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4.7 out of 5 (20 experiences)


About Earth Stars
Earth Stars are small, tropical plants in the bromeliad family. Related to pineapples, the tiny star-shaped rosettes are often striped with pink and red and rarely grow more than 8 inches in diameter āļø.
Taxonomy
Cryptanthus bivittatus
Cryptanthus
Bromeliaceae
Poales
Also known as
Dwarf Rose-Stripe Star, Pink Starlite, Starfish Plant, Star Plant, Vary-leaf Star and Red Star

How to care for Earth Stars

How often to water your Earth Stars

every 12
Earth Stars needs 0.5 cups of water every 12 when it doesnāt get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.
Water 0.5 cups every
12

Check the growing potential in your area
A plant's growing potential is determined from its location, the time of year, and current local weather.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
27% Very Low

Growing Earth Stars in Pittsburgh right now
Plant growth potential is currently low š
February 5th, 2023
Sunlight intensity as measured by ānet radiationā in Pittsburgh is currently low š.
The availability of high quality sunlight in your home impacts ability for plants to thrive and is key in determā¦
Sunlight will increase by 43.4% āļø
February 4th, 2023
Pittsburgh is trending towards greater sunlight intensity!
The amount of sunlight in Pittsburgh is expected to increase by 43.4% over the next 2 weeks to an average of 8.3 megajoules of energy perā¦
Daylight will increase by 1.2 hours š
February 5th, 2023
This month, Pittsburgh is getting an average of 5.1 hours of clear sky sunlight per day.
Hours of daylight will increase by 13.3% over the next two weeks. Your plants will get 10.6 total hours of ā¦
Finding light for Earth Stars in your home

a window
Earth Stars love being close to bright, sunny windows š.
Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to ensure it receives enough light to survive during this time of reduced sunlight intensity in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania ā .
Earth Stars does not tolerate low-light š«.

How to fertilize Earth Stars

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 itās likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.
To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Earth Stars after it doubles in size or once a yearāwhichever comes first.

Earth Stars 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!
Water Needs
Earth Stars thrives in dry soil and should be watered sparingly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.
Sunlight Needs
Earth Stars requires abundant, bright and direct light. Place it less than one foot from a window to ensure it receives enough light to survive šŖ. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home š”.
Toxicity
Earth Stars 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
Earth Stars prefers dry environments. Providing extra humidity or misting your plant allows water to linger on leaves, which can create the perfect environment for harmful types of fungi.
Soil
Earth Stars 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!
Fertilizer
Earth Stars grows very slowly and doesnāt require added fertilizer. Replacing your plantās potting soil once a year should provide them with more than enough nutrition. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!
Native Region
Earth Stars is native to Brazil.
Flowers
Yes, you may see your Earth Stars bloom with the right amount of sunlight and water.
Growth Pattern
Earth Stars grows in a rosette pattern, with leaves neatly arranged in a circle. New growth will emerge from the center.
Growing Outdoors
USDA Hardiness Zone
Earth Stars can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 10a-11b. Find your local hardiness zone here.
Propagation
Earth Stars 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
Yellow Leaves
Yellow leaves arenāt always a reason to panic, and can be a normal part of a plantās life cycle. Unless brand new leaves are turning yellow or all the leaves change color at once, itās likely just your plant shedding old leaves.
Overwatering and root rot are the most likely cause of problems in Earth Stars, since they are very sensitive to wet soil. The leaves may also appear to be curling or drooping. Less often, yellow leaves are caused by underwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or pests.
Replace soggy soil with fresh, dry soil and download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!
Care Summary for Earth Stars
Earth Stars
Greg recommends:

0.5 cups every 12 days

< 1ft from a window

Repot after 2x growth
Based on your location in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the 4ā pot your plant is in, and that it doesnāt get direct sunlight.

What other plant parents say






