With colorful leaves that strip a path of beauty through your home, the Calathea Triostar is a perfect houseplant for any kind of room. When looked after right, this long-lasting indoor plant will make your day with its amazing leafage and create a vibe that invites chill and peace.
To make sure you get the best from your Calathea Triostar it is key to understand proper plant care. In this blog post, we give you Calathea Triostar Care: The Complete And Best Guide which covers everything from watering rules to right lighting needs – letting you bring out the full power of this truly amazing plant!
About Calathea Triostar
Calathea Triostar is a root-y indoor plant in the rainforest lower level. It can be grown outside in shady spots, and because of its eye-catching leaves, it’s also a well-liked houseplant.
It has long, green 6-12-inch long leaves that have bright pink spots scattered all over them. When the sun hits them, the richer pink-to-purple color of the leaf bottoms is really pretty. The stems are pink as well. Even though they can produce spring blooms, the main draw is their awesome leaves.
Calathea Triostar is a close relative of the Prayer Plant (Marantaceae) and moves as per the direction and power of their light source. All day, the plant keeps rearranging its leaves as if putting on a slow color show.
Usually, it’s two to three feet wide and tall. Indoors, it’s usually smaller. It does well in usual indoor conditions and can only handle light chills.
In the winter and early spring, this Stromanthe can produce white or pink blooms enclosed in orange, tube-like leaves. They don’t flower much when used as houseplants.
Calathea Triostar Care Quick Overview
| Common Name | Calathea Triostar, Stromanthe triostar |
| Botanical Name | Stromanthe sanguinea |
| Origin | Brazil |
| Plant Type | Tropical perennial |
| Mature Size | 2-3 ft. |
| Soil Type | Light, well-draining soil |
| Soil pH | Not too particular, but generally between 6.0 to 8.0 |
| Bloom Time | Rarely blooms, but if it does, it will be between March and April |
| Flower Color | White |
| Light Requirements | Medium, indirect light |
| Watering | Maintain moist but not soggy soil |
| Soil | Well-draining potting mix |
| Temperature | 65-80°F (18-27°C) |
| Fertilizer | Every 2-3 weeks during the growing season |
| Humidity | Needs high humidity to keep the leaves looking good. |
| Pruning | Cut off dead leaves to keep size and shape. |
| Propagation | Split to multiply in late spring/early summer. |
| Re-Potting | Triostars don’t like to be moved too much |
| Diseases and Pests | the fungal disease, aphids |
| Toxicity | Non – Toxic |
Calathea Triostar Care Tips
Watering
Giving your Calathea Triostar the right amount of water is key to making sure it stays healthy and colorful. Water when the top bit of soil feels dry, but not completely dried out. Water until you see some water running out from the bottom of the pot to make sure all of the soil is completely wet. Let all extra water to run off and then empty the drainage tray.
Calathea Triostar likes kinda warm water, so stay away from cold water which can upset the plant. You’ll probably need to water more in the warmer months and less often when it’s cooler. Also, misting your Calathea Triostar with lukewarm water can help keep the air moist around the plant. Don’t forget to keep an eye on the moisture levels of your Calathea Triostar regularly to make sure it’s drinking enough but not too much.
While watering your Calathea Triostar, it’s really important to use clean water because tap water might have harmful stuff that could hurt the plant. Stuff piling up, which can develop in the soil over time, can be lowered by using clean water. Remember that watering too much can lead to root decay and other problems.
If you see yellow or droopy leaves on your Calathea Triostar, this might mean that it’s not drinking enough water. Water more often and keep an eye on your plant’s moisture levels to make sure your Calathea Triostar stays healthy and colorful. You might also want to think about using a humidity tray or pebble tray with the potting soil to help make the air wetter around your Calathea.
Ideal Humidity
The perfect air moistness for Calathea Triostar would be anywhere from 40%-60%. It’s important to keep the air moistness in this range as Calatheas love tropical environments with high moisture levels. Plus, keeping the air moist at these levels also helps keep your Calathea from getting brown marks or getting too dry.
To make your home’s air wetter, you can use a humidifier near the Calathea or mist it a few times a day with filtered water. Also, putting your Calathea on top of a pebble tray full of water can also help to make the air around it wetter.
By taking a bit of time to make sure the perfect air moistness for your Calathea Triostar, you can enjoy a colorful and healthy plant that grows well without much work. With just a few simple steps, you can provide your Calathea Triostar with the perfect air moistness and see it thrive in its tropical environment.
Plus, perfect air moistness for Calathea Triostar can also help get rid of possible bugs or diseases that might affect your plant’s health and growth. By giving it the perfect air moistness, you can cut down the chances of your Calathea getting bugs or having any problems with air moistness.
Ideal light
The perfect light for Calathea Triostar is medium, light but not direct sun. A spot near a north or east-facing window is usually best for this plant. As long as your Calathea gets a couple of hours of light, it should do great. If your home doesn’t get enough natural light, you can use grow lights to add to your Calathea’s need for light.
Make sure to change how much light you give your Calathea, as too much sun can make its leaves lose color or burn. Too little sunlight can make it grow long and wobbly.
Required temperature
Your Calathea Triostar comes from humid, tropical places and needs cozy temps to be happy. It loves it best when it’s between 65-80°F.
By giving your Calathea Triostar the best living conditions, you can make sure it stays happy and colorful. Keep it feeling like it’s in the tropics and avoid letting it feel a chilly draft or sudden temp changes.
If it gets too cold, it can slow your plant’s growth and make it likely to get sick. On the flip side, if it’s too hot, your Calathea’s leaves can burn or droop. If you can keep the temperature just right for your Calathea Triostar, it’ll thrive and look gorgeous in any indoor space!
Soil
The soil for your Calathea Triostar should drain well but also keep some wetness.
A mix of potting soil, compost, and those little white bits (perlite) works like a charm. If you can’t get perlite, you can use pumice, crushed volcanic rock, or something else that helps keep the mix light and fluffy.
The soil’s pH should be around 6.0 to 8.0. Avoid really sour soils ’cause they can cause your leaves to burn and change color.
The soil should stay a bit wet and not let get totally dry.
Lastly, your Calathea Triostar prefers soil that’s a bit on the drier side, not super wet soil which can lead to roots getting rotten.
Fertilizer
Feeding your Calathea Triostar is an important part of Calathea Triostar Care because it gives the plant the food it needs to grow and keep its leaves looking amazing. Here are some fertilizing tricks for your Calathea Triostar:
- Frequency: Feed your Calathea Triostar every 4-6 weeks during the growing period, usually from spring to early fall. Don’t feed during winter because the plant’s growth slows down.
- Plant Food: Use a balanced, mix-with-water plant food that’s high in nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Your Calathea Triostar likes plant food with a 3-1-2 or 3-2-1 N-P-K mix.
- Watering Down: Before feeding your plant, water down the plant food to half the suggested amount. This helps stop the plant food from burning, which can harm your plant’s roots and leaves.
- Application: Sprinkle the watered-down plant food around the plant, being careful not to get it on the leaves or stem. Water the plant after feeding to help the plant food spread around evenly in the soil.
- Other Options: To give your Calathea Triostar nutrients, you can also use natural plant food like fish emulsion, worm poop, or compost tea.
When feeding your plant, always follow the maker’s how-to and don’t give too much plant food because it can harm the plant. Your Calathea Triostar will keep growing and being happy with the right feeding and care, showing off its gorgeous leaves for many years!
Related: Calathea Leopardina Care: The Complete And Best Guide
Repotting
Repotting a Calathea Triostar is pretty straightforward, and you gotta do it every 1-2 years when you spot the roots starting to poke out from the pot’s bottom. Make sure to use soil that drains well when repotting, ’cause the Calathea Triostar digs moist but not super wet conditions.
You can get to the repotting either in spring or early summer. When shifting the plant from one pot to another, handle it with care to avoid hurting the roots. Best time to repot is when the soil has dried up a bit. If the soil feels damp, let it dry a bit more before you go ahead with repotting.
Once settled in its new home, water it lightly but often enough to keep the soil damp. It’s important to look out for bugs and diseases while you’re at it, and cut off any dead leaves or stems if needed. Repotting a Calathea Triostar will keep it healthy for a long time.
Pruning
Trimming is super important for taking care of your Calathea Triostar ’cause it helps to boost healthy growth, make it look good, and prevent diseases. Here are some tips on how to trim your Calathea Triostar:
- Get rid of dead or hurt leaves: Dead or hurt leaves can be trimmed anytime to keep the plant neat and healthy. Use clean and sharp trimming scissors to make a clean cut as close as possible to the base of the leaf.
- Trim leaves turning yellow or brown: Leaves turning yellow or brown can be trimmed to prevent the spread of disease or pests. These leaves can also hint at overwatering, so make sure to change up when you water.
- Trim long, skinny stems: If your Calathea Triostar has long, skinny stems, you can cut them back to encourage bushier growth. Make a clean cut just above a leaf node to spark new growth.
- Pinch off old flowers: If your Calathea Triostar produces flowers, you can pinch off the old ones to prevent the plant from spending energy on making seeds. This will encourage the plant to focus on new growth and leaves.
It’s important to use clean and sharp trimming tools to avoid hurting the plant and stop diseases from spreading. Regular trimming will help keep your Calathea Triostar looking healthy and pretty.
Calathea Triostar propagation
Splitting your Calathea Triostar to make more is a great way to multiply this gorgeous plant. The best time to do it is at the beginning of spring before the growing time kicks in.
Here’s how to divide the plant:
- Use a new pot big enough to fit its roots.
- Take the mother plant out of the pot carefully and wet the soil before gently removing the roots from the pot.
- Start by gently splitting the roots with your hands or a sharp knife. Be careful not to hurt the roots.
- Once you’ve split it up, put each part in its own pot in damp soil, making sure the roots are just above the soil surface.
- Put your newly split Calathea Triostar in bright, indirect light and keep the soil damp but not super wet.
In time, you should see new growth showing up on each propagation!
With a bit of care and patience, splitting your plant to make more is an awesome way to multiply this beautiful tropical plant.
Calathea Triostar Care Common Pests & Common Problems
Common Pests
Usual bugs bugging Calathea Triostar include spider mites and aphids.
- Spider mites are tiny eight-legged creepers that munch on plant juice. They can cause yellow spots or speckles on the leaves, as well as webs between the stems.
- Aphids are squishy-bodied bugs that munch on plant juice too. They can make leaves turn yellow, stunt the plant’s growth, twist leaves into weird shapes, or leave sticky, sweet goo on the surface of the leaves.
The best way to deal with these bugs is by getting them off physically with a cotton bud dipped in isopropyl alcohol. You can keep them in check with a spritz of neem oil or a splash of gentle garden soap.
If the bug party gets too wild, bug sprays or mite killers might be needed. It’s crucial to treat only affected plants and take the right safety steps when using any type of bug spray.
Common Problems
Like any other indoor plant, it needs the right care and attention to thrive. Here are some of the most common issues that might pop up when caring for Calathea Triostar:
- Leaves curling up: This means the plant isn’t getting enough moisture. Increase the humidity around the plant by misting the leaves or using a humidifier regularly.
- Leaf tips turning brown can indicate not enough moisture or too much fertilizer. To dodge this issue, mist the leaves often and don’t overdo it with the fertilizer.
- Leaves turning yellow can be caused by giving too much or too little water. Water your plant only when the top layer of soil feels dry, and keep the right drainage in place to avoid waterlogged roots.
- Leaf damage: Calathea Triostar can’t stand harsh sunlight, which can lead to leaf damage or scorching. Keep the plant in a shady spot away from direct sun.
- Roots rotting is a fungus problem caused by giving too much water or lousy drainage that makes the roots rot away. To dodge this issue, keep the soil well-draining and only water the plant when the topsoil is dry.
If you love plants with cool patterns and gorgeous colors, then a Calathea Triostar is the perfect plant for you! With the right care, your Calathea Triostar will thrive and add life to any room in your home.
Make sure your plant stays hale and hearty by following Calathea Triostar Care: The Complete And Best Guide. Do you have any other tips for caring for a Calathea Triostar? Share FamiPlants with us in the comments below!
Learn more about Other Calathea care resources:
