Complete guide to ctenanthe 'Compactstar' care

The ctenanthe 'Compactstar' - we call ours Jo - is a beautiful houseplant that’s also easy to care for, making it a popular choice for both experienced and first-time plant parents. With its striking foliage and air-purifying qualities, it’s a plant that is sure to make any room feel serene. In this article, we’ll explore how to care for this stunning plant to keep it healthy and thriving in your home. Here are the basics:

• Water it when the top two inches of soil feel dry, it doesn’t like to be soggy
• It will make do with light shade, but really this plant loves a bright spot away from direct sunlight
• Avoid crispy leaf tips by giving your plant a light mist every few days

With green stripes on top and a rich purple underneath, this prayer plant is the perfect addition to your calathea collection. This particular plant is native to Brazil, where you’ll find it growing in the shade of big trees in tropical rainforests. Like almost all other calathea, its leaves curl up at night, then unfurl in the morning to catch all the rays they can. One of its nicknames is prayer plant, because the curled leaves look like praying hands.

When it comes to caring for your ctenanthe 'Compactstar', one of the most important factors is choosing the right spot for it. Although it will tolerate some shade, this plant thrives in bright, indirect light. Its leaves are a little delicate, which means that it shouldn’t be placed in direct sunlight. Ideally, it should be put near a north or east-facing window where it can receive bright, filtered light.

When it comes to watering your ctenanthe 'Compactstar', it’s important to keep the soil evenly moist but not waterlogged. This plant prefers soil that’s well-draining, so keep your plant in a nursery pot with good drainage holes to prevent water from pooling in the bottom of the pot, and empty any water that collects in the bottom of your decorative pot. Water the plant when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch, and be sure to use room-temperature water to prevent shock to the roots. Your ctenanthe ‘Compactstar’ is a bit sensitive to chlorine, so use filtered water or leave tap water to stand in your watering can overnight before watering.

The ctenanthe 'Compactstar' prefers warm, humid conditions, so it’s important to keep it in a warm spot away from cold draughts. A temperature range of 18-27°C is ideal for this plant. It will love plenty of humidity so mist your plant regularly or by placing a tray of water nearby to create a humid microclimate.

To keep your ctenanthe 'Compactstar' healthy and thriving, it’s important to feed it with a diluted balanced, water-soluble fertiliser every two weeks during the growing season (spring and summer). You can use a general-purpose houseplant fertiliser or one specifically formulated for tropical plants. During the winter months, you can reduce the frequency of feeding to once a month.

Regular pruning is an important part of caring for your ctenanthe 'Compactstar'. This plant tends to grow bushy and may need to be trimmed back to keep its shape. Prune away any yellow or brown leaves as soon as you notice them to keep the plant looking healthy and tidy. Use clean shears or scissors whenever you’re pruning.

If you want to propagate your ctenanthe 'Compactstar', you can do so by dividing the plant. Simply remove the plant from its pot and gently separate the roots into two or more sections. Repot each section into a new pot with fresh soil and water well. Keep the new plants in a warm, humid spot until they establish new roots. Learn more about propagation here.

The ctenanthe 'Compactstar' is a beautiful and easy-to-care-for houseplant that can add a touch of natural beauty to any room in your home.