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Triostar Stromanthe

4.4 out of 5 (76 experiences)

Large, lush leaves

Browns easily

About Triostar Stromanthe

These colorful plants native to Brazil have become a staple houseplant around the world. Their green leaves boast brightly colored patches of deep red and pale pink. Be sure to give them plenty of sunlight, as the leaves of plants grown in low light will begin to lose their variegation and revert to green over time. Although they rarely flower indoors, their bright fuschia flowers are pollinated by hummingbirds in the wild! 🌺

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Stromanthe thalia

Genus

Stromanthe

Family

Marantaceae

Order

Zingiberales

Also known as

Stromanthe sanguinea, Stromanthe 'Magic Star', Magic Star Stromanthe and Calathea sanguinea

How to care for Triostar Stromanthe

💦 Water

How often to water your Triostar Stromanthe

Triostar Stromanthe needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

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
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

No Yes

Select the pot size

☀️ Light

Finding light for Triostar Stromanthe in your home

Triostar Stromanthe may have difficulty thriving, and will drop leaves 🍃, without ample sunlight.

Place it less than 3 feet from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Triostar Stromanthe in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Triostar Stromanthe

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Triostar Stromanthe: repot after 2X growth

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 it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Triostar Stromanthe after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

Browse #TriostarStromanthe

💡 FAQs

⭐ Difficulty Level

Triostar Stromanthe 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!

Benefits of Growing Triostar Stromanthe →

Common Triostar Stromanthe Problems →

💦 Water Needs

Triostar Stromanthe prefers for the soil to dry out between waterings and should be watered regularly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Triostar Stromanthe Water Frequency →

Triostar Stromanthe Root Rot →

☀️ Sunlight Needs

Triostar Stromanthe may have difficulty thriving and will drop leaves 🍃 without ample sunlight. Place it less than 3 feet from a window to maximize the potential for growth. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

Triostar Stromanthe Light Requirements →

Triostar Stromanthe Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →

🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Triostar Stromanthe 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.

Triostar Stromanthe Toxicity to Cats →

Triostar Stromanthe Toxicity to Dogs →

Triostar Stromanthe Toxicity to Humans →

💨 Humidity

Triostar Stromanthe 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.

Triostar Stromanthe Humidity Needs →

🪴 Soil

Triostar Stromanthe 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!

Best Soil Mix for Triostar Stromanthe →

When and How to Successfully Repot Triostar Stromanthe →

What Are Healthy Triostar Stromanthe Roots →

💩 Fertilizer

Triostar Stromanthe is a fast growing plant and may deplete the nutrients in its soil over time. Replenish them with a gentle organic fertilizer or compost every 1-2 months depending on your location and season. Fertilize more often during the growing season and in warmer and brighter climates.

How Much and When to Fertilize Triostar Stromanthe →

❄️ Dormancy

It’s common for Triostar Stromanthe to go dormant in the wintertime and you may notice their growth slow down. Waterings should be spaced out more during this time.

🌎 Native Region

Triostar Stromanthe is native to the Tropical Americas.

🌸 Flowers

Yes, you may see your Triostar Stromanthe bloom with the right amount of sunlight and water.

Triostar Stromanthe Flowers →

Common Triostar Stromanthe Flower Problems →

⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

Triostar Stromanthe is a clumping plant, meaning new growth will emerge from the soil around the parent plant.

Triostar Stromanthe Lifecycle →

Triostar Stromanthe Size Guide →

How and When to Prune Triostar Stromanthe →

🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Triostar Stromanthe can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 10a-11b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

Triostar Stromanthe Temperature Tolerance →

Triostar Stromanthe Hardiness Zones →

🌱 Propagation

Triostar Stromanthe can be propagated by the stem method. To propagate:

Make a cut just above the node. The node is the break in the stem where the leaf emerges.
To get the cutting to root, you can either:
- Place the cutting in water until roots emerge and are ~2” long and then transplant into well-draining soil, or
- Place the cutting directly into well-draining soil and water when dry.

How to Propagate Triostar Stromanthe →

🍂 Yellow Leaves

Yellow leaves aren’t always a reason to panic, and can be a normal part of a plant’s life cycle. Unless brand new leaves are turning yellow or all the leaves change color at once, it’s likely just your plant shedding old leaves.

Overwatering and root rot are the most likely cause of problems in Triostar Stromanthe, since they are 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!

🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.

Common Bugs Affecting Triostar Stromanthe →

What Eats Triostar Stromanthe? →

Care Summary for Triostar Stromanthe

Triostar Stromanthe

Greg recommends:

Water

0.5 cups every 9 days

Placement

< 3ft from a window

Nutrients

Repot after 2x growth

Based on the 4” pot your plant is in, and that it doesn’t get direct sunlight.

What other plant parents say

Large, lush leaves 37

Browns easily 33

Fast grower 32

Survivor 16

Pest magnet 6

Blooms easily 4

Easy to propagate 4

@@Gbrownie1

2 Plants

1,061 XP

04/09/2022

-grows quickly in bright indirect light
-water when leaves start to curl

Fast grower

Browns easily

Triostar Stromanthe plant photo by @Gbrownie1 named Stacey (Triostar Stromanthe) on Greg, the plant care app.

@@RamenLechuga

7 Plants

541 XP

02/22/2022

Definitely need a humidifier, patience, and TLC with this one

Large, lush leaves

Blooms easily

Browns easily

Pest magnet

Fast grower

Triostar Stromanthe plant photo by @RamenLechuga named Sage on Greg, the plant care app.

@@Marli_andme

12 Plants

273 XP

Clarksville, TN

02/02/2022

It’s gorgeous so I would buy it over and over again but I will say it’s finicky and I have a hard time going back and forth between enough sun and not enough

Browns easily

Triostar Stromanthe plant photo by @Marli_andme named Luna on Greg, the plant care app.

@@chw

14 Plants

1,081 XP

San Francisco, CA

01/19/2022

Very beautiful. Pictures don’t do these justice

Triostar Stromanthe plant photo by @chw named Seizure on Greg, the plant care app.

@@iWhilby2021

55 Plants

9,108 XP

01/14/2022

💕

Triostar Stromanthe plant photo by @iWhilby2021 named Audreè on Greg, the plant care app.

@@BoozyBillsBabe

46 Plants

9,015 XP

Baltimore, MD

01/14/2022

I love this plant! It needs high humidity to prevent browning and shriveling but given the right conditions it will push out new leaves constantly!

Fast grower

Large, lush leaves

Browns easily

Triostar Stromanthe plant photo by @BoozyBillsBabe named Morgana on Greg, the plant care app.

@@silverlinings

92 Plants

8,105 XP

Angus, Ontario

01/11/2022

I absolutely adore my triostar but definitely find her to be a bit finicky at times! I’m trying to get a hang on her water and light needs but aside from some browning on her leaves she still pops out new leaves frequently and hasn’t given me issues other than some browning/discolouration on some new leaves❤️

Fast grower

Large, lush leaves

Blooms easily

Browns easily

Triostar Stromanthe plant photo by @silverlinings named (03) Lilias on Greg, the plant care app.

@@MeganO

41 Plants

20,843 XP

Washington, DC

12/27/2021

Love my triostars, they love humidity though so you have to make sure to keep their environment humid or your leaves will brown. Indirect light and humid environment and this plant will thrive and grow like crazy for you.

Fast grower

Browns easily

@@MeganO

41 Plants

20,843 XP

Washington, DC

12/23/2021

Need high humidity to prevent the leaves browning, but this thing puts out so many new leaves despite neglect 💙

Fast grower

Browns easily

@@MeganO

41 Plants

20,843 XP

Washington, DC

12/23/2021

Need high humidity to prevent the leaves browning, but this thing puts out so many new leaves despite neglect 💙

Fast grower

Browns easily

@@AnnaLovesVoting

27 Plants

4,586 XP

Richmond, VA

12/21/2021

Triostar are totally worth the work if you are willing to monitor humidity

Pest magnet

Browns easily

Large, lush leaves

Triostar Stromanthe plant photo by @AnnaLovesVoting named Carson on Greg, the plant care app.

@@JuJuBeans

58 Plants

7,734 XP

Decatur, GA

12/19/2021

Beautiful super fussy leaf tops brown two humidifiers can’t keep it happy. Multiple grow lights windows and repositioning can’t find her sweet spot. She’s in God’s hands good luck.

Large, lush leaves

Browns easily

Triostar Stromanthe plant photo by @JuJuBeans named Adeline on Greg, the plant care app.

@@Megan

29 Plants

14,740 XP

Washington, DC

11/28/2021

Sometimes I see this called a calathea sanguine - either way though it’s definitely part of the marantaceae family, and in my experience it’s one of the easier ones. Don’t let it dry out much!