Care of the indoor plant Cryptanthus or Earth star |
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The genus Cryptanthus, family Bromeliaceae, includes 35 species of native bromeliads, the vast majority from Brazil. Some species are: Cryptanthus zonatus, Cryptanthus acaulis, Cryptanthus bromelioides, Cryptanthus beuckeri, Cryptanthus bivittatus. Common name: Earth star. They are small bromeliads that form basal rosettes with narrow, leathery, star-like leaves. The attractive leaves may have dark and light colored stripes (longitudinal or transverse). They can produce small white flowers that are of no ornamental interest. They are used as indoor plants in mini-gardens in bottles, in flat trays or combined with other bromeliads on a log. Cryptanthus needs a very bright exposure without receiving direct sun rays and annual average temperatures of 15-25 ºC; in winter the average temperature should be 18-20 ºC (64-68 ºF). The soil should be acidic: a light substrate with abundant leaf mulch and sphagnum peat moss. Always water moderately, letting the soil almost dry out. If it is very hot, spray the leaves with lime-free water from time to time. If the leaves look limp it is due to lack of watering. They do not need fertilization. They are plants resistant to pests and diseases but fear excess water. They propagate from the suckers that the plant produces by putting them to root as if they were cuttings (in spring). |
Images of the indoor plant Cryptanthus or Earth star |
 Cryptanthus bromelioides  Cryptanthus bromelioides  Cryptanthus zonatus  Cryptanthus zonatus |