What should I do if I water my Earth star too much or too little?
Both overwatering and underwatering can occur for your Earth star, but overwatering is a more common issue. In fact, some of the Earth star may show a slight ability to survive short-lived droughts despite preferring consistently moist soil conditions. On the off chance that you manage to underwater your Earth star, you'll see that the leaves begin to turn brown and brittle at the tips and may begin to curl as well. For in-ground plants, this issue is most common when you rely on rainfall for watering, but the rainfall volume has proven to be insufficient. Underwatering is a bit more common for container-grown plants, as the soil in containers often dries out more quickly and may not have access to natural rainfall. In either case, you can resolve underwatering issues by supplying more water. If you have an issue with overwatering, you may notice that your Earth star has begun to wilt. The leaves of the plant may begin to turn yellow, and you may notice rot in the leaves and stem. Additionally, overwatering can damage fruits and lead to accumulations of mold and fungus. Overwatering can occur for in-ground plants when you water even when there has been sufficient rainfall. In container gardening situations, overwatering often results from the use of heavy soils from containers that lack proper drainage holes. If you have an overwatered container-grown Earth star, it's often best to remove it from its container, clean and trim its roots, and place it in a new container that holds looser soils and has better drainage. You should also plant to reduce your watering schedule if your plant is overwatered, whether it lives in the ground or in a pot.
How often should I water my Earth star?
During the growing season, you should water your Earth star often enough to maintain consistent soil moisture without causing the soil to become waterlogged. If you grow your Earth star in a container, this usually amounts to about one inch of water applied once per week. By contrast, if you plant your Earth star in the ground, the plant may not need supplemental watering if it has rained about one inch during the week. As such, you may be able to go long periods without watering an in-ground Earth star, assuming there has been consistent rainfall. Your watering frequency will need to change depending on the season. For instance, the Earth star will need less water during winter than they do during spring, summer, and fall. Your Earth star may also need more water depending on its growth phase, with the flowering a fruiting phase often calling for more water than usual.
How should I water my Earth star differently if I grow it indoors?
It is possible to grow your Earth star indoors in a large container. In fact, indoor growing is a necessity, at least for part of the year, if you live in a region with cold winters, as the Earth star will not survive freezing temperatures. When growing the Earth star indoors, you should note that it does not have access to rainwater, which can supply enough moisture for plants that grow outdoors. That means that you'll need to supply all the water that your indoor Earth star receives. Indoor growing locations are often dryer overall as well, often due to the presence of air conditioners and other appliances. That factor, along with the lack of rainfall in an indoor setting, often means that you'll need to water your Earth star more frequently than you would if it grew outdoors. You should also consider misting an indoor Earth star in addition to pouring water on its leaves as you would when watering this plant, regardless of its location. Misting helps create a humid environment where this plant thrives.
What should I consider when watering my Earth star in different seasons and growth periods?
Each of these plants will need to survive several seasonal changes, each of which can call for different watering styles. During the spring is when you should begin watering your Earth star at the standard rate of about one inch of water per week. In summer, when the weather is hottest, you may get by with the same watering frequency. However, the heat may cause your plant's soil to dry out more quickly than normal, which may result in it needing water multiple times per week to maintain consistent moisture. During fall, you can continue the same watering rate you used during the spring. In winter, you can usually water your plant a bit less, but you should not cease watering altogether. Your winter watering goal should be to maintain a slight degree of moisture and not allow more than the first few centimeters of soil to become dry. You may also need to water your Earth star a bit differently based on its growth stage. Mainly, when this plant is in a flowering or fruiting stage, it will likely require more water than usual. As is always the case, you can rely on soil observations to determine how much you need to increase your watering rate during those phases with the goal of maintaining consistent soil moisture without creating soggy soil conditions.
How much sunlight does Earth star need to grow?
Earth star should get at least 6 hours of sun per day, and preferably more. An actual minimum number of hours can vary depending on the intensity of sunlight and other environmental factors, but it is unlikely that the Earth star will get too much sunlight. They do fine with up to 14 hours of sun per day.
What type of sunlight does Earth star need?
Earth star needs a lot of bright sunlight. As full-sun plants, they can thrive when given direct light or bright indirect sun. Some types may be able to survive with partial sun, but more sunlight is generally better.
Should I protect Earth star from sun exposure?
Earth star usually grows in some of the hottest, sunniest places in the world and is well adapted to that kind of environment, so it does not need to be protected from the sun. However, you should be careful about making a sudden move into a very sunny location if your Earth star is not used to it. Plants need time to adapt to different conditions, so start by moving this plant into the sun for a couple of hours at a time each day, then gradually lengthen the amount of sun exposure. Once adapted, most types of Earth star will be fine in full sun and don't need protection.
What will happen if Earth star doesn't get enough sunlight?
Without enough sunlight, Earth star will fail to thrive and grow. Common symptoms of inadequate sunlight include pale coloring, wilting leaves, and leaf drop. Earth star may also exhibit etiolation (also called legginess). This condition occurs as the plant attempts to stretch toward the light source, leading to a sparse appearance and weak stems.
What will happen if Earth star gets too much sunlight?
Earth star may develop shades of red, pink, or orange as a means of protection from excess sunlight, so many people like to cause mild sun stress to these plants during the summer. This is not harmful, and they will revert to their normal coloring when light levels decrease from autumn to spring. If moved too quickly into direct sun, Earth star can suffer from sunburn. This looks like white or brown spots on the uppermost leaves that have been exposed to the most sun. A sunburned plant should be moved to a shadier location and watered if needed. Sun-damaged leaves can be removed, and should be replaced by new growth over time.
Does Earth star need special care about sunlight during its different growth stages?
As with most plants, younger Earth star will be more sensitive to strong sunlight and heat than a mature specimen. They should also be protected from direct sun immediately after being transplanted, either by a shade or by keeping the container in a shadier location until the plant is established and putting out new growth.
Are there any cautions or tips for sunlight and Earth star?
It is best to water Earth star in the morning, particularly during the summer months. If water sits on the leaves or in the crown of the plant, it can burn the plant when the water heats up. It’s also best not to water in the evening, since cooler overnight temperatures slow evaporation and fungi or bacteria can develop in the moist conditions. Earth star grown in pots should be rotated occasionally to keep them growing symmetrically. Plants will normally grow toward the light source, so they can develop much more quickly on one side than the other if they are not rotated. If Earth star is allowed to get dusty, it will not be able to access sunlight to create energy. The dust acts as a barrier, so the plant may show signs of inadequate light even if it’s in a sunny location. Keep the leaves and stems clean by wiping them periodically with a damp cloth to avoid this issue.
What is the ideal temperature range for my Earth star?
Earth star tends to prefer the same general temperature ranges. While they can tolerate temperatures as low as 50℉(15℃), this plant likes higher temperatures that more closely resemble those of tropical and subtropical regions. Being an epiphytic plant, meaning that most of the water of Earth star comes from air humidity and not groundwater, higher temperatures are better. The humidity that Earth star prefers is best obtained with temperatures over 75℉(25℃). Since humidity is created when water is vaporized into warm air, maintaining humidity is easiest with warmer temperatures. Before you blast your air conditioner in the warm months, make sure these plants are out of the way of the coolest drafts! Anywhere from 75~90℉(25~32℃) is perfect, but cooler temperatures down to 50℉(15℃) are acceptable.
What are the consequences of extreme temperatures on my Earth star?
Earth star doesn’t need a period of dormancy, or a cold period, to effectively bloom and reproduce. This means that ideal temperatures should be maintained year-round. However, if your Earth star does experience temperatures cooler than 50℉(15℃) or hotter than 95℉(35℃) , it may cause some damage. The extent of the damage is specific to how long it was exposed to extreme cold or heat, its genotype, and what stage the plant is in. Cold temperatures below 50℉(15℃) will cause frostbite on the leaves of a Earth star. This normally appears as black spots or entirely blackened leaves, but this process can take a few days to become apparent. At first, the leaves will look droopy, then slowly become discolored. It’s difficult to save the Earth star from this fate, but sometimes they can grow back over the course of several months. If the Earth star is exposed to very high temperatures, it will simply wilt. If the leaves become too dry, they may not revive; however, if the exposure wasn’t very long, then the heat spike may have no lasting effect. Earth star can tolerate heat much better than cold.
How can I keep my Earth star warm?
You can easily keep the Earth star warm without the use of a heating pad or nearby heater (though if you’re using one anyway, it doesn’t hurt to share!). To maintain optimal temperatures, consider planting Earth star in a terrarium. By enclosing the space around the plant, you create a sort of micro-environment with higher humidity and temperature than outside the glass, which in itself holds heat for some time. If you live in a warm region where it may be too dry to place Earth star outside, you can always place it near a warm window or an exterior wall that warms up during the day under full sun exposure; just be sure not to provide too much sunlight as a consequence of moving the plant too close to a bright window. Sheer curtains can remedy this issue. On the other hand, if you live in a tropical or subtropical climate where outside temperatures stay between 55-90℉(13-32℃) day to night, you can grow Earth star outside year-long. If the temperature drops below this range, simply bring them indoors for the night or cover them with a thin cloth to prevent cold damage.
Tips on growing Earth star indoors
Sometimes, temperature fluctuations can sneak up in ways you might not expect. One of the most common temperature breaches for Earth star is from windows. If you grow your Earth star in a window, be aware of how outside temperatures can affect the temperature of the window and how much of that cold or hot air reaches your plant. Another common household temperature breach is air conditioning and heaters. We might not realize it since we don’t hover over these things in our homes, but a direct draft from air conditioners can chill Earth star to well below its preferred temperature range. Similarly, heaters can effectively dry out it very quickly, which causes the leaves to harden and eventually wither away.
Why do I need to fertilize my Earth star?
Fertilizing Earth star adds nutrients to the growing medium. Even though it does store water and nutrients, applying plant food during the growing season helps support healthy growth. Fertilizing can also encourage mature specimens to produce blooms in the growing season.
When is the best time to fertilize my Earth star?
While all plants benefit from additional nutrients, Earth star only needs a light dose of fertilizer during the growing season. The frequency of fertilization should be 1-2 times a year. It is suggested to fertilize your Earth star in the spring and autumn, but not in winter&summer when it is dormant. Be careful with repotted plants, you will want to reduce the amount of fertilizer. It’s also a good idea to wait a couple of months after repotting before you start applying fertilizer.
When should I avoid fertilizing my Earth star?
Like most plants, Earth star has a dormancy period and it is when you want to stop the applications of fertilizer. In the summer and winter, the plant ceases growing, and it is when you want to stop applying fertilizer. It’s also a good idea to cease fertilizing for the first couple of months after repotting in the spring.
What type of fertilizer does my Earth star need?
It’s best to use a liquid plant food formulated for succulents and cacti when you are fertilizing Earth star. Dilute the fertilizer with water to half-strength. You do not want the fertilizer building up in the soil. Apply the fertilizer to the base of the plant and water thoroughly, ensuring any excess moisture drains from the container or seeps into the ground.
How do I fertilize my Earth star?
It is easier to use liquid plant food when you are fertilizing Earth star, but granules are another option. Follow the directions on the packaging, making sure you dilute liquid fertilizers to half-strength. Whether you are using granules are liquid plant food, always apply it to the soil. Cover the granules with a thin layer of soil and water regardless of the type of plant food you are using.
What happens if I fertilize my Earth star too much?
Over-fertilizing Earth star is a common problem with new and experienced gardeners. The plant has low nutritional needs and it’s easy to apply a little too much fertilizer. Over-fertilizing Earth star can burn the plant’s sensitive roots resulting in its slow decay. Without its root system, the plant cannot absorb nutrients and moisture.