Pinstripe plants offer a unique facial expression to them as they have strike “ stripe ” that function along the edges of the farewell .
normally uprise in shady parts of the house , pinstripes offer a way to spruce up rooms that get petty to no ignitor .
When given right care , calanthea plant will rise and fall with the time of Clarence Day .

So that ’s reasonably coolheaded . This houseplant may be finicky , but it offer rewarding foliation that strike the eyes .
Let ’s learn about how to grow and care for pinstripe ( AKAC . ornata ) .
Guide Contents

Quick care guide: Pinstripe
What’s pinstripe?
Pinstripe houseplant , also known asCalanthea ornata ( C. ornata ) , are known for their striking pattering on the leave .
There are multiple , branching “ stripes ” down the leafage to the foliage edges just as the name imply .
The veined farewell often have completing colors to the leaf , so it can be pretty eye - catching .

Part of theGoeppertiagenus , it ’s in the same grouping as other Calantheas ( synonymous ) . The majority ofCalantheasare now inGoeppertia .
Some multitude will call itGoeppertia ornata , which is the newer scientific name .
It ’s a herbaceous perennial works with asymmetric , stripy leave of absence . They ’re smooth , oblong , and benighted green with stripes that run down the sides .

They can be pinkish , white , yellow , orange , or anything in between .
Each stem has just a single leaf from this rhizome - based plant . The chevron down each foliage edge looking like sketch from a pencil .
Each leaf will droop in the day and come up after in the night . The stems are magnanimous and obvious with the leaves weigh down heavily on each one .
It may get bloom when kept in the garden but is rare with houseplant .
Pink or white flowers are potential if decently kept outside .
Similar totriostar , pinstripe is a prayer plant because of the slight raising and dropping of its foliage based on the time of day .
This plant tells you the fourth dimension without an internal clock . How cool is that ?
Is it easy to care for?
Pinstripe is of moderate trouble .
It ’s not incisively well-heeled to care for because it does have some extra specific requirements for optimum plant growth , particularly when grown indoors .
But with some patience , you’re able to do it ! Like any other houseplant , it ’ll ask some TLC .
Thankfully , C. ornataisn’t TOO picky . It just has some kinks you involve to know to care for it correctly . Plus , it exhibit you when it ’s unhappy .
How to propagate pinstripe
Here are some basic guidelines to propagate pinstripe .
you may either pop out from seminal fluid or grease one’s palms it at a nursery if you do n’t have the solitaire to wait for the seeds to grow .
Either way , pinstripe industrial plant do involve some extra forethought . Here ’s what you need to have it off .
observe that you should n’t expect your seeds to germinate on the first go .
Calathea seeds are bang to be hard to pullulate , so it ’s much prosperous to get down from plant division if you have one useable .
If you ’re not experienced with horticulture in general , it may keep your time to just grease one’s palms one from a nursery then circularize by dividing it rather than starting from semen .
you’re able to even take over one from a neighbour or friend to start it off .
Starting from seed
Pinstripe plant are known to be hard to germinate from seed , but if you ’re up for the challenge , here ’s how .
Sow seeds into compost or a ejaculate starter motor tray . habituate a potting mixing that drains well . sow in each seed 1 ” deep . blank space each seeded player 3 ” asunder .
Cover with a easy bed of compost . Water softly . Keep temperature between 70 - 80F. Cover with a humidity dome to advance germination .
With right care , your pinstripe seeds burgeon forth within 2 - 3 weeks .
Rhizome division
This is the easy way of life to do it . If your pinstripe seeds just are n’t germinating , prove extension by rootstock !
The best clock time to uprise pinstripe is in the spring before it puts on novel leaves for the season . Do n’t do this in the summertime during peak growth or in the wintertime where it goes into dormancy .
Before you commence , check into the pursual to see if your plant is ready for rhizome propagation .
fit for bow clumping- this is cardinal .
Each cluster should have a lower limit of 3 leave . The more leaves , the more constituted it is . The higher chance of successful rootstock propagation .
Check for signs of pests . Are there holes in the leaves ? Are the edge jagged and lacerated ? Do n’t pass around a plant that has damaged leaf .
train for burning tips or browning leaves . These are house of plants that have been poorly bring up and will need to be “ recreate ” before you could take rhizome cutting .
If you ’re all good on these , then you ’re ready to take cuttings . Gently remove the plant from its pot then dig it out .
Wet the soil if it ’s stuck to the pot . Pry the chunk from one another using your fingers .
Here ’s a video that show you the step in detail :
Types of pinstripe plants
Here are some pinstripe cultivar that are democratic in the hobby . Do your own enquiry and see what flora suits your hardiness geographical zone .
There are over 300 different character of plants in the group , so you ’re sure to find something that suits your hardiness geographical zone .
How to care for pinstripe plants
Here are some oecumenical rule of thumb for pinstripe care .
Note that your cultivar will act upon the eccentric of maintenance you require to offer for your plant .
Your hardiness zone , temperature , humidness , and tearing habit will also be alone to your situation .
irrespective , you could use these tips to see the care needs for pinstripe in oecumenical .
Hardiness zone
Pinstripe acquire in USDA hardiness zone 12 - 13 .
observe that you may still grow pinstripe even if you ’re not in the right-hand zone . Since you ’re grow it as a houseplant , zones are unimportant .
If you may provide the proper temperatures and humidity indoors , then you should be OK . But for outside pinstripes , it matters .
Soil
expend a peat - based potting mix or make your own . One part pot soil with two voice peat moss will do .
utilise a high - quality , well - draining potting mixing . Do not expend garden soil in place of the potting mix because they ’re not the same .
You ’ll do more damage to your plant this way . Potting mix is slimly more expensive , but it ’s composed with dissimilar materials so that explain why .
If you ’re not good at mixing ratios , then just purchase a pack of African violet potting mix ( cheque on Amazon ) and you ’re set . It has just the right proportions of peat and land for pinstripe plants so you do n’t require to do it on your own .
observe that soil wet is critical for proper pinstripe growth . If you have soil that fails to retain its moisture expeditiously , it ’ll dry up cursorily which means more lacrimation , which mean increase possibility of root bunkum .
Use soil that has moisture - keep properties .
Or mix in some mulch to help cut back vaporisation . High humidity is necessary for pinstripe works to count beneficial . If not you may see the leaves droop or turn dark-brown / yellow .
If your dirt is of poor timbre , consider repot it . If local ambient condition do n’t provide you to keep the humidness up , put a humidifier next to it .
Or make a humidity dish for your pinstripe plant .
Fill a bowl with pee then put it next to your plant .
Soil pH
Soil pH should be between 5.5 - 6.5 .
Calanthea prefers acidulent land environments for optimum development .
Use natural remedies like limestone to help bring down the pH of your soil if it ’s too high-pitched . There are lots of soil amendment you could grease one’s palms from nurseries .
Plant spacing
Space each plant at least 3 feet from each other . These works are athirst and will compete for resources if planted too tight together , so give them ample space and they should be OK .
If growing in pot , only plant one calathea per container .
Plant depth
If bulge out from seed , plant each semen 0.5″ to 1″ recondite . Space each seed 3 inch apart until they germinate . Then tenuous to the strongest plant . Move to their own containers after they grow their first pair of true leaves .
If transplanting calathea , implant each rhizome the same depth and width as the smoke you got it from .
Do not cover the crown or leaves with substrate .
That ’s where you stop filling the gage . Covered crowns can lead to outlet such as rot or fungous problems .
Plant food
utilize a oecumenical all - intention plant food during the fountain and summer for enhanced growth .
No need to get anything fancy . Look for 10 - 10 - 10 NPK plant food ( check on Amazon ) . Use as directed . prove using only a half Lucy in the sky with diamonds of it at first to see how your pinstripe reacts to it . If it ’s all good , then proceed .
If not , then reduce it even more or try a different fertilizer . Do n’t feed during the wintertime when it goes sleeping .
Temperature
Keep temperature between 60 - 80F throughout the growing time of year .
Temperatures below 60F are too insensate for pinstripe to digest for extensive periods .
warm temperatures are preferred over colder temp . Keep the plant out of moth-eaten drafts near window , doors , or venthole .
Humidity
Humidity storey should be high . The ambient moisture in the air should be wet as calanthea plants look colorful when the ambient humidity is high . Aim for at least 60 % humidity or higher .
practice a hygrometer to measure local humidness .
If your home is dry , you may increase humidness by cast a humidity dish next to it , or using a humidifier .
commit the plant on top of dampish pebble also increase the local humidity . Where you put the plant will also make a difference .
Bathrooms , sinks , shower , etc . will increase the humidness it needs . If you ’re in a climate with humid air , then you should be OK .
During the winter , the humidness will dry out up . Adding in some additional assistance wo n’t be a defective idea .
Watering
The quality of your pee is important for pinstripe plants .
They ca n’t tolerate hard water , fluoride , or Cl , which are commonly find in pipeline .
employ distilled or RO weewee only . misfortunate water quality will make the leaves turn brownish or burn up .
Do NOT use water that has been softened from a water supply softener , as this can be exceedingly toxic to houseplant . piss at the base of the plant shank , not the leaves .
Hard water that has scads of compound sum to it from your local water processing plant can severely harm your plant . To save money :
If you ’re in a rainy geographical zone , use rainwater barrel to collect it . The urine is pure enough for right calanthea development .
Otherwise , you may use a water purifier ( commonly sold in the Pisces barter ) to take out compound .
piss can get costly , so it ’s nice to have some option to keep your cost down .
The stain should be watered evenly and deeply . Do n’t irrigate the plant leaves- only pee at the base of it .
How you water is important for right calanthea care . They ’re especially not fond of drouth , so keep it moist 24/7 , but NOT soaked .
If the water syndicate because of overwatering or poor drainage , it ’ll likely abide and get etymon rot .
Let the surface dry out , but not any more than that . The surface can get slightly juiceless , but never wholly dry .
If you see the folio getting dry , burnt looking , or even crispy , you ask to water more . If the plant droops or wilt , it needs more water .
Use a wet meter for truth if frightened of watering too much or too petty . They ’re just a few bucks and it ante up off by hit the trouble and ensuring pacification of mind .
Water once a workweek . Less during the winter . More during the summertime .
correct your watering schedule as necessary depending on the temperature / humidity in your space .
If your pot does n’t self - drain or is clogged , you require to unsex that ASAP . Use a houseplant watering can to water evenly .
Sunlight
Pinstripe plants like brilliant lighter , but not lineal .
This means separate out sunlight through mottled shades or natural light . Too much sunlight will burn it easily .
The leaves may pass as well .
C. ornatahas evolved to turn in dimmer lighting environments , so it really does n’t need a flak of light every day . Give it ambient luminance and it ’ll do ticket . It makes it a good houseplant if your home is dark or pallidly lit .
Or you may shove it in the corner that gets minimum ignitor and call it a day . Just do n’t put it in the sunny areas of your home so no scorching takes situation .
It does like places that are moist and humid , though . toilet are a good selection if you have a windowpane with permeate igniter .
Pinstripe does adapt to various light precondition but does best in indirect sparkle that ’s downcast or moderate in luminousness .
dawning sun is good , but do n’t let the good afternoon Dominicus burn it up . Direct sunlight will decolour the color .
Never put your pinstripe in verbatim sun .
Pruning
Maintenance
Pinstripe plants do n’t need much pruning or upkeep to prosper .
You ’ll come across yellow , brown , or burnt tips which should be removed so it does n’t make it frightful .
But other than that , it should be extremely low criminal maintenance just like most houseplant .
Pinstripe is only troublesome when it comes to getting the watering , temperature , and humidity right .
But otherwise , it ’s a middling easy houseplant to deal for .
When the temperature alteration , the color changes even on the expert ’s pinstripe .
snip off those ugly tips with a sterilize pair of pruner . Use rubbing inebriant to sterilize them to prevent pathogen .
Other than that , pinstripe has no other specific pruning needs .
As for maintenance , pinstripe will postulate leaf cleansing when they get visibly filthy . The leaf will collect junk over time , so you need to clean them .
Use a wet brush or paper towel . Wipe the leaf from the theme outwards mildly . Get both sides of the foliage .
Overwintering
Pinstripe will enter a dormancy catamenia when the temperature dips in the wintertime .
There ’s nothing required of you other than making sure it does n’t get too stale for your pinstripe . reminder temperatures and keep them above 60F.
If it dips , it can stunt it .
Put a thin 1″ stratum of mulch to help insulate it , protect it from dope , and help keep wet in the soil from evaporating too promptly .
When grown indoors , running the fastball will help defend temperatures .
When it gets warm again in the springtime , pinstripe will buy the farm winter quiescence .
Pests
Pinstripe has very few bugs you need to worry about .
But if you do spot an infection , it ’s important to recognize which bug is eating your plant :
Mealybugs will bank their lacy blank fluff all over your farewell .
They also get out behind a unenviable remainder call honeydew , which brings mould and turns your leaves black . These bug will need to be get rid of by using insecticidal liquid ecstasy .
wanderer tinge pierce the leaves to go down on out valued nutrients within . They can severely slow the emergence of your calanthea . Remove them using neem oil , horticultural oil colour , or insecticidal goop .
Other bug include aphids , scale , and ants . These can often be removed with manual removal or spray down your plant with a hose like you ’re giving it a shower . The water blasts them off .
Diseases
Pinstripe is vulnerable to plant life viruses such as cucumber mosaic virus , leaf slur , blight , root rotting , bacterial infection , etc . It ’s usually due to damp in the substrate from water pooling .
These broadly speaking stem from using polluted soils , equipment , or just overwatering .
When you overwater and the water pools at the base , the wet environment is perfect for fungal infections to take place .
Reduce watering and increase dress to top it out . Prune folio that are taint .
Companion plants
Pinstripe should n’t be planted with other plants in the same pot . A single calanthea plant should occupy a unmarried planter or else there may not be enough nutrients to go around .
Otherwise if engraft outdoors , pinstripe can be planted with completing flora such as the following :
you’re able to often pair it with anything that has dark-skinned immature or yellow leave . The colors go well together . But it ’s really modified to just imagination .
Don’t plant with
quash planting with other calanthea plant outdoors . Never plant multiple pinstripe in the same container .
Repotting
Pinstripe will need to be repotted to a larger container when it outgrows its current one .
Since it ’s a easy - growing industrial plant , you only need to do this once every few years .
When the roots commence to come out of the drainage holes or advert the edges of the container , it ’s sentence to repot .
Some plant life will commence to stick their roots out of the soil aerofoil to recite you it needs a larger gage !
Repot in the spring during the rise period . Do n’t report during the wintertime when the plant life is sleep .
Choose a pot that ’s declamatory than the current one . It should be made of the same material with a similar colouring material .
check over for drainage holes on the bottom because some pots will make you poke them yourself .
fill up it with some impudent growing mass medium plus a layer of pebbles at the substructure to help improve drainage . Do n’t re - expend the same soil- it likely has depleted its nutrient supplying .
Take the calanthea and gently extirpate it by excavate outwards in . The roots can be loosened by wet the stain .
Place the root ball into the new container . It should be the same profoundness as the old pot . fill up it up to the crown , but do n’t cover it . It should be partially exposed . NO leafage should be covered .
piss deep for the first time to build water pathways . Congrats . You ’ve successfully transplant your pinstripe !
Usage scenarios
Pinstripe can be an amazing gratis family industrial plant to other brightly colored plant .
Whether you ’re doing some indoor landscaping or bounce up in the office , pinstripe offers an center catching experience to help lend some wonder to any quad .
It ’s also nontoxic , so it ’s safe for pets , tyke , or yourself .
Unlike other planetary house plant such ashorehound , there ’s no motivation to excessively worry about your dog eating it and then getting sick from the toxins .
Pinstripe hasno love contrary effect from contact .
If you ’re found pinstripe out of doors , you could practice it in a tropical setup . The colors go well with a mass of other humidness - love industrial plant as a foreground piece .
Choose associate that are in the same geographical zone ( 12 ) or higher for optimum farm precondition .
Some splendid choices include snake plants , pilea , philodendron , begonia , ceriman , or orchids .
Commonly asked questions about pinstripe plant care
Here are some interrogation readers often ask about pinstripes . You may get hold something utilitarian here to get the most colour , size , and leaves out of your plant .
Can you grow pinstripe outside?
It can be acquire outdoors in warm climates ( geographical zone 11 or higher ) . They ’re usually planted as part of a landscape painting .
These plans natively turn in shadowed environments such as rain forest canopy .
But for most people , they ’ve grown as houseplants because they do n’t have the necessary environment to raise them .
What is the easiest calanthea to care for?
Calanthea Freddie is the easiest to care for . It has big leaves with ellipse - shaped close .
It ’s more tolerant of fault compared to other plants in the same mastermind .
How often do you water pinstripe plants?
Water when the soil pop to dry out , but not completely dry .
This is typically once per week look on how dry the dirt is .
you may mist your plant to help increase the humidity if it ’s too low .
Where should I put my calanthea?
set your flora somewhere away from windows and direct sun . The room should have plentiful humidness with collateral lighting . fly-by-night rooms or dim rooms are idealistic .
Why are pinstripes so difficult to care for?
These are flora that need specific environmental conditions . Common reasons why calanthea suffers are the following :
As you could see , it ’s quite specific in what it needs . This is why some people have bother keeping it thriving .
How do I keep it happy?
unconstipated watering , proper temperature , right humidity , and proper dosage of fertiliser is all it needs .
Your pinstripe will show its felicity through its leave-taking . They should be solid in color with no combustion .
Further reading/references
You may discover these character handy :
Enjoy your pinstripe plant!
Now that you do it all the basic of pinstripe attention , you’re able to dive in and grow your own . commend that this plant is picky and does have some specific needs .
But once you get it going , pinstripe is an exceedingly rewarding plant that offers take color and clear-cut pattern that ’s indisputable to “ wow ” any Edgar Albert Guest .
Do you have any inquiry regarding give care for your pinstripe ? Post your comment and let me have sex .
I contain stake into microflora and microgreens before it became mainstream . The idea of growing an entire ecosystem on a tiny scale simply was astounding . That ’s where I discover that I actually like raise plants and was n’t as much of a black pollex as I thought . Now , I ’m relaying what I ’ve find out to others who are arrive into the hobby in a way that anyone can interpret .