Cryptanthus ‘Strawberries Flambe’

Cultivated origin of Cryptanthus ‘Strawberries Flambe’

Jim Irvin bred Cryptanthus ‘Strawberries Flambe’ by crossing ‘Diverse Pink’ with ‘Cascade’. It is a horticultural hybrid.

Growing and caring for Cryptanthus ‘Strawberries Flambe’

Keep temperatures around 18–28 °C and avoid prolonged temperatures below 15 °C. Grow Cryptanthus ‘Strawberries Flambe’ in bright indirect or filtered light. Its pink colour can fade in a dim position, while strong midday sun can scorch the leaves. A bright bathroom can suit it if there is enough light. Keep it away from cold draughts, radiators and heaters.

Use an organic mix that holds some moisture and drains freely; fine bark mixed with peat-free multipurpose compost is one option. Water as the surface begins to dry while the mix around the roots is still moist. Let excess water run out of the pot and empty the saucer or outer pot. Apply water to the potting mix and keep the rosette centre free of standing water. If growth slows, the mix will take longer to reach the same watering point.

Maintain roughly 60–80% humidity with light circulation through the foliage.

During active growth, feed sparingly with a balanced liquid feed at half strength about once a month, applied to the potting mix. Pause feeding when growth stops.

Leave offsets attached if you want a fuller group of rosettes. Once that group becomes crowded, shift it into a slightly larger pot without changing the planting depth.

For a separate plant, wait for an offset to reach about one-third of the parent’s size and remove it only when it releases readily with a gentle twist and tug.

Pot the offset in a small draining container with freely draining mix, preserving any roots it already has. A rootless offset can sit with its short stem in a shallow depression, with the mix firmed around it and the lowest leaf base kept at or above the surface. If it rocks, stake it lightly until new roots hold it steady.

While the new plant establishes, keep it warm in bright indirect light and retain some moisture around the developing roots.

Problems and solutions for Cryptanthus ‘Strawberries Flambe’

• The pink colour fades, or pale brown patches appear: A plant losing pink in a dim position needs brighter indirect light. If pale or brown damage followed intense sun, shield the foliage from strong direct exposure.
• Leaf tips turn brown: Check the mix as well as the room air. Rewet a dry mix thoroughly and let it drain. After that, water again when the surface begins to dry while the deeper mix remains moist. If the mix is waterlogged, drain it immediately, empty standing water and wait for the surface to start drying before watering again. With moist roots, persistent crisp tips can point to dry room air or heating and cooling vents; move the plant away from the airflow and use a humidifier if needed.
• The rosette wilts although the mix is saturated: Drain the pot and empty water from the saucer or outer pot. If the plant stays wilted while the mix is still wet, inspect the roots before watering again. Soft brown roots may be rotting. When enough firm healthy roots remain, cut the decayed parts back to healthy tissue with clean tools, discard them and repot in fresh organic mix that holds moisture while draining freely. Resume watering as the surface begins to dry while the deeper mix remains moist.
• White cottony clusters collect around the leaf bases: Check the bases and undersides for mealybugs and isolate the plant while infestation is suspected. Remove visible insects by hand when the infestation is small. If treatment is needed, choose a product labelled for mealybugs on indoor plants. Test it on a small area and wait at least 48 hours to check for signs of leaf injury before wider use, then follow the label for any repeat treatments and keep the plant isolated until the infestation is controlled.

Cryptanthus ‘Strawberries Flambe’ has sharp parts

• Keep this plant away from children and pets because its effects after chewing or swallowing are unclear.
• Sharp spines or rigid plant parts can puncture the mouth, eyes, skin or paws.
• Handle it carefully. Contact a veterinarian or medical professional after a serious injury, especially to the eye.

The meaning and history of Cryptanthus

Cryptanthus combines Greek kryptos, meaning hidden, with anthos, meaning flower.

Christoph Friedrich Otto and Albert Gottfried Dietrich established the genus Cryptanthus in 1836 in Allgemeine Gartenzeitung, volume 4, page 298.