Calathea white star is a popular choice for plant lovers who prefer indoor plants, specifically Calathea. It’s an elegant plant with broad leaves that adds a very appealing touch to your interior.
Despite adding some greenery to your indoors, it brings along the exotic pattern, contrast of color, and finesse to your decor.
However, Calathea White Star is a fussy plant and may not be easy to grow. Like other Calathea family, Calathea White Star is also sensitive and require special care and environment. It’s a tropical plant and needs a humid atmosphere.
This article is a complete guide on growing and caring for Calathea White Star. We will discuss everything you need to know about Calathea White star.
Calathea White Star Overview
Calathea Majestica, also known as majestic prayer plant or Calathea white star, is a perennial member of the Marantaceae family and looks stunning with its rich foliage.
Like the Calathea family, Calathea white star is also native to Brazil and can be found in tropical regions like Hawaii and Florida.
Though not difficult to care for or grow, plants need special temperatures and humidity to grow and survive. The plant grows on the ground under bigger trees. And require a similar tropical environment to thrive.
Calathea White Star is also called a Prayer Plant; it moves, folds, and curls its leaves in response to light as if they are praying.
The plant is known for its exotic foliage. The broad leaves have an oval shape and feature a glorious pattern with bright white stripes going midways to the blades of a plant.
Some of its leaves have pink shades near the midrib as well. Unlike some other Calathea plants like Clathea Ornate, the White star has more stripes and resembles the Vitatta variety.
The table below shows Calathea White Star plant characteristics.
| Scientific Name | Goeppertia Majestica |
| Common Names | – Calathea White Star – Calathea Majestic – Majestic Prayer Plant |
| Phonetically Spelled as | GO-per-sha ma-JES-te-ka |
| Family | Marantaceae |
| Species | Majestica |
| Life Cycle | Perennial |
| Plant Type | – Houseplant – Herbaceous Perennial |
| Maintenance Requirements | High |
| Suggested Home Placement | Near a west or east-facing window |
| Temperature Requirements | – Calathea white star thrives in temperature that varies between 65 and 77 °F. – It can resist temperatures up to 90 °F |
| Watering Requirements | Consider watering when the top inch is dry to the touch. |
| Required pH | 6.0 to 6.5 |
| Sun Exposure | – It can do well in deep shade or even without direct sunlight with less than 2 hours of sun exposure. – It also grows well in partial shade with direct sunlight only for part of the day, with 2 to 6 hours of sun exposure. |
| Soil Drainage | Calathea White Star prefers good drainage and moist |
| Potting Soil Requirements | Regular potting soil |
| Calathea White Star Propagation method | Division |
| Fertilizer Requirements | Fertilize once a month during the growing season. |
| Toxicity To Pets | No |
| Common Pests And Diseases | – Aphids – Spider mites – Brown tips – Drooping leaves – Fungus gnats – Whiteflies – Scale insects – Root rot – Mealybugs – Yellow leaves |
| USDA Plant Hardiness Zone | 11 to 12 |
Let’s see how to plant and care for your Calathea White star.
How to Grow Calathea White Star?
The plant is easily available from nurseries, plant shops, and even online. It’s affordable, and you can get a small plant for under $20. The price can increase with the size of the plant.
Make sure you check the soil while buying so it does not bring any infection or pests. Even if you don’t see anything, keep the plant separate for a week in case it contains some eggs or larvae.
Calathea majestica ‘White star’#planttwitter #houseplants #plants pic.twitter.com/Z1TFVFiGR8
— Chanse (@chansemorris_) August 6, 2022
How to Choose a Planter for Calathea White Star?
Calathea White Star can grow in any planter with a drainage hole. To plant them, you can use terracotta, plastic pots, clay, or ceramic pots.
Clay Pots Are Perfect For Calathea as They Drain Away The Excess Water
A terracotta plant has breathable material and wicks away the excess moisture, leaving soil moist that is perfect for healthy roots.
As Calathea White Star roots spread, ensure the pot has enough space for the roots to grow. A large and wider pot is suitable. The houseplant can grow to the maximum height of 4-5 feet with 1-2 feet width, so buy the pot accordingly.
Potting Medium
You can use a combination of potting soil with other mediums like coco coir, peat, compost, and perlite.
We recommend using 50% potting soil, 20% compost, and 20% charcoal with 10% perlite. You can also use cinder or only perlite with peat and potting soil.
Make sure the soil provides plenty of aeration to the roots. Also, the soil mix should drain the excess water. Like all Calatheas, the White Star requires damp soil that is not mushy.
The soil should have acidic pH for the prayer plant. Ideally, it should be between 6.0 to 6.5. You can also use commercial potting soil.
How to Water Calathea White Star?
Calathea can be a little more demanding than your other house plants. They do not need much water but can also not survive in dry soil as well. They have a very specific need for water.
You need enough water in the soil to keep it moist and damp. It should not be mushy and wet.
You have to be careful about the watering sessions. Check the soil before water. Poke your fingers an inch and a half in the soil and feel the soil. If it feels dry inside, you can give water, but if the soil seems moist, you can wait.
Keep checking the soil with your hand, and you can repeat this and make a timetable. Still, it is difficult to predict a timetable as too many factors determine the amount of water soil requires depending on the season, type of soil, and plant growth.
Calathea is also very sensitive, so you should not use tap water for watering the plant. Tap water contains minerals that can deposit in the soil and affect your plant’s growth.
You can use distilled water. Water the plant evenly across the surface. Soak the soil with water until trickling out of the draining hole.
How pretty is these leaves 😍calathea majestica white star #catsandplants #Jungle pic.twitter.com/5sZJfAOdKb
— Anita Bjørneseth (@Aniseth1111) February 17, 2022
How Much Light Calathea White Star Needs?
The light needs of Calathea Water Star are also special. Like other Clathea plants, Calathea White star Calathea doesn’t like direct sunlight. They grow in forests under bigger plants getting partial light.
Direct sunlight can bleach their leaves, drying them out completely. In the same way, too little light can cause discoloration and leaf wilting.
So make sure you place the pot in a room or corridor where you have plenty of light but not directly from the sun.
What Should Be The Humidity Level For Calathea White Star?
As we said, Calathea is a tropical plant that grows in misty moist jungles under other bigger plants. Calathea White Star requires 50-60% humidity.
Calathea White star can be too vulnerable in low humidity, so winters can be hard, especially if you live in a dry area. If their leaves start having brown patches or develop narrow brown edges, it’s a clear sign that they need humidity.
If you have dry weather, a humidifier can be used to add some moisture to the air. Another smart way is to place the pot in a tray with water and pebbles.
The pebbles prevent the water from going into the plant roots, while the water in the tray will keep adding moisture to the air around the plant. You can also keep the plant in the bathroom or kitchen to provide enough humidity.
Misting the plant once or twice a week can also replicate the tropical humidity. A hygrometer can be used to monitor the moisture in the area.
Does Calathea White Star Need Fertilizers?
Like all plants, Calathea White star requires nutrients as well. You can add nutrient-rich water once a month to promote healthy growth. Make sure you don’t use much fertilizer, as it can leave salt deposits in the soil.
Discoloration of leaves and slow growth are clear signs of a lack of nutrition. Leaves can also have brown patches or edges due to a lack of light or water.
Also, if the potting medium is too alkaline, it may restrict the adequate transfer of nutrients to the roots.
You can use water-soluble fertilizers. Use only half of the recommended strength and release it gradually to the plant so that minerals can not deposit in one place. Avoid adding fertilizers in winter.
How Often to Prune Calathea White Star?
Calathea White flowers require less pruning. It does not grow bushy. The plant remains 4-5 feet long and is not too thick in foliage. That means it requires less pruning. Still, timely pruning can make the plant grow taller. You can prune the brown or dead leaves from time to time.
How to Clean The Plant Leaves?
As the plant has broad leaves, it can collect dust. Keep wiping the leaves from time to time so they may look fresh and clean. Misting the plant can also make it look fresh and clean.
Repotting The Calathea White Star
Calathea White Star is a sensitive plant, but you can repot it once the planter seems restrictive. When you see the roots pushing out of the drain, it’s probably time to choose a bigger planter for Calathea White Star.
It requires great care while repotting. Remove the plant with caution. Ideally, Calathea White Star should repot every year. Make sure you change the soil in the pot while repotting and use a new nutrient-rich potting mix for the plant.
How to Propagate Calathea White Star?
You can propagate the plant by the division method. Take the plant out of the container and look for the natural divide. Cut the part gently and repot in a new planter.
Does Calathea White Star Bear Flowers?
Calathea white star is only known for its rich foliage. It does not bear flowers indoors. You can use Calathea Caracota if you want a Calathea species with flowers.
Common flowers color include:
- Gold or yellow
- Purple or lavender
- And white.
Calathea White Star and Pests
Pests do not prefer the plant but keep inspecting the soil for the pests. Still, the damp soil and humid conditions can invite some pests. They may not harm much but still absorb the nutrients from the soil.
If you see any bugs or pests, flush the leaves with water and spray the affected parts with diluted alcohol or neem oil.
Final Words
Calathea White Star may not be an easy plant to grow, but its beautiful leaves and colorful patterns are a reward for all your efforts. The plant is non-toxic for both pets and humans.
Make sure you water when only needed, provide good indirect sunlight and keep pruning the plant. It’s perfect to be placed inside near some windows, balconies, or bathrooms.
You can grow it outside in summer if the planter is shaded and does not receive direct sunlight.
