Earth Star Bromeliad (Crypanthus bivittatus)

Common name: Earth Star Bromeliad
Scientific name: Crypanthus bivittatus
 
Description: striped, wavy leaves with small teeth running along the leaf edge. Can come in a variety of red, pink, white and green tones. ‘Earth stars’ are native to brazilian rainforests, where they can be found growing on humid, light dappled forest floors. Unlike other bromeliad species that attach themselves to trees and other plants, this type prefers to grow terrestrially using its stemless rosettes and small root system to anchor into the soil. Earth stars are capable of reaching widths of 60cm across if provided with optimal growing conditions, however these are more likely to stunt their growth when planted in restricted spaces, such as a vivarium- fortunately still giving you a gorgeous specimen!
 
These will do well in tropical set-ups as a foreground plant, providing a pop of colour whilst serving as a place of refuge for smaller inhabitants.
This plant will flower towards the end of its life and die back once flowered, but will produce new pups which can be replanted to repeat the cycle again.
 
Place of origin: Brazil
Type: terrestrial, ground cover
Habitat: tropical/ rainforest
Humidity: 50% minimum, 70-100% ideal
Lighting: indirect light/ partial shade
Temperature: 18-27˚C
Watering: keep soil constantly moist but not soggy, use distilled water
Soil: moisture retaining
Growth rate: slow
 
Please note: live plants may vary in size and colour to the one pictured here. Although we use natural fertilizers and pest-preventatives to keep our plants happy and healthy, we highly suggest removing the plant from its potting mix and washing it thoroughly in distilled water before repotting or placing straight into a set-up.