This article may contain some affiliate links and if you make a purchase after clicking on any of teh links, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Are you a plant enthusiast looking to add some unique and exotic specimens to your collection? If so, you’ve likely come across the stunning calathea triostar and stromanthe.
With their strikingly similar appearance, it can be difficult to tell the two apart – but fear not! In this guide, we’ll dive deep into the world of calathea triostar vs stromanthe, providing you with all the information you need to differentiate these two beautiful plants.
From their unique features and growth habits to their ideal growing conditions and care tips, we’ve got you covered. So whether you’re a seasoned calathea expert or just starting out on your gardening journey, read on to discover everything you need to know about calathea triostar and stromanthe.
What Is Calathea Triostar Plant?
The calathea triostar plant is part of the prayer plant family, renowned for its incredibly colorful leaves. The plant is a popular cultivar that is difficult to grow and care for. However, they are mostly grown as indoor plants because of the showy leaves.
Although native to the tropical parts of the Americas and belonging to the arrowroot family known as Marantaceae, you would most likely find them in many other regions. The colors of the leaves are defined, and it would not take forever to spot them.
The colors include; cream color, pink, white, and green. Hence these plants owe their name to their tricolor leaves.
Just because calathea triostar is somewhat uneasy to grow does not mean you cannot grow the plant. With the proper growing condition, the plant will do well and stand out in your home or garden.
See Also: Calathea Vittata Care and Growing Guide
What Is Stromanthe?
Renowned for its elegant and compelling look, stromanthe is a genus of flowering plants in the Marantaceae family. The plant is native to the tropical parts of the Americas from Mexico.
It is easy to spot stromanthe amongst other plants because of the diverse colors, green, cream, and pink. However, it might be challenging to identify the plant amid the calathea triostar. Stromanthe does well as an outdoor and indoor plant. To thrive or produce unique colors, allow them to receive adequate sunlight while sitting pretty in the well-drained soil.
But why is it challenging to differentiate calathea triostar from stromanthe? Well, this is because they have so many things in common. Now, let’s learn about these similarities.
Comparing Between Calathea Triostar And Stromanthe
- Both plants share the same feature; they fall at sunrise and rise at sunset. Hence they are referred to as prayer plants.
- Both need the exact basic requirements for the plants to thrive. More so, both plants are propagated in the same way.
- Although the plants are not easy to grow, they do great as indoor plants.
- This is one of the most defining reasons people refer to them as the same plant; they share the same remarkable colors.
These are what make it challenging to differentiate calathea triostar and stromanthe. But are calathea triostar and stromanthe the same? Of course, they are not. Let’s learn about the critical differences between calathea triostar and stromanthe.
Calathea Triostar Vs Stromanthe: Key Differences
Remember we said earlier that the leaves are almost the same? Which they are, but there is one unique difference. The calathea leaves have this remarkable large oval shape compared to the stromanthe.
The stromanthe plants, on the other hand, have a slimmer oval shape. So, when you meet these plants face to face, check out the leaves with the detailed description of the leaves now revealed to you.
The length and width of these plants are not the same. The stromanthe plant has a slimmer and shorter length compared to calathea. If you have any plant that looks like calathea or stromanthe and does not know which one it is, then it is high time you checked the length of the plant.
When it comes to the colors of these plants, yes, it might be impossible to choose since they share the same unique colors. However, the stromanthe plant is more appealing and fits your household needs than the calathea triostar. So, if you are looking forward to increasing your aesthetics, go for stromanthe.
Availability: A few stand out when it is time to make a choice, but the product’s availability would affect your plan. When it comes to calathea triostar and stromanthe, it is more difficult getting stromanthe because it is rare. This also affects the price of the plant; it is more expensive than calathea.
Another difference to look out for in these plants is still their colors. While stromanthe has more pink colors, the calathea plant has more green colors. Furthermore, the lines on the stromanthe are lighter than those on the calathea.
So, you see, although these plants are most time confused for each other and used interchangeably, they are not the same plant. So, if you have had issues differentiating these plants, hopefully, you now know the differences.
However, this does not mean you wouldn’t care for this plant in almost the same way. Do you want to learn to care for calathea triostar, and stromanthe?
How To Care For Calathea Triostar And Stromanthe
- The calathea triostar and the calathea plant cannot do well in extreme weather conditions, whether hot or cold. You would need to plant them in a low-humid environment for them to thrive better. During freezing weather, however, they would prefer warm weather. If you have a greenhouse, consider moving them there to avoid frost or interrupting the plant’s growth.
- Both calathea triostar and stromanthe would prefer steady and indirect sunlight to grow. Be careful not to leave the plants in direct sunlight because it can affect the foliage and change the plant’s color. Leaving the plant in a dull environment where it does not receive adequate sunlight also affects the appearance of the plants. Both plants would turn pale and the leaves yellow when they don’t receive enough light.
- Watering is an essential requirement that you should succeed in giving your plant. Water both plants consistently and bid a lot of trouble goodbye. It is ideal for watering the soil when it is dry. Overwatering would result in soggy soil, promoting root rot and encouraging pests and diseases. Under watering means your soil would not be required to feed the plant, which would still stunt the plant’s growth.
- Both plants would need that you prune them once in a while or when you notice that the plant has damaged stems and leaves.
- For best results, you should equally look out for pests. Mealybugs, spider mites, scale, thrips, and whitefly are some of the pests that can attack both your stromanthe and calathea triostar. It would help if you learned how to deal with pest infestation before you experience it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Calathea Triostar And Stromanthe The Same?
It is easy to mistake any of the plants for another, most gardeners even use them interchangeably, but they are different. Yes, both plants are from Marantaceae, but they are different.
Why Do Gardeners Mistake Calathea Triostar And Stromanthe?
Mistaking calathea triostar and stromanthe is no longer a new thing. These plants share many things in common, so mistaking them is almost inevitable.
Can You Grow Calathea Triostar And Stromanthe As Indoor Plants?
Both plants are excellent and feature unique colors that make them the best fit for indoor planting. If you are skeptical about directly leaving them in your home, you can grow them in your greenhouse.
Conclusion
Many plants tend to have unique features that make differentiating them a difficult task. So, this increases the chances of having to use these plants interchangeably. Calathea triostar and stromanthe are the plants that most gardeners find intriguing and impossible to differentiate.
If this is how you have felt or what you have experienced having both plants, then our clear and detailed guide will help you through the process.
Meanwhile, these plants are unique and only require a little for them to grow ideally. This means that you can grow both plants. If you can, then explore these plants!
Good luck exploring any or both of these plants.
Related Posts: