Ctenanthe setosa “Grey star”

Ctenanthe setosa “Grey star”

Ctenanthe setosa ” Grey star”is a hard plant that is very appropriate to the shaded back dark corners of the gardens. If in garden you have a dark/shady spot then this is the plant. Grey star is a  low maintenance hardy plants. Native to Brazil these perennials are quiet hard – thick leaves, can tolerate to dryness and can grow quiet tall and all these have made grey star a popular house plant. With graceful, silvery grey oblong leaves and richly marked dark veins and deep purple underside the leaves makes it attractive year round.

Ctenanthe setosa prefers humus rich, well drained soil and grows very well in warm climate. Good indirect light encourages color of the leaves. You can feed them with organic compost/Manure once in four months or when old leaves and stems are removed. Even if they tolerate dryness to some extent if the soil is not moist the leaves curl and under stress (if not watered for a long period) they may suffer leaf burn. You can Mist spray the leaves to keep them clean and healthy and you can “remove or trim out unwanted weak growth.

Mealy bugs may sometimes be a problem.

Grey star appearance in the garden adds light/brightness to the dark areas of your garden and propagation is through division of rhizomes.