The Grey Star Plant – A Guide to Cultivation, Care, and Benefits
Botanically named Ctenanthe setosa, the Grey Star Plant is a houseplant with beautiful leaves and no trouble. Its silver-green leaves are marked by darker green veins. Add it to any indoors to give it a touch of exotism and decoration. We will cover everything you need to know about the Grey Star Plant, including its origin, characteristics, cultivation and care, and the many value it brings to living space.
Understanding the Grey Star Plant
Origins and Natural Habitat
Grey Star Plant (Calathea lancifolia, Marantaceae family, ‘prayer plant family’)The Grey Star Plant is one of those foliage-y plants with big, elongated leaves that fold up along their longer side at night and then unfold themselves again in the early morning, so it’s often confused with the Prayer Plant – the plant that gives the prayer plant family its common name. Native to South America, particularly Brazil, it lives in more shaded and humid environments with rich loam soils, although in nature it can grow as an understoryspecies.
Botanical Characteristics
Grey Star Plant (Family: Euphorbiaceae; Genus Species: Nidulariaceae)By far the most beloved characteristics of the Grey Star Plant are its large, gorgeous silver-green leaves. They grow up to 12 inches long, elongated and lance-shaped (claiming their most formal label of ‘lanceolate’), and with deep green striping or veining running parallel to each other for the full length of the leaf’s surface – stripes that give this plant a very obvious star pattern. Hence, the name Grey Star.
It reaches a height of about 3 feet and a width of a foot or so when mature, and propagates laterally from the bottom of the plant into clumps. That means many individual plants grow up close together, which means they can be used to create density in a pot or plant a whole bed full of them.
Growth and Blooming
Although the Grey Star Plant is grown mostly for its foliage, it flowers as well, depending on conditions. Despite this, it’s the leaves that attract growers to this plant. They come in a range of colours (usually varying shades of green, but occasionally almost red), and grow to a mature leaf length of 5-20 centimetres. The flowers of the Grey Star Plant, while not unattractive, are much less renowned than the leaves. Indeed, they’re fairly tiny, and usually white or light purple. Blooming appears to take place in summer, but when kept indoors, flowering isn’t common. Typically, growers maintain the plant purely as a foliage plant.
Cultivating the Grey Star Plant
Ideal Growing Conditions
Cultivating the Grey Star Plant to maturity is not going to be easy, though certainly it involves stepping gently and avoiding damaging the roots. Critical is replicating an approximation of its natural living ground – its light, temperature, humidity, soil.
Light Requirements
Grey Star Plant prefers bright, indirect light. Avoid placing it in direct sun, since this will scorch the thin leaves, causing them to lose their bright colour. A spot by a north or east-facing window is perfect, where it can receive filtered light throughout the day. Fluorescent grow lights can be used in the winter months to supplement low natural light.
Temperature and Humidity
Since it is a tropical plant, it lives best at the height of 65-80 ºF (18ºC – 27ºC), so it should be distanced from draughts and sudden air temperature shifts that can cause leaf fall or damage. That’s why the plant should be kept far away from doors and windows, as well as air conditioning vents.
Humidity is another important variable for the Grey Star Plant. It does well in humid conditions – 60% and more is best. If the indoor environment is dry, as it often is in winter, using a humidifier to increase humidity, putting the plant on a pebble tray with water, or misting the leaves regularly can all be helpful.
Soil and Potting
The Grey Star Plant grows best in a well-aerated, nutrient-rich soil. A houseplant potting mix, augmented with an organic matter such as peat moss or coco coir, is perfect. For a potting mix, you want something that holds water, but won’t remain moisture-logged – something that’ll allow excess water to drain out without depriving the roots’ oxygen supply.
When potting the Grey Star Plant, choose a pot with holes designed to let excess water drain out. Repot the plant every 1-2 years, or whenever it outgrows the pot, to rejuvenate the soil and provide more space for the root system to grow.
Watering and Fertilization
The Grey Star Plant must be watered well for a healthy living plant, but the soil should only ever be slightly moist, never soggy. It demands a consistent amount of water, because overwatering can cause root rot, while underwatering will turn the leaves brown at the edges and curl them inward. Therefore, the plant should be watered only when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch. Use lukewarm water so as not to shock the roots.
Fertilise during the growing season, which is spring through early fall. Dilute a balanced, water-soluble fertiliser to half strength and apply it every 4-6 weeks. Avoid fertilising during the winter months when growth naturally slows.
Pruning and Propagation
Pruning probably isn’t necessary, but you can cut off dead or damaged leaves and remove them. You can also cut back stray branches to keep the grey star plant tame and neat. Use a clean sharp pair of scissors or clippers to cut away extraneous growth close to the plant’s base.
The Grey Star Plant propagates fairly easily, division being the preferred method. This process is best performed in spring when you repot your plant. Carefully remove the plant from the pot and separate the root clumps into smaller divided pieces, ensuring that each section has a few leaves and roots. Plant the divisions in fresh soil and water them as usual.
Common Problems and Solutions
Pests
While the Grey Star Plant is fairly resistant to bugs, rarely is it targeted by houseplant pests such as spider mites, mealybugs and aphids. Spider mites are the most likely of the bunch, so check the leaves for tiny white wexy threads, sticky stuck sap, or noticeable insects. Treat pests with insecticidal soap or neem oil, and remove the plant from other plants so they don’t spread.
Diseases
Grey Star Plant is susceptible to root rot, which is by far its most common disease. Often this is due to overwatering but could also be due to poor drainage in its soil. Root rot can be avoided by never allowing your Grey Star Plant to sit in water, and by allowing the soil to dry out a bit in between waterings.
Here, another possibility is leaf spot. Brown or black spots on the foliage can be the result of fungal or bacterial infections, which tend to occur with too much leaf moisture or poor air circulation. For leaf spot treatment, trim off the leaves that are affected, and make sure that watering practices are keeping the foliage dry.
Benefits of the Grey Star Plant
Aesthetic Appeal
The grey colouration and patterned leaves of the Grey Star Plant makes it a great focal point for a collection of houseplants. It complements a wide variety of interior themes, from minimalist to tropical, providing an exotic addition to your home. Potted on a windowsill or hanging in a basket, or as part of a mixed pot of plants, the Grey Star Plant makes your interiors look even better.
Air Purification
Similar to many houseplants, it purifies the air: it absorbs formaldehyde, benzene and trichloroethylene, helping to create cleaner air spaces to counteract the negative impacts of urban pollution. Grey Star Plant is recommended for apartments and offices in polluted cities.
Stress Reduction
Decorating your living space with plants like the Grey Star Plant can aid relaxation and improve wellbeing, while giving plants the care they need is meditative and often healing in its own way. Studies have also found that the colour green stimulates productivity and creativity in the workplace, making the Grey Star Plant a valuable asset at the office as well.
Low Maintenance
A virtually unkillable option for amateur botanists is a Grey Star Plant. This lush and vibrant vine can thrive with minimal maintenance as long as its basic requirements of light, water and humidity are met. It’s a great option for the busy or amateur plant parent.