All About Calathea Majestica ‘Whitestar’

Not only does this Calathea have the iconic night-and-day leaf movement, but also changes colors! The Calathea Majestica ‘Whitestar’ produces dark green leaves with white and pink pinstripes, which turn all-white when the leaf reaches maturity. When cared for properly, Calathea Whitestars can grow up to 3 feet tall, making them a great choice as a floor-plant to spruce up boring corners!

Meet Your Match:

• Nickname: Calathea Whitestar, Pinstripe Calathea
• About the Family: The Calathea majestica ‘Whitestar’ is a relative of other Calathea varieties, such as the Calathea orbifolia and Calathea vittata. They are cousins of the traditional “Prayer Plant:” the Maranta.
• Understanding the Family Tree: Marantaceae (Family), Calathea (Genus), Calathea majestica (Species), Calathea majestica ‘Whitestar’ (Cultivar).
• Hometown: The under-canopy of warm, humid rainforests of South-America.

How to Care for Your Calathea ‘Whitestar’:

• Watering: Keep the soil moist—water when the topsoil is crumbly.
• Humidity: High. Place it near a humidifier or mist daily.
• Soil: Your Calathea majestica ‘Whitestar’ prefers water-retaining, well-draining soil. 
• Fertilizer: ½ strength natural fertilizer once a month during the growing season. Do not fertilize during dormancy.
• Environment: Keep your Calathea majestica Whitestar in bright, indirect light and temperatures above 65 degrees.
• Propagation: The easiest method is division during repotting.
• Toxicity: Non-toxic to pets and people.

The Best Unboxing Practices:

• Watering: Exotic Forest ships freshly watered plants. Do not water your Calathea Whitestar until it exhibits the proper signs.
• Repotting: Do not immediately repot your plant, which would likely result in shock and leaf-loss. Allow it to acclimate to its new environment for at least one week. 
• Lighting: Place your plant in filtered, low light for a few days to acclimate. Relocate your Calathea Whitestar to your desired location that fits its care needs afterward. Do not ever place a freshly un-boxed plant in direct sun.

What You’re Getting:

• You will receive a carefully selected, quality evaluated 8” diameter plant. All Exotic Forest plants are rooted and thriving.

What Makes Us Special:

• Shipment Methods: Plants are precious, and we want yours to arrive safely! We ship our plants via UPS, with a maximum of 4-day shipping. 
• Our Packing: Have you received ‘squished’ plants from other companies? Our solution to this common issue is bamboo stakes and biodegradable packing peanuts (starch), which securely holds your plant in place during shipment. 
• Chemical-free: We are committed to keeping our plants and customers safe. We never treat our plants with chemical pesticides. 
• Quality Standards: Exotic Forest strives to meet stringent quality standards and evaluates each plant we resource from our nursery. Pest-free, healthy plants are a requirement!
• Customer Service: Your satisfaction is our priority. If you are experiencing issues with or have questions about how to care for your Calathea Majestica ‘Whitestar’, reach out to us at support@exoticforest.com or via our social media accounts. Are you tired of receiving pre-written responses? We believe that plant parents want to talk to people, not robots. A knowledgeable team member reads and replies to each individual concern: no cookie-cutter answers here!
• Returns: While we do not accept returns at this time, you can contact us at support@exoticforest.com with photos of your plant and receipt to discuss the specific plant care issues you’re experiencing with your Calathea Majestica ‘Whitestar’ and possible resolutions.
• Your Personal Plant-Care Resource: Do you love your new addition? We couldn’t be happier! Join our mailing list to receive exclusive offers, updates, and care tips.

Frequently Asked Questions:

• How do you care for a Calathea Whitestar? Humidity and soil are two important aspects of Calathea Whitestar care. Place your plant near a humidifier or mist it daily. The soil you choose should keep your Calathea Whitestar moist, but not soggy; meaning, it should have good drainage. Mix two parts potting mix with one part perlite, and one part orchid bark. Water only when the topsoil is crumbly, but cool, to the touch.
• Calathea Whitestar vs. Vittata: What’s the difference? One of the easily identifiable differences is that the Calathea Whitestar has matte-purple leaf backs, while the Vittata has plain green undersides.
• Calathea Whitestar vs. ornata: What’s the difference? While both sport a stripy appearance, the ornata’s background is much darker green (almost black) when compared to the Whitestar’s perky green.
• How many types of Calathea are there? There are 12 types (species) of Calathea with over 300 cultivars total. What does this mean? The Calathea majestica ‘Whitestar’ is a good example: within the species (parent) Calathea majestica, there are several cultivars (kids), with Calathea majestica ‘Whitestar’ being one of them. All the “kids” share similar traits and have similar care requirements.