Cryptanthus 'Pink Starlite' in pot

Credit: Mokkie

Cryptanthus bivittatus 'Pink starlite' green and pink leaves

Credit: David J.Stang

Cryptanthus pink and green 'Pink Starlite

Credit: Mokkie

Cryptanthus 'pink Starlite' in the ground

Credit: David J Stang

Cryptanthus bivittatus 'Pink Starlite', the starfish plant

Like SpongeBob and Patrick, his starfish best friend, you and Cryptanthus bivittatus 'Pink Starlite' could well become inseparable! This plant from the Bromeliaceae family has a lot going for it. Starting with its starry shape and the coloring of its foliage, two attributes reminiscent of the emblematic sea animal.

How to recognize Cryptanthus bivittatus 'Pink Starlite' (or Starlight)?

Cryptanthus bivittatus 'Pink Starlite' is a small, slow-growing perennial. It reaches no more than ten to thirteen centimetres in height, with a spread of up to fifteen centimetres. Its habit is characterized by a star-shaped, flattened, flared rosette. This cultivar is a horticultural hybrid of its Brazilian tropical relative, cryptanthus bivittatus.

With no real stem, the particular foliage of this species is what makes it so interesting. Its leaves arch towards the ground and grow horizontally. Thick, leathery and fleshy, the blades are linear-lanceolate with serrated margins. They are pale green to olive-green in the center, with a pink longitudinal stripe along each side. The more light the foliage receives, the more intense its coloring, to the point of sparkling like starlite(literally, "starlight").

The plant rarely produces flowers indoors. When it does bloom, its small, white or pinkish, three-petaled flowers emerge from the center of the rosette.

Cryptanthus bivittatus 'Pink Starlite' is not toxic to humans, but may be mildly irritating to your domestic companions if they ingest its leaves. What's more, the specimen has spiny, serrated leaf margins that require care when handling. Keep it out of the reach of children and pets to avoid injury!

Our maintenance tips

Cryptanthus 'Pink Starlite are slow-growing. Often, one repotting after purchase or when taking cuttings is enough for their entire life. You can, however, repot the mother plant after flowering to give the offshoots room to develop.

Watering

Cryptanthus 'Pink Starlite like to keep soil moist, but not soggy. Water when the soil surface is dry (two to three centimetres).

Water the substrate with non-calcareous water, such as rainwater, at room temperature.

Allow the water to drain through the drainage holes before replacing the plant. Empty out any water stagnating in the saucer or planter. It may rot the roots.

Spray

Brumisez le feuillage avec une eau non calcaire améliore l'hygrométrie et lutte contre les attaques de nuisibles.

Repotting

Every spring, repot your Cryptanthus bivittatus 'Pink Starlite' to give it more space.

Cryptanthus 'Pink Starlite like light, acidic soil. To meet their needs, it's best to create your own substrate by mixing equal parts sphagnum moss, sand and heather soil.

Get a pot with a ten-centimeter diameter hole and fill it with your mixture. Water generously.

Plant your Cryptanthus 'Pink Starlite' in the center. Pack gently.

In summer, you can place your pot on a dish of moist clay balls to increase humidity.

Fertilization

Add a special Bromeliad foliar fertilizer to the water when misting. Follow the dosage instructions to avoid damaging the foliage.

Prune

To encourage the growth of your Cryptanthus 'Pink Starlite', prune regularly.

Remove dead leaves. If you use pruning shears or scissors, clean them beforehand to prevent the spread of disease.

Cutting

Wait until the end of flowering to propagate your Cryptanthus 'Pink Starlite'.

Wait until the shoots are at least a third of the size of the main plant before removing them. Separate them with your hands or a clean, sharp instrument (pruning shears or scissors). Be sure to keep some roots for each cutting.

Fill a perforated pot about ten centimetres in diameter with a mixture of peat (50%) and sand (50%). You can also use the same substrate as for an adult plant, mixing one third sphagnum peat moss, one third sand and one third heather soil.

Water the potting soil. Plant your offshoot in the center and tamp lightly.

Disease / Threat

Mealybug, accompanied by ants for its honeydew.

Mealybugs

Information

Family	Bromeliads - Bromeliaceae
Type	Cryptanthus - Cryptanthus
Species	Cryptanthus bivittatus - Cryptanthus bivittatus
Lifecycle	Perennial
Foliage	Evergreen
Exposure	Sun
Substrat	Humus soil
Planting method	In pots
Categories	Interior Flowery
Tags	Beginner Flowery Fritillary
Origin	South America
Hardiness (USDA)	11b
Leaf color
Flower colors