Stromanthe Triostar

To keep the bright leaf colors looking sharp, put this plant somewhere with medium to bright indirect light. Avoid direct sun, it'll burn the delicate variegated parts and turn them brown and crisp.

It can handle lower light for a while, but not enough light for too long will stall its growth and cause it to lose that pink and white coloring, with new leaves coming in mostly green. A spot a few feet from an east or north-facing window, with the light diffused, works well.

Keeping the soil evenly damp is the real key with this plant, it can be a bit fussy. Check it often and water as soon as the top layer starts to feel dry.

Use distilled, filtered, or rainwater, since this plant is sensitive to the chlorine, fluoride, and minerals in tap water, which cause crispy edges fast. Pour water slowly and evenly until it drains from the bottom, and empty the tray right away so the roots don't sit in water.

This plant wants humidity, ideally 60% or higher. A humidifier nearby, a regular pebble tray, or grouping it with other tropical plants will help keep those big leaves looking good.

Keep the room between 65°F and 80°F. Keep it well away from AC units, heating vents, or drafty doorways, sudden temperature swings and dry air will stress it out fast.

Use a peat-rich mix built to hold moisture without getting compacted. A good blend is peat moss or coco coir with plenty of perlite and orchid bark mixed in, so water drains well and the roots can breathe.

Feed it monthly from early spring through late summer with a standard liquid fertilizer, diluted to half strength. Stop feeding completely in fall and winter while the plant rests.

The best way to propagate is by dividing the roots during a spring repotting. Slide the plant out of its pot and gently brush away the soil to see the rhizomes and root clusters underneath.

Look for clumps with their own healthy roots and at least two or three good leaves. Separate them by hand or with a clean pruning knife. Pot each one up in fresh, damp, peat-rich soil, and keep the humidity high until it settles in.

Repot this plant every 12 to 18 months in spring to refresh the soil and give it room to spread. Move up to a pot just 1 to 2 inches wider, with drainage holes.

Loosen the outer edges of the root ball before centering it in fresh soil. Don't go too big on the pot, extra soil holds too much water and can lead to root rot.

This plant is completely pet friendly and non-toxic. There's nothing harmful in it, so it won't cause any harm if a cat or dog chews on a leaf.

Still, since the leaves are delicate and pretty rare, it's worth keeping this one on a stand, shelf, or table out of your pet's reach, just to keep it looking its best.

This plant's roots trace back to the shaded, hot, humid forest floors of Brazil's rainforests. Living under a thick jungle canopy gives it constant shelter, high humidity, and filtered light, away from harsh winds.

Matching that sheltered setup at home is the real secret to keeping it healthy and its pink coloring bright.

The daily movement of this plant comes from a small organ at the base of each leaf called a pulvinus. It works like a natural pump, changing fluid pressure in response to light.

This lets the plant lift its leaves up at night to funnel condensation down to its roots, then lower them flat during the day to soak up as much light as possible on the jungle floor.