Stromanthe - Tricolor Stromanthe 6"

Place a Stromanthe plant in bright indirect light but no direct sun; a north or east facing window is best.

A Stromanthe likes to be kept barely moist at all times. Be careful not to over-water or the roots rot and the plant dies. In winter, allow the soil of a Stromanthe to dry out a little more, but never completely.

Feed every two weeks when the plant is actively growing, this is usually from early spring to the end of fall. Use a balanced fertilizer diluted to 1/2 the recommended strength.

Avoid placing a Stromanthe in a cold or hot draft, otherwise basic household temperatures are fine.

A Stromanthe needs high humidity to keep its beautiful leaves looking good. If your house is dry, place a Stromanthe on a wet pebble tray. Be sure the plant is sitting on the pebbles and not in the water. Stromanthe plant leaves turn brown and become crisp when the air is too dry.

A Stromanthe "sanquinea" produces reddish-orange flowers in the spring.

Aphids and spider mites can be a pest problem. (read more about these pests in the Glossary of the website)

The high humidity a Stromanthe plant requires encourages fungal plant diseases.

Use a light, quick-draining soil that retains moisture but still drains quickly. A peat-based potting soil is a good choice for a Stromanthe.

Repot in late spring or summer. Be sure a Stromanthe has outgrown its existing pot before moving it to a larger one. When changing pots, use the next size container and nothing larger and be sure there are drip holes in the bottom of the pot.

Remove damaged or unattractive leaves where they are attached to the main stem.

Stromanthe plants are propagated by plant division. Carefully separate a Stromanthe rhizome, with 2 or 3 leaves attached, from the main root ball and plant it in a small pot of moist potting soil. Propagate in the spring before the plant starts its growth spurt.

A Stromanthe is closely related to a Prayer plant, which is a non- poisonous houseplant. However, there is little data about how poisonous a Stromanthe plant might be. I always recommend erring on the side of caution, if it is not 100% certain that a plant is safe keep it away from pets and small children.