Calathea Magicstar Plant Care

Whether one needs a new house plant to enhance the visual appeal of their home or add diversity to their indoor plant collection, the Calathea Magic Star is always a wonderful choice.

Known across the globe for its easy care routine and lush green variegated leaves, the magic star plant is an excellent addition for first-time or experienced plant parents.

The Calathea magic start plant is not exceptionally tolerant and isn’t too sensitive either. As long as the plant parent is well-informed and attentive to its relatively low-maintenance care routine, they’ll be able to keep it healthy for years.

Continue reading below to learn in greater detail about the appearance and appeal of the Calathea magic star, along with learning about its basic care routine.

The Calathea Magic Star: Appearance and Appeal

A close relative of the Stromanthe Triostar, the Calathea magic star house plant is a popular member of the Marantaceae family. Originating from the tropical region of Central and South America, Calathea plants are desired by the global plant community for their undeniable beauty and health benefits.

Apart from being popularly known as the Calathea magic star plants, these plants are known by multiple other names such as magic star, prayer plant, stromanthe thalia magic star, or just stromanthe magic star.

Moreover, the Calathea magic star plant is characterized by its deep red stem, varying leaf shapes, and lush green foliage that is naturally decorated with unique patterns of light pink, cream, and white variegation.

This vibrant color gradience allows the Calathea magic star plants to add diversity and enhance the visual appeal of the overall house plant collection.

Furthermore, the magic plants are generally fast growers and can grow up to one meter tall during their lifetime. This quality allows the prayer plants to be used as tabletop decorations or for narrow kitchen corners that get the required sunlight and fresh air.

Basic Care Tips for Indoor Potted Prayer Plants

Watering Your Prayer Plant

Like most other indoor tropical plants, the Calathea magic star thrives best when it is watered properly. Ideally, the plant parent needs to repeat the magic star plant’s watering routine after every two to three days so that its soil retains medium moisture at all times.

The best way to know when your Calathea magic star needs water is by dipping a wooden stick in its soil. If the stick comes out dry from the bottom, you need to use a spray bottle to add moisture to the soil.

Moreover, even on days when you don’t need to water the plant, you should use a spray bottle to add filtered water droplets on the surface of the magic star plant’s leaves. This tip helps the leaves remain glossy and fresh and prevents the leaf edges from drying out and turning yellow.

However, although the Calathea magic star plant’s survival and growth depend on moisture, excess water can cause the prayer plant to die.

Root Rot

If the wet soil is not given enough time to dry, or if prayer plants are kept in poorly draining soil, excess water accumulates inside the plant’s soil.

Eventually, any airborne fungal spores can settle and reproduce inside the moist Stromanthe thalia magic star plant’s moist soil. If the fungus spreads all the way to the plant’s roots, this causes the roots to rot.

As a result, most of the magic star plant’s roots die, and the entire tropical plant is deprived of proper hydration. Consequently, this leads to browning leaves and early plant death.

Hence, if you happen to spot any fungal growth inside your Stromanthe thalia magic star’s soil, add a recommended dosage of natural fungicide or repot the entire plant into a new batch of potting mix.

Sunlight Requirements

Along with water, a tropical plant like the Stromanthe magic star is also equally adapted to thriving under proper sunlight. However, how much light is ideal for an indoor potted magic star?

As per the expert advice, the Calathea magic star house plant grows best in low light conditions.

This means that placing the magic star plant on a windowsill that allows direct sunlight may cause the indoor plant to overheat, dehydrate, and die.

Hence, instead, the plant should be kept in a well-lit corner of the house that allows it to enjoy prolonged hours of bright indirect sunlight during the day.

The filtered light will allow the magic star plant to produce its food by carrying out photosynthesis and will prevent overheating or burning of the leaves.

Moreover, if a prolonged period of cloud cover is expected, or you live in a region where bright indirect light is less prevalent, it is best to invest in a solar lamp to make up for the Calathea magic star plant’s light requirements.

Make sure to adjust the solar lamp to a low light setting to prevent damage caused by intense direct light.

Soil Type

If you’re looking to keep your Stromanthe magic star plants happy and healthy, you need to pay attention to the condition and quality of their soil.

As mentioned above, a Calathea magic star house plant grows best in slightly moist, well-draining soil that is rich in plant nutrients and minerals.

Ideally, it is best to add a balanced fertilizer and distilled water solution to the magic star plant’s soil every few months, especially during the growing season.

However, refrain from mixing a concentrated liquid fertilizer with tap water, as too many minerals can trigger algae and fungal growth.

Ideal Humidity Levels

Tropical plants like the Stromanthe magic star are best adapted to growing in high-humidity regions. Ideally, the humidity levels should be at least 50% at all times.

However, if the air inside your home does not have enough humidity, invest in an indoor humidifier or place your prayer plant on a water-filled pebble tray to create a humid environment for your Calathea magic star plant.

By doing so, you control the rate of transpiration and prevent water loss, allowing the stromanthe magic star to retain its plumpness and refreshing beauty.

Moreover, if the Calathea magic star plant’s surroundings are too humid, they can cause moisture to settle inside the plant’s soil, resulting in rotting roots.

In such cases, investing in an advanced ventilation system is best to provide your prayer plants with the proper care and living environments.

Ideal Temperature

The Calathea magic star house plant does not do well in extreme winters or summers. If the external temperature gets too high, the overheated magic star plant is forced to transpire water in an attempt to cool itself.

If too much water leaves the magic star plant, the plant will dry out.

Similarly, if the external weather gets too cold, the plant might suffer from root rot. In such cases, invest in an infrared lamp and refrain from placing the Stromanthe sanguinea plant in front of cold and drafty windows.

Prayer Plant Potting and Repotting Requirements

To maintain your house plant’s growth rate and health, repot the Stromanthe magic star plant during the summer or in early spring.

To repot your Calathea magic star plant, follow the steps listed below:

• Use a small garden shovel to gently separate the soil and roots from the pot’s inner walls

• Gently tilt the old pot to the side and slide out the entire magic star plant along with its root ball

• Use this opportunity to wash and examine the quality of the plant’s roots. If any roots seem dead or damaged, use a pair of pruning shears to cut them off

• Fill a new container with a fresh batch of potting mix and repot the magic star plant inside the soil.

• Moreover, ensure that the new pot size is slightly larger than the previous one, and

• Finally, water your repotted Calathea magic star plant and place it under indirect sunlight

Pest Control

Regardless of how healthy or well-grown a Calathea magic star plant is, it needs to be constantly examined for any spider mites.

If the spider mites are allowed to grow and reproduce, they will cause irreversible damage to the stromanthe magic star plant’s leaves and stem, resulting in excessive shedding and death.

Hence, if one does spot tiny black and brown pests on their Calathea magic star plant’s leaves or stem, they need to immediately spray the plant with an appropriate pesticide before it’s too late.

Toxicity

Fortunately for plant owners with young children and pets at home, the Calathea magic star house plant is considered non-toxic to animals and humans.

Final Thoughts- Growing Your Prayer Plant Family

If you are looking for a house plant that can easily adapt to a new environment, is somewhat tolerant, and has an undeniable visual appeal, there can be no plant as perfect for you as the Calathea magic star.

As long as you are informed about the stromanthe magic star care requirements and its common problems and diseases, you can enjoy its vibrant look for many years to come.