Calathea 'Stella', delicately marbled leaves
Goeppertia lietzei ‘Stella’
- Exposures
- Half-shade, Shade
- Hardiness (USDA)
- 11b (7.2°C ≤ T° < 10°C)
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Family
- Marantaceae
- Genus
- Goeppertia
- Species
- Goeppertia lietzei
Sometimes I find a ten-cent coin lying on the sidewalk and consider myself lucky. Tiam Yam, an employee at a greenhouse specializing in exotic plants, discovered a new variety of Goeppertia: Calathea 'Stella'. It is said to have appeared spontaneously in the middle of a planting of Calathea 'White Fusion'.
How can you recognize Goeppertia lietzei 'Stella'?
Calathea 'Stella' is a rhizomatous perennial. It grows up to 60 centimeters tall and has a compact growth habit.
The lanceolate leaves grow at the end of a long petiole with purple hues. They are leathery and wavy. The upper surface has dark green margins. The rest of the leaf blade is entirely covered with light green and white marbling. The underside displays an almost translucent purple color. At the base of the leaf, there is a slight bulge. This is the pulvinus. This structure allows the plant to fold its leaves at nightfall and unfold them again in the morning.
Goeppertia lietzei 'Stella' closely resembles Calathea 'White Star.' However, it is possible to distinguish between the two species without looking at their labels. If the upper surface of your Calathea has hints of pink, it is a Calathea 'White Fusion.' In the 'Stella' variety, the stripes are only white and green.
It doesn't matter whether you've brought home a Goeppertia lietzei 'Stella' or a Calathea 'White Fusion.' Both species are non-toxic. According to some scientists, they may even have air-purifying properties.
Our care tips
Not very demanding, your Goeppertia lietzei ‘Stella’ is content with a location without direct sunlight and plenty of humidity.
Watering
Keep the soil in your Calathea 'Stella always fresh. When the substrate is one to two centimeters dry, you can water.
Use room-temperature, non-calcareous water. What's best? Recovered rainwater. If you don't have any, you can use filtered water. You can also use tap water, provided you let it stand for a while.
After watering, empty the water stagnating at the bottom of the dish. It may rot the roots.
Misting
In nature, goeppertia lietzei 'Stella benefits from a high degree of humidity. Spray your Calathea 'Stella withrainwater to improve humidity and prevent pest infestation.
Don' t use hard water, such as tap water. It leaves white spots on the foliage.
Repotting
Every year in the spring, repot your Goeppertia lietzei ‘Stella’ to give it more space.
Obtain a pierced pot of a larger size than the previous one. Don't hesitate to choose a ceramic or plastic model. These materials retain moisture and allow you to space out watering. Your Calathea 'Stella also prefers a wide pot to a deep container to give it room to grow.
Line the bottom with gravel or clay balls for drainage. Then pour in potting soil for green plants. You can lighten it by adding perlite.
Plant your subject in the middle and fill in with substrate. Water for the first time to eliminate air bubbles and encourage rooting.
Fertilization
To promote the growth of your Goeppertia lietzei ‘Stella’, apply fertilizer in spring and summer.
Apply a liquid fertilizer for green plants. Respect the doses indicated by the manufacturer on the packaging. Too high a dose will damage foliage.
Cleaning
Dust prevents the plant from photosynthesizing. Clean the leaves of your Calathea 'Stella with a soft, clean cloth.
Prune
To remove yellowed, damaged or wilted leaves, cut them off at the base with a sharp, clean tool.
Taking cuttings
Cutting is carried out during the strong growth phase, generally in spring and early summer.
Take advantage of repotting to divide your Calathea 'Stella. Once your plant has been dug up, locate a rhizome with one or more stems. Each stem should have at least three leaves.
Using your hands or a clean, sharp tool, separate the rhizome from the rest of the plant.
Pour a drainage layer (gravel, clay balls, pozzolan, etc.) of one to two centimeters into a bucket or small pierced pot. Add a draining substrate, such as universal potting soil mixed with sand.
Make a pilot hole and plant the cutting. Do not bury the leaves. Press lightly and water.
Diseases / Threats
Information
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Exposures
- Half-shadeShade
- Substrate
- Humus soil
- Planting method
- In pots
- Categories
- IndoorRhizomeHerbaceous
- Tags
- Cold-sensitiveThirsty
- Origin
- South America
- Hardiness (USDA)
- 11b (7.2°C ≤ T° < 10°C)
- Leaf colors
- Dark greenLight greenWhiteViolet
- Flower color
- White
Discover plants from the same family
Calathea lietzei
Goeppertia lietzei
Calathea 'White Fusion
Goeppertia lietzei ‘White Fusion’
Zebra Calathea
Goeppertia zebrina
Calathea crocata
Goeppertia crocata
Find out more
Find all our tips in the Monstera application
