Calathea setosa ‘Silver Star’
Calathea setosa 'Silver Star' is an elegant ornamental variety of the Marantaceae family, cultivated primarily for its spectacular foliage, with a distinctive pattern and silvery reflections. It is native to the tropical regions of South America, where it grows naturally in shady areas of forests, in conditions of high humidity.
🔹 Botanical characteristics:
• Habit: Perennial plant, with compact growth, reaching heights of approximately 40–60 cm, ideal for growing in pots, as a decorative indoor plant.
• Leaves: Lanceolate, long and thin, with a pointed tip and fine edges. The surface of the leaves is soft and slightly velvety. The cultivar 'Silver Star' stands out for its unique color: a pale silver background, crossed by dark green stripes , which start symmetrically along the secondary veins. The underside of the leaf is an intense purple-purple color, typical of many Calathea.
• Stems: Thin and erect, light in color, they support the leaves in a vertical position, giving the plant a neat and elegant appearance.
• Flowers: Under indoor conditions, flowering is rare and insignificant from a decorative point of view; the flowers are small, white or cream, hidden between the leaves.
🔹 Recommended growing conditions:
• Light: Prefers indirect light or partial shade . Direct sunlight can discolor the leaves and cause burns. In filtered light, the leaf pattern remains intense and contrasting.
• Watering: Keep the soil constantly moist , but not soaked. It is recommended to water with water at room temperature, ideally without lime (filtered or rainwater), because Calathea is sensitive to salts and hard minerals.
• Soil: Aerated substrate rich in organic matter, well drained. A mixture of peat and perlite is ideal.
• Humidity: It needs high atmospheric humidity (over 60%) . It grows excellently in bright bathrooms, in large terrariums or near a humidifier.
• Recommended temperatures: Prefers a warm and stable environment. It should be protected from cold drafts and sudden temperature variations.
Some leaves may show defects/scars, but these do not affect the viability of the plant. Under optimal care, new leaves will develop normally.
Height with pot included 55 cm