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Plant care

Calathea Loeseneri (Brazilian Star) (Brazilian star calathea) care

Goeppertia loeseneri

Also called Brazilian star calathea, Calathea loeseneri.

RHS H1bUSDA 10-12Pet-safeIndoor Roughly 45-60 cm tall and wide indoors

Watering rhythm

5-7days

When the top 2-3 cm of soil dries, roughly every 5-7 days in growth

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Light

Bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)

Soil

Rich, moisture-retentive, free-draining mix

Humidity

60-80%

Temp

18-27°C

Pet safety

Pet-safe

Mature size

Roughly 45-60 cm tall and wide indoors

Care at a glance

Light

Calathea Loeseneri (Brazilian Star) is what florists mean by "bright spot, no direct sun" — close enough to a south or east window to feel the brightness, with a sheer curtain or a few feet of distance keeping the sun off the leaves. Bright, filtered light encourages its distinctive starburst flowers while keeping foliage lush. An east window or shaded south/west exposure works well. Avoid harsh direct sun, which scorches leaves; too little light suppresses blooming. A phone lux-meter at the leaf surface should read 1,500-3,000 lux at noon.

Watering

Water calathea loeseneri (brazilian star) when the top 2-3 cm of soil dries, roughly every 5-7 days in growth. The actual day count varies with pot size, light, and season — the finger test (or lifting the pot to feel its weight) is more reliable than a fixed calendar. Empty any drainage saucer afterwards so the pot isn't sitting in water. Keep evenly moist through the growing season; this rainforest species dislikes drying out. Use rainwater, distilled, or filtered water to avoid mineral spotting. Ease off slightly in winter but never let the rootball go bone dry.

Soil and pot

Calathea Loeseneri (Brazilian Star) grows best in rich, moisture-retentive, free-draining mix. Use a peat-free or coir-based compost loosened with perlite and fine bark. Slightly acidic (pH 6.0-6.5) and high in organic matter to mimic forest-floor conditions, yet open enough to drain. Drainage holes are essential. A pot with a working drainage hole is non-negotiable for this species — even free-draining mix will turn soggy in a closed planter. If you love the look of a decorative pot without a hole, use it as a cachepot around an inner nursery pot you can lift out to water.

Humidity and temperature

Calathea Loeseneri (Brazilian Star) sits happiest at around 60-80% humidity and 18-27°C (64-80°F). High humidity is critical for flowering and clean foliage. Below 60% leaf tips brown and blooms abort. Use a humidifier or pebble tray, group plants, and keep away from drafts and heating vents. Enclosed conditions promote flowering. If you keep the room above 18 year-round and avoid placing the plant near a cold draught, a hot radiator, or an air-conditioning vent, you have already handled the two biggest indoor stressors.

Fertilising

Feed calathea loeseneri (brazilian star) sparingly. Feed every 2-4 weeks during spring and summer with a balanced houseplant fertiliser at half strength to support both foliage and flowering. Reduce or stop in winter. Flush the soil periodically, as accumulated salts scorch the sensitive leaf tips. Skip fertiliser entirely on a stressed, recently-repotted, or actively wilting plant — fertiliser salts make damage worse, not better. Wait for a round of healthy new growth before resuming a feeding rhythm.

Common problems

Below are the issues we see most often on calathea loeseneri (brazilian star) in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

  • Failure to flower — Usually insufficient light or low humidity. Provide bright indirect light, keep humidity above 60%, and feed regularly in the growing season.
  • Brown leaf tips and edges — Hard or fluoridated water plus dry air. Switch to rainwater or distilled and raise humidity.
  • Yellowing leaves — Overwatering or poor drainage stresses roots. Let the surface dry slightly and ensure the pot drains freely.
  • Limp, curling foliage — Underwatering or cold drafts. Keep soil consistently moist and temperatures warm and stable.

Propagation

Propagate by dividing the rhizome in spring as you repot. Separate clumps that each carry roots and several leaves, replant into moist fresh mix, and keep warm and humid until they take hold. Division is far more reliable than seed indoors. Propagation is the cheapest, most satisfying way to expand a collection — and it doubles as insurance against losing a mature plant to an accident. Take a backup cutting once the parent is established and healthy.

Toxicity to pets

Calathea Loeseneri (Brazilian Star) is pet-safe. ASPCA-listed as non-toxic to cats and dogs. Calathea/Goeppertia species (Marantaceae prayer plants) contain no insoluble calcium oxalates or other toxic compounds, including the flowers. Pet-safe, though ingesting any plant in quantity may cause mild, short-lived stomach upset. If you keep cats, dogs, or curious children in the house, weigh placement carefully — a high shelf or a hanging planter is enough for casual safety. For severe ingestion incidents, call your local vet and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (in the US, 888-426-4435).

Pet-safety status is sourced from the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, which catalogues the most-asked-about plants for cats, dogs, and horses.

Calathea Loeseneri (Brazilian Star) care — frequently asked questions

What is the common name for Goeppertia loeseneri?

Goeppertia loeseneri is most commonly called Calathea Loeseneri (Brazilian Star), but it is also known as Brazilian star calathea, Calathea loeseneri. The names refer to the same species, so care instructions for Calathea Loeseneri (Brazilian Star) apply identically to anything sold as Brazilian star calathea.

How much light does calathea loeseneri (brazilian star) need?

Calathea Loeseneri (Brazilian Star) grows best in bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window). Bright, filtered light encourages its distinctive starburst flowers while keeping foliage lush. An east window or shaded south/west exposure works well. Avoid harsh direct sun, which scorches leaves; too little light suppresses blooming.

How often should I water calathea loeseneri (brazilian star)?

Water calathea loeseneri (brazilian star) when the top 2-3 cm of soil dries, roughly every 5-7 days in growth. Keep evenly moist through the growing season; this rainforest species dislikes drying out. Use rainwater, distilled, or filtered water to avoid mineral spotting. Ease off slightly in winter but never let the rootball go bone dry. The finger-test (or lifting the pot to feel its weight) beats a fixed weekly calendar because pot size, light, and season all change how fast the soil dries.

Is calathea loeseneri (brazilian star) toxic to cats and dogs?

Calathea Loeseneri (Brazilian Star) is pet-safe. ASPCA-listed as non-toxic to cats and dogs. Calathea/Goeppertia species (Marantaceae prayer plants) contain no insoluble calcium oxalates or other toxic compounds, including the flowers. Pet-safe, though ingesting any plant in quantity may cause mild, short-lived stomach upset.

What USDA hardiness zone does calathea loeseneri (brazilian star) grow in?

Calathea Loeseneri (Brazilian Star) is rated for USDA zone 10-12 (indoor in most US homes) and RHS hardiness H1b. Outside that range, grow it as a container plant that overwinters indoors before the first hard frost.

Calathea Loeseneri (Brazilian Star) deep-dive guides

Every aspect of calathea loeseneri (brazilian star) care, each with its own calibrated guide:

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Calathea Loeseneri (Brazilian Star) qualifies for 10 curated Growli shortlists — each one filtered objectively from our structured plant-care library, so the selection is consistent and checkable:

Related guides

Calathea Loeseneri (Brazilian Star) is also commonly called Brazilian star calathea or Calathea loeseneri.