How to Grow Stromanthe Triostar Prayer Plants

Stromanthe thalia ‘Triostar’

‘Triostar’ is a cultivated variety of the species Stromanthe thalia, a plant native to tropical rainforests of Brazil.

The naturally occurring species is gorgeous in its own right, with shiny, dark green foliage that has deep maroon undersides.

‘Triostar’ takes this striking foliage and adds irregular splashes of white, cream, and pale pink, and light green variegation.

Contrasted against lighter-colored leaves, the hot pink undersides of its foliage really stand out.

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This gem prefers regular attention, and will reward your efforts with painterly patterns, bright and luscious pinks, and leaves that rise and fall with the rhythms of day and night.

If you want to know even more about this fascinating family of flora be sure to consult our complete guide to caring for prayer plants.

I’m going to cover everything you’ll need to know to take care of this star of a prayer plant. Ready to begin?

With a fountain-like growth habit, ‘Triostar’ grows to be three to five feet tall and two to three feet wide, but is more likely to remain under three feet tall as a houseplant.

The oblong, lanceolate foliage features delicate patterns that look like watercolors applied by a painter’s brush when viewed up close.

In addition to its striking coloring and mesmerizing patterns, the leaves are thick and glossy, growing up to 20 inches long and six inches wide.

Evoking its cultivar name, the spread of the leaves can give the impression of a star-like shape.

Though rarely seen on houseplants, ‘Triostar’ may produce inflorescences that are pinkish red with white flowers that form in loose clusters during spring or summer.

In the wild, or when cultivated outdoors, these prayer plants are pollinated by bees and hummingbirds.

S. thalia spreads via underground rhizomes, allowing these plants to form a ground cover – and making it easy to propagate them via division.

This species is a member of the arrowroot family or Marantaceae, also known as the prayer plant family.

Included among its members are the goeppertias (also known as calatheas), ctenanthes, and marantas.

It is also sometimes called stromanthe ‘Tricolor,’ stromanthe ‘Tristar,’ or “variegated bloody stromanthe.”

The species S. thalia was formerly classified as S. sanguinea, and you will often still see this name online and in plant nurseries.

Since ‘Triostar’ is a prayer plant, you will notice it lifting its leaves up at night after the sun goes down, and lowering them again in the morning after sunrise.

Each stem does this with the help of a wrist-like structure called a “pulvinus.”

These stromanthes also turn their leaves towards the sun – if you turn your plant around from its sun-facing orientation, the next day you will find its leaves facing the sun again.

In USDA Hardiness Zones 9b to 11, they can be used as evergreen perennial ground covers, while in areas with colder winters, some gardeners grow them outdoors as summer annuals.

However, keep in mind that since this species originates in a humid, tropical habitat, this variety would be more suited to outside use in Florida than in Arizona.

Prayer plants are nontoxic for both kids and pets, making them safe choices for households with curious children and fur babies.

How to Grow

Stromanthe ‘Triostar’ will grace your home with gorgeous eye-catching foliage if you provide it with the care it prefers. Here’s what you need to know:

Choosing a Specimen

Make sure you get off to a good start by choosing a healthy specimen. Look for one that has no yellowing or brown leaves, and inspect for signs of pests and disease.

Also, check to see that the houseplant is growing in a pot with drainage holes, and is planted in peaty soil to help with water retention.

Light

Ideally, provide your plant with medium indirect light. A little direct sun in the early morning is okay, but avoid hot sun from noon to evening.

Placing your houseplant a few feet from an eastern-facing window should provide the plant with the amount of light it needs.

If your main source of light is a south- or west-facing window, make sure to scoot the ‘Triostar’ back several feet.

Avoid placing it directly on a windowsill and note that in low-light conditions it may lose some of its variegation.

Soil

This stromanthe prefers slightly acidic soil that is rich and peaty.

I like to make my own blend for these houseplants – I use one part coconut coir and one part De La Tank’s Houseplant Mix.

This blend provides a good balance between water retention and drainage.

De La Tank’s Houseplant Mix

De La Tank Potting Mix is available at Arbico Organics in a variety of package sizes.

Prococo Cocopeat Block

And if you need a source for coconut coir, you can find a 10-pound compressed block from Prococo, also available at Arbico Organics.

Temperature

‘Triostar’ can survive temperatures down to freezing (32°F), though its foliage will be killed back.

Rather than pushing it to its limits, try to keep it in the temperature range it prefers – a comfortable 65 to 80°F.

Avoid setting it in a location where it will be exposed to cold drafts or hot, blowing air.

Like all prayer plants, this one is sensitive to temperature fluctuations which can cause the leaves to turn brown.

Water

S. thalia ‘Triostar’ likes to have moist but not soggy soil, so you don’t want to let it dry out much at all.

Although many sources recommend watering ‘Triostar’ as soon as the soil is dry to the touch, when planted in a peaty growing medium, it can be hard to gauge this.

You can use a moisture meter to help guide you.

If your plant has started to wilt or has stopped the daily lowering and raising of its leaves, you have waited too long between waterings.

During winter, you can decrease the frequency of watering.

Like the other prayer plants, ‘Triostar’ is sensitive to contaminants that are frequently found in tap water, so provide rainwater, distilled water, or filtered water instead.

Water deeply, until the liquid runs out of the drainage holes to give it a good soaking.

You may also want to try a method called bottom watering.

Although you’ll want to err on the side of overwatering rather than underwatering, it is possible to damage them with too much water.

Humidity

Triostars require humidity above 50 percent. Indoor heating during winter significantly reduces humidity levels, even in humid climates.

In arid climates, combine these methods or house the plant in a terrarium or mini greenhouse. You can also use a humidifier.

In dry conditions, the edges of the leaves can turn crispy and brown.

Learn more about brown leaves on prayer plants here.

Fertilizing

I like to use worm compost tea to feed my prayer plants.

If you don’t have a vermicomposting station of your own set up, you can purchase tea sachets to do the job while you’re watering.

You just soak the bags in your watering water for several hours, then water your houseplant with the vermicompost-infused liquid.

Teadrops All Purpose Houseplant Fertilizer

You can find organic worm compost tea sachets available for purchase from Earthworm Technologies via Walmart.

You’ll only need to fertilize twice a month during the growing season.

Where to Buy

You can find ‘Triostar’ available at most garden centers and plant nurseries that carry a good selection of houseplant.

Or you can shop online.

‘Triostar’

You’ll find a petite stromanthe ‘Triostar’ in a four-inch pot available from Hirt’s Gardens Store via Walmart.

Maintenance

Brown leaf edges occasionally occur even with proper care. Trim browning leaves, edges, or tips with clean scissors sterilized with hydrogen peroxide.

For entirely brown leaves, cut the stem close to the soil surface. No other pruning is necessary.

These aren’t particularly fast-growing plants, so your stromanthe will only need to be repotted every two to three years.

This is best done in spring, when the plant is actively growing. Choose a new pot that is just one size up from the current size, and make sure it has drainage holes.

Place a small amount of the soil in the bottom of the new pot.

Remove your ‘Triostar’ out of its old pot and gently loosen up the roots by rubbing your hand along the sides of the root ball.

Place the plant in its new pot so there’s about a half an inch to an inch of space between the top of the soil and the rim of the pot.

Propagation

The best way to propagate variegated ‘Triostar’ is by division – separating clumps of rhizomes from a single specimen into two or more separate pots.

The best time to take on this project is in the springtime, just as new growth begins.

Before you get started, inspect the stromanthe to see how you’re going to divide it. Each rhizome will send up its own group of stems.

Make sure a clump has at least three leaves coming up from it for best results.

Gently separate the clumps from each other, then pot them each into a separate container.

Pests and Disease

‘Triostar,’ like most of its arrowroot family relatives, tends to be fairly pest and disease free.

Pests

Your ‘Triostar’ may pick up a bug or two from spending time outdoors in the warmer months, or a newly acquired specimen may come with a few hitchhikers lurking within its foliage.

Here’s what to look for:

Mealybugs

Mealybugs are sap-sucking insects that appear as white, cottony masses on plant stems and leaves. Heavy infestations can make plants look like they’re covered in cotton.

These pests drain nutrients from houseplants and secrete honeydew, which promotes fungal growth.

There are many options for handling a mealybug infestation. Learn more about dealing with mealybugs in our guide.

Scale

Scale insects have protective shells that resemble dirt specks, camouflaging them on plants.

They feed by sucking nutrients from the plant, causing malnutrition. Some species also secrete honeydew that promotes fungal growth.

To learn more about dealing with this type of pest infestation, read our article on identifying and controlling scale.

Spider Mites

To learn more about inspecting your plant for these pests, and to find our tips for eradicating them, be sure to read our article on detecting and controlling spider mites.

Disease

It’s unlikely that you’ll encounter a disease in your Triostar, but here are some conditions to be on the lookout for:

Helminthosporium Leaf Spot

Helminthosporium leaf spot causes brown lesions with yellow halos that gradually enlarge. This fungal disease typically develops in mild, wet conditions.

To prevent infection, avoid spraying water on foliage during watering. Water in the morning so leaves can dry before temperatures drop.

For existing infections, treat with neem oil.

Monterey Neem Oil

You can find Monterey neem oil available from Arbico Organics.

Make sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions when applying this fungicide.

Root Rot

Root rot occurs when houseplants sit in waterlogged soil as a result of poor drainage, overwatering, oversized pots, or standing water in drip trays.

Yellow leaves are the most visible symptom, though other issues can also cause yellow leaves on prayer plants too.

When roots stay too wet, they rot and can no longer absorb water, causing the plant to die from dehydration despite excess moisture.

Pathogenic organisms multiply in the saturated growing medium.

Learn more about preventing and treating root rot here.

Keep Your Star Bright and Shining

Now you have all the details to keep your ‘Triostar’ looking stellar all year long – just remember to water it before the soil gets dry, and provide it with medium, indirect light and some extra humidity.

Have you tried growing this lovely cultivar? Do you have any of your own tried and true tips to share with our readers that help you to keep your prayer plant happy and healthy? Let us know in the comments section below!

And for more information about growing prayer plants, have a read of these guides next:

• Worth Its Stripes: How to Grow and Care for Calathea Zebrina Plants
• 21 of the Most Stunning Species of Prayer Plants to Grow at Home
• How to Grow and Care for Rattlesnake Plants