Goeppertia ‘Whitestar’

Where wild relatives of Goeppertia ‘Whitestar’ grow naturally

Many Goeppertia species grow in tropical American forests with warm, humid conditions and filtered light.

How to care for Goeppertia ‘Whitestar’

• Light: Bright indirect light keeps the white and pink striping clear. Strong direct sun can mark the pale sections first.
• Humidity: Aim for 60–80% humidity with gentle airflow, especially while the long new leaves are unfurling.
• Water: Keep the root ball evenly moist with good drainage. Water when the surface begins to dry while the deeper mix still holds some moisture.
• Potting mix: Use an organically rich mix that holds some moisture, stays loose and drains promptly after watering.
• Temperature: Keep temperatures fairly steady around 18–26 °C and avoid prolonged temperatures below 15 °C. Cold glass, draughts and direct heat can damage the long leaves.
• Feeding: Feed monthly while the plant is actively growing new leaves, using a moderate dose. Pause feeding when new leaf growth stops and resume when it returns.
• Repotting: Move to a slightly larger pot once the roots become crowded, preferably while fresh leaves are developing.
• Propagation: During active growth, divide a mature clump into rooted sections that each carry several leaves.

Common issues with ‘Whitestar’

• Brown marks on pale stripes: Direct sun, low humidity or a dry root ball can damage the lightly coloured tissue quickly. Move the plant out of strong sun and keep humidity and watering more consistent.
• Rolled or dry-edged new leaves: Low humidity is a common trigger. Raise humidity around the plant and keep the root ball lightly moist between waterings.
• Leaf spots: Leaves that stay wet can develop spots. Keep routine watering at soil level and give the clump gentle airflow so splashed leaves dry promptly.
• Several yellowing leaves: If the mix stays wet for a long time, check the rhizome and roots for rot. Use cleaned, disinfected tools to remove soft, dark roots or damaged rhizome tissue back to firm, healthy tissue. Discard what you cut away, then repot in fresh well-drained mix.
• Fine pale speckling between the pale stripes: Check closely for spider mites and fine webbing on the leaf undersides. Move the plant away from others, clean the foliage on both sides and use a treatment labelled for spider mites if necessary, repeating treatment only as often as the label directs.

Need help? Send us clear photos of the whole plant, the affected area and the potting mix, and we’ll help you work out the next step.

Goeppertia ‘Whitestar’ is non-toxic to cats and dogs

• This plant is non-toxic to cats and dogs.
• Its effects on people are unclear, so keep it away from young children who may chew it.
• Eating a large amount can still cause an upset stomach. Seek medical or veterinary advice if symptoms continue.

How did Goeppertia get its name?

The genus name Goeppertia honours Heinrich Göppert.

Christian Gottfried Daniel Nees von Esenbeck established the genus Goeppertia in 1831 in Linnaea, volume 6, page 337.

Many plants in this genus are still sold as Calathea. Finn Borchsenius, Luz Stella Suárez and Linda M. Prince restored Goeppertia for this group in 2012 in Systematic Botany, volume 37.