with water, improving your Triostar’s health.

Temperature

Temperature ranges between 65-85 degrees Fahrenheit is best for your Tricolor Stromanthe.

Sudden temperature swings can be fatal for your Tricolor Stromanthe. During the winter, close windows and seal any openings where cold drafts may enter. Don’t place your indoor plants near appliances that emit heat, and avoid placing this plant near air conditioners to prevent freezing damage.

Flowers

If you can provide the best conditions for your plant and keep it at its happiest, you might be able to see insignificant light pink flowers. However, you must know that most plants generally bloom in an outdoor environment.

Non-Toxic

Calathea Sanguinea is not considered toxic to humans, dogs, or cats! This means it’s a great option to place in your home if you have fur babies! However, it is still safer to keep this pet-friendly calathea out of reach of your furry friends.

Pests, Diseases, And Other Problems

The Calathea Triostar is not a disease and pest-resistant plant. Here are some of the common problems, conditions, and pests, along with how to treat them.

Spider Mites

Tricolor Stromanthe is sensitive to prevalent spider mites. Spider mite damage appears as little brown or yellow patches on leaves. Severe infestations may also show delicate silk webbing.

Start by spraying your Tricolor Stromanthe with water from a sink nozzle or a pressure sprayer. This removes spider mites from the plant. If the first treatment fails, use an organic pyrethrin spray.

Ladybugs can help reduce spider mite populations in indoor gardens if you want a natural method. The “Spider Mite Destroyer” beetle is equally tough to obtain, but the name says it all!

Fungus Gnats

Pests that infest the Calathea Stromanthe Triostar include fungus gnats. Their larvae can cause wilting and stunted growth in tropical plants.

Fungus gnats can be controlled by watering your plant from the bottom and drying the topsoil while nourishing the roots. Alternatively, sanding the topsoil prevents gnats from depositing eggs.

Hydrogen peroxide is a plant-safe chemical that kills fungus gnat larvae on contact. Drench your soil with four-part water, one-part hydrogen peroxide solution to get rid of these bugs.

White Flies

Whiteflies are tiny airborne insects that immediately fly around when a plant is moved. They are particularly attracted to the Calathea Stromanthe Triostar. They feed on leaves but rarely cause the death of plants.

Keeping them near your pest-ridden plant has an added benefit! The aroma of mint, parsley, and cilantro repels whiteflies.

Managing a heavy infestation necessitates the use of a pesticide. Here are several popular Amazon products we recommend against whiteflies:

Scale Insects

Scales eat sap, and it doesn’t just stay on one portion of the plant. Brown lumps were observed on plant stems or petioles.

To prevent scales from attaching to your Calathea Triostar, dilute a teaspoon of neem oil in 500 mL of water and spray it over the leaves.

You can also release ladybugs or lacewings near the affected plant to help solve the problem!

Calathea Triostar ♥️ pic.twitter.com/48QeOXqy78

— 🙂 (@pinchideste) August 29, 2021

Aphids

Aphids are small insects that feed on Calathea Sanguinea leaves, causing black and brown blotches.

Apply insecticidal soap or neem oil to treat an infestation. Weak concentrations of dish detergent can also kill aphids without harming your plant. Choose a fragrance-free product like Ivory Liquid.

Start with 1 teaspoon dish soap per gallon of water, then adjust as needed. Spray this solution on your plant, focusing on the undersides of leaves where aphids live.

Brown Leaf Tips

Occasionally, you might notice brown leaf tips on your Calathea Stromanthe Triostar. Typically, this indicates that your plant is under watered or is quickly losing moisture from its leaves through the process of transpiration.

Improve the humidity levels in your indoor growing space, or water your plant as soon as the topsoil dries out.

Brown leaf tips might also point to an issue with the plant’s roots, so make sure your plant has a breathable, well-draining growing medium.

Drooping Leaves

Infested Calathea Triostar leaves can droop. A lack of nutrients, loss of humidity, or underwatering can cause this prevalent issue.

Yellow Leaves

Yellowing Calathea Sanguinea leaves can be traced to recent changes in care or weather.

Overwatering, underwatering, over fertilizing, under fertilizing, too much light, lack of light, root damage, temperature swings, and pests can cause yellowing leaves.

Root Rot

A typical cause of death for the Calathea Triostar Pink is root rot when you overwater your plant. Keep in mind that you should use only water when the top inch of the soil is dry.

Poor drainage is another source of root rot, and this Stromanthe needs a standard commercial potting soil that drains well.

Make sure your plant’s pot includes drainage holes. Clay pots and unglazed ceramic planters can also help absorb moisture from the soil and slowly release it into the air.

Similar Plants

Love Calathea Stromanthe Triostar? Here are some other similar vibrant plants you should try:

Calathea Ornata: A tropical plant with lustrous and vivid stripes across the leaves, Calathea Ornata is an evergreen perennial. It’s also known as the “Peacock Plant” or “Pinstripe Plant.”

Calathea Makoyana: This tall, slender-stemmed plant with delicately patterned colorful leaves is likely to be the center of attention. It’ll look great in your indoor plant collection, and wow, anybody who sees it.

Calathea Beauty Star: This stunning lady is unquestionably a star. It features lovely dark green leaves with silvery lines and a purple underside.

Calathea Orbifolia: While this plant may need extra attention, trust us when we say it will be well worth it. Massive leaves with exotic-looking white/silver-green stripes adorn this gorgeous indoor plant. This plant is the perfect choice for you if you want large, visually appealing plants.

Conclusion

The Calathea Triostar is a stunning plant and is genuinely a delight to care for. Your efforts to care for this plant will be rewarded when you witness the pop of color and the dreamy tropical vibes it brings.

Can’t get enough of Stromanthe plant guides? Check out these other helpful articles from Two Peas In A Condo!

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