In warm months, water him when the top two inches of soil feel dry (about once a week). He’ll need less in winter.
He’ll be fine in fairly low light, but you’ll see more colourful growth if you give him lots of light.
He loves a steamy atmosphere. He’s ideal for a bathroom, or you could give him a good misting every few days.
Botanical name
Calathea triostar
Nickname
Calathea Stromanthe Triostar; Stromanthe Sanguinea Triostar; Prayer plant
Air purifying
Yes
Plant height
70-80cm
Pet/Baby safe
Yes
Nursery pot size
19cm
For more care advice about Tristan, check out our complete guide to calathea care.
The rainforests of South America are calathea triostar’s home. It lives in the dappled light under larger trees, bringing a pop of colour to the forest floor. Like a lot of calathea, it folds up its leaves at night, then unfurls them in the morning, ready to absorb any light that shines through the canopy.
If you think about where it’s from, it’s easy to remember how to keep this plant happy. It likes light that mimics the mottled light in a forest (i.e. not a lot of direct sun, but not total shade). It also loves rainforest-like moisture. So give it a regular misting or pop it in a bright bathroom. In spring and summer, give it a feed with liquid fertiliser once per month to help it grow. Meet those mild demands and it’s a really striking houseplant.
Did you know?
In its native countries, calathea leaves are used to make everything from rice containers to quivers for arrows.
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