Goeppertia ‘Flamestar’

Background to ‘Flamestar’

Many Goeppertia species grow in warm, humid tropical American forests where taller vegetation softens the light.

How to care for ‘Flamestar’

• Light: Give bright indirect or filtered light. Strong direct sun can bleach or scorch the pale variegated areas.
• Humidity: ‘Flamestar’ prefers high humidity, especially while new leaves are unfurling. Very dry heated air can crisp the leaf edges.
• Water: Water when the surface of the mix is starting to dry while the root ball is still slightly moist. Let excess water drain fully so the mix stays evenly moist.
• Temperature: Keep temperatures steady at 16 °C or above; cold draughts and sudden changes can mark new growth.
• Potting mix: Use a fine peat-free mix that holds moisture evenly and drains freely, in a pot with drainage holes.
• Feeding: Use a balanced houseplant fertiliser about once a month while new leaves are appearing, at the rate on the label.
• Repotting and propagation: Repot when the roots have filled the pot and new growth is active. Growth can slow as days get shorter or rooms cool; repot once steady new growth returns. Established clumps can be divided at the same stage.

Troubleshooting ‘Flamestar’

• Brown, crisp margins: Dry air or repeated drying of the root ball are common causes. Increase humidity and water more consistently.
• Bleached or dry patches: Direct sun can bleach or scorch the leaves. Move the plant back from the window or filter the strongest light.
• Yellowing leaves: If the compost stays wet for a long time, check for dark, soft roots. Use cleaned, disinfected tools to cut away rotted roots back to firm, healthy tissue. Discard everything removed, then repot the healthy plant in fresh airy mix.
• Fine pale speckling or webbing: Spider mites often start on the undersides of the leaves. Move the plant away from the rest of the collection, wash the foliage thoroughly and, if mites remain, choose a houseplant treatment labelled for spider mites. Repeat treatment only as often as the label says.
• Tiny white insects that fly up when disturbed: Whitefly can gather around the foliage. Isolate the plant and inspect neighbouring plants. If whitefly remain after washing, use a treatment labelled for whitefly and follow the repeat interval on the label.

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 ‘Flamestar’ 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 the name Goeppertia came about

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.