Calathea White Star is a unique and beautiful houseplant with stunning white foliage, making it a popular choice among plant lovers. Commonly known as the “peacock plant” due to its vivid foliage which resembles the colors of peacocks feathers, this stunning beauty has been growing in popularity among the beginner.
With our all-in-one guide on how to care for your Calathea White Star, keeping this magnificent plant in great shape will be easier than you think! Read on Calathea White Star Care: The Complete And Best Guide to learn everything there is to know about figuring out the ideal environment for your beloved plant’s well-being.
About Calathea White Star
The Calathea White Star is a member of this big plant family and is from the Calathea type. Calathea Majestic, White Star Calathea, and Majestic Prayer Plant are all common names for Calathea White Star. Native to the jungles of Brazil, this plant. In recent years, it has become a popular houseplant.
White Star Calathea is referred to as a prayer plant, just like the majority of the species in this family. Similar to their Maranta cousins, a different genus in this big plant family, Calathea plants have the tendency to fold up and down in reaction to temperature and light, almost as if they were praying. Hence, the name “Prayer Plants”.
The Calathea Majestica “White star” has multiple white stripes running from the plant’s midrib to its leaf blades. Depending on the lighting and plant development, some of the leaves may have pink hues towards the midrib.
With the right care, this plant may reach heights of 4 to 5 feet in big pots, and its leaves can get rather lengthy.
Calathea White Star Care Quick Overview
| Botanical Name | Calathea White Star |
| Scientific Name | Calathea Majestic, White Star Calathea, Majestic Prayer Plant |
| Plant Family | Marantaceae |
| Origin | Brazil |
| Plant Type | perennial |
| Leaf Shape | oval |
| Growth Rate | pretty average |
| Light | bright indirect light |
| When To Water | Water when it feels dry |
| Humidity | 60% or higher |
| Soil | typical store-bought soil |
| Temperature | 19-24°C |
| Preferred pH | 6.0-6.5 |
| When To Fertilize | Monthly in the growing season |
| Toxicity | Non – Toxic |
Calathea White Star Care Tips
Watering
Watering your Calathea White Star should be done once every 1-2 weeks and use distilled or filtered room-temperature tap water.
Just use your finger to check for how wet it is in the soil–insert your finger into the top inch of soil, and if it feels dry, it’s time to water; if it feels moist, check back later.
Burning of the White Star’s leaves can be caused by tap water, which can include high levels of stuff from the tap. To allow extra stuff from the tap to go away, let your tap water stand for at least one night.
The size of the plant, the kind of soil, the dampness in your home, and the time of year all affect how frequently you need to water your plant. Keep a close eye on your plant to learn what it requires.
Overwatering your White Star can cause rotten roots, so make sure to not let the soil stay too wet. Watering too infrequently can also cause the leaves to become dry and crunchy, so be sure to keep regular watering times.
Often, it can be difficult to tell when your Calathea White Star needs watering. To make sure you don’t miss a watering, try pop a reminder on your phone or marking it down on a calendar.
Ideal Humidity
The Best dampness for Calathea White Star is at least 50%, and preferably above 60%. This level of dampness will help maintain the plant’s healthy, bright leaves. If how damp it is drops below these levels, the plant may start to lose its leaves and reveal dry, crisp tips.
To ensure the best dampness around your Calathea White Star:
- Consider getting a humidifier near the plant and regularly checking it with a hygrometer.
- Misting the leaves of your Calathea White Star can help to keep them from drying out and provide additional moisture for the plant.
- Placing pebbles in the bottom of its pot and regularly refilling them with water can create an environment of constant dampness for the plant.
Required temperature
The needed warmth for a Calathea White Star is generally between 19-24°C. This can vary slightly depending on the environment they are kept in and the time of year.
It is important to note that these plants prefer damp conditions which may require additional measures such as misting or access to a tray for dampness. Keeping the temperature of the room steady is also recommended to ensure optimal growth.
During the winter months, it may be necessary to increase the temperature slightly as cold temperatures can slow down or even stop it growing.
Furthermore, these plants should not be subjected to big changes in temperature, so keep the environment and temperature steady, and avoid rooms with drafts.
Ideal light
Calathea White Star is a popular houseplant that enjoys a bit of shade. This means that while it can tolerate some sunlight, it should never be placed in direct sunlight as this can cause the leaves to burn.
While best lighting for Calathea White Star varies depending on the environment, typical perfect light spots include filtered natural light through a curtain or bright lights.
Additionally, placing it too far away from any light source will cause the plant to not grow properly.
If you cannot provide best lighting for your Calathea White Star, consider supplementing with fake lights. This can provide best lighting even in areas that don’t get perfect sunshine.
Soil
The top-notch soil for Calathea White Star is a mix-up of peat moss, perlite, and vermiculite. This will make a light and leaky potting mix that will help to keep the plant’s roots healthy and damp.
You can create your potting mix with:
- one part peat moss
- one part perlite
- one part vermiculite.
Peat moss helps hold water while providing air and leakage. Perlite and vermiculite help hold water as well but also give a buffer from too much water.
Calathea White Stars dig places that are kinda to really damp, so it’s crucial to make sure that the potting mix can hold onto some water. Chucking in some bits of charcoal and sphagnum moss to the mix can also lend a hand with this.
Fertilizer
When it comes to feeding your Calathea White Star, it’s key to pick the right feed.
Feeds for plants in the Calathea genus should be balanced and have the same amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK). Feeds marked as a complete 10-10-10 or 20-20-20 are the best buddies for Calathea.
Feed should be added at least once every two weeks during the growing time, usually from late spring to early fall. During the cold months, you can even stop feeding it altogether.
However, feeds do help your plant in making bigger, brighter leaves. To cut down on the number of minerals let loose into the soil, use slow-release feed types.
If you’re still into using water-soluble feed, water down the mixture and use half the suggested strength.
Repotting
Repotting is super important for the Calathea White Star due to its fast growth rate. Give it a new pot every 12-18 months into a bit bigger pot with fresh soil.
It’s usually time to give it a new pot when you see it’s got too big for its current pot or roots squeezing through the drainage holes. Because their roots don’t often grow very much and are really likely to snap.
When picking a new pot, hunt for one that has drainage holes and is just 2-3 inches bigger than the current pot. Choose a light or porous material such as terracotta or plastic for the potting. When repotting, use a top-quality soil mix containing stuff like plant stuff, loam, rotted tree skin, sand, or perlite.
To make sure your Calathea White Star is growing in prime condition, water it lightly and make sure there’s enough dampness.
Pruning
White Stars don’t usually get super bushy and rarely go taller than 5 feet, so they won’t need to get a haircut frequently. Give your Calathea White Star a haircut when you notice it needs a trim, usually about once or twice per year.
However, make sure to get rid of any dead or sick leaves. Cut back any leaves that look too wild or take up too much space in the pot. It helps encourage new sprouts and healthier leaves to sprout.
Start by checking out the plant and cutting away any dead or damaged leaves with a pair of clean scissors. Trim away any stems that look overgrown, taking care to make sure each cut is clean and neat.
Trimming your Calathea White Star encourages healthy new sprouts and reduces the chances of pests or it getting sick. Trimming can also help keep the shape you want, as well as help reduce too many roots in older plants.
Calathea White Star propagation
You might choose to spread your White Star by splitting the roots, which is best done during repotting.
- Get fresh, unique pots with holes in them ready for fast potting.
- Yank the mama plant out of the pot so you can peep the roots.
- Use your fingers to gently split the components. Carefully separate root bulbs and untangle knotty stems. You might need to use cutters to trim any tangled roots.
- Repot. In brand-new pots with the same soil, plant each component. Place the split-up stem pairs or clusters in pots.
- Water each one to help the roots soak up the good stuff and put them in a room with gentle sun.
- Then put the original mama plant back in its pot with the same amount of soil that it had before being taken out.
- Only make more Calatheas in the spring.
The best time to spread is while your plant is still growing, so if you wanna see successful growth, spring is the way to go.
Your Calathea plant may get bummed and “freaked out” if you try to spread it during a colder season ’cause it won’t react well to being moved at that time.
Calathea White Star Care Common Pests, & Common Problems
Common Pests Calathea White Star
Common pests of Calathea White Star include sap suckers, mealybugs, scale bugs, and spider bugs.
- Sap suckers are small, soft bugs that feed on the leaves of plants. They can be found in clusters on the underside of young leaves and create white spots, as well as sweet goo drops which often attract sooty mold.
- Mealybugs are also small and soft bugs, but they have a cotton-like or waxy layer and tend to stay in clusters along the stems or middle parts of leaves. They also secrete a sticky substance known as sweet goo drops which attracts sooty mold.
- Scale bugs feed on plant sap and can be found in dark patches on the leaves, usually near the veins or along the petioles of the leaf. They can cause yellowed patches and limited growth.
- Spider bugs are tiny, black insects that feed on the undersides of leaves. They create tiny webs which covers the leaf surface, causing yellow or white speckled designs as well as distorted growth.
These pests can be controlled through regular monitoring and the application of bug-killing soaps and plant oils. It’s also super important to maintain good growing conditions for Calathea White Star in order to keep those pests away. Regular pruning, proper watering and fertilizing, as well as enough air movement are all important factors in keeping your plants healthy and bug-free.
Common Diseases of Calathea White Star
With its characteristic white and green leaves, the Calathea White Star is a lovely plant that needs adequate care to stay healthy. The following conditions can influence Calathea White Star:
- Leaf spot: Leaf spot disease is brought on by fungi that produce brown or black spots on plant leaves. Make sure to water the plant only when the top soil is dry and refrain from sprinkling water on the leaves to prevent this illness.
- Giving too much water or bad leaking can result in root rot, which causes the roots to rot. Make sure the soil drains effectively and water the plant only when the top soil is dry to avoid this illness.
- Bacterial leaf spot affects plants by causing soaking-wet spots on their leaves that subsequently develop into dead, yellow or brown spots. Avoid watering from above and remove affected leaves as soon as possible to prevent this illness.
- A fungal disease called powder-like mold results in a white, powdery coating on the plant’s leaves. Keeping enough air movement around the plant and avoiding watering from above will help to prevent this illness.
To guarantee the health and life of your Calathea White Star, it’s crucial to check it now and then and treat any illnesses as soon as they pop up. This lovely plant can flourish in your house or place of business with the right looking after and tending.
Common Problems Calathea White Star
Calathea White Star is a knockout plant with its flashy white and green leaves that needs a bit of pampering to stay in tip-top shape. Here’s a heads-up on some common issues that can bug your Calathea White Star:
- Brown leaf tips: Brown tips on the leaves usually mean low dampness or too much feeding. To dodge this issue, mist the leaves often and don’t go overboard with the plant food.
- Curling leaves: If you see curling leaves, it means the plant is crying out for more dampness. Up the dampness around the plant by misting the leaves often or using a humidifier.
- Yellowing leaves: Yellowing leaves can mean you’re either giving it too much or too little water. Just remember to water your green buddy only when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch, and make sure it’s draining well to avoid waterlogging.
- Leaf hurt: Calathea White Star can’t handle direct sun, which can hurt the leaves or scorch them. Keep your plant friend in a shady spot, away from direct sun.
It’s key to keep a close eye on your Calathea White Star and tackle any issues pronto to make sure it stays healthy and lives long. With a little love and attention, this beauty can bloom in your home or office.
FAQ About Calathea White Star Care
Q: How do I care for my Calathea White Star?
A: Taking good care of your Calathea White Star needs plenty of light, dampness, and water. Place the plant where it gets bright, indirect sunlight and keep the soil moist but not soggy. Give the leaves a spray now and then to up the dampness, and feed it every 1-2 months.
Q: What kind of soil should I use for my Calathea White Star?
A: A peat-based potting soil that drains well is best for your Calathea White Star. Steer clear of overly wet or dry soils.
Q: How frequently should I water my Calathea White Star?
A: Give your plant a drink when the top inch of soil is dry. After each watering, make sure to dump out any extra water that gathers in the saucer to avoid root rot.
Q: When should I fertilize my Calathea White Star?
A: Feed your Calathea White Star every 1-2 months with a balanced plant food diluted to half strength. Skip feeding during winter when the plant is sleeping.
Q: How do I spread my Calathea White Star?
A: Spreading your Calathea White Star is a piece of cake. Just split the plant’s rhizomes and replant them in a new pot. Give them plenty of light and water, and the new plants should take root in no time.
Q: How do I know when my Calathea White Star needs more light?
A: Your Calathea White Star will need more light if its leaves start to droop. Also, the leaves might start turning yellow or brown if it’s not getting enough light. Move your plant to a brighter spot and keep an eye out for changes.
Q: What should I do if my Calathea White Star is infested with pests?
A: If your Calathea White Star is bugged, use a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol to treat the affected areas. Also, move the plant away from other plants and clean up any fallen leaves or debris that might have attracted the bugs.
The Calathea White Star is a top pick if you’re after beautiful, easy-care plants. You can totally get the best out of your plant’s growth by sticking to the tips we’ve shared above. With the right amount of light, water, and plant food, your plant will bloom. Be sure to watch out for browning or yellowing leaves as this could be a sign that something is off.
I hope you liked this Calathea White Star Care: The Complete And Best Guide post and found it useful. I’d love to hear from you in the comments below about your adventure with Calathea White Star or any other questions you might have. Swing by my blog FamiPlants where I spill all the secrets about keeping houseplants alive and blooming. Thanks for sticking around!”
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