NOTE: In this article, Blue Star Creeper and Isotoma fluviatilis may be used interchangeably; in fact, Isotoma fluviatilis is the botanical name for Blue Star Creeper.
Are you looking for a low maintenance grass substitute? Alternative ground cover lawns are increasing in popularity and blue star creeper is the perfect grass substitute if you are looking to switch up the look of your lawn. A dense, low mat of leafy green foliage can be formed by the spreading and mounding growth habit of blue star creeper.
The blue star creeper is adorned with delicate pale purple to blue star-shaped flowers in the spring and summer months. You can get rid of the lawnmower because it requires less water than a traditional grass lawn, and it only grows to be three inches tall.
Notorious for being a hardy plant, this Australia native can tolerate a wide range of weather conditions. In addition to being a viable grass substitute, blue star creeper can also be used as a border plant, as a filler between patio stones, or as a cover for spring bulbs.
Why does my Isotoma fluviatilis roots have rot?
Root rot on your Blue Star Creeper (Isotoma fluviatilis) can be dangerous if left untreated. In order to keep your plant alive, we strongly suggest that you follow our advice if the signs start to show: blackened and mushy roots.
Why does my Blue Star Creeper have gray mold spots?
A particular fungus that frequently affects flowers and spreads quickly is known as gray mold spots. This fungus is most likely to blame if you see any brown (or gray) spots. Don’t ignore these signs because doing so could cause your plant to die.
Our Solution
The solution is quite logical when you know the cause of the problem. Most of the time, it is due to overwater of the Isotoma fluviatilis. We advise you to remove the infected parts of the plant, cut off the infected roots and leaves, then repot your plant using sterile potting soil and a clean pot.
Why does my Blue Star Creeper have leaf spots?
This type of disease is one of the most frustrating for Blue Star Creeper owners, we give you all the leads to spot and save your plants that present symptoms such as leaves that suddenly change color, or wilt/droop.
Why are my Blue Star Creeper leaves turning yellow?
Yellowing leaves are arguably the most prevalent issue in the gardening world. Overwatering or a lack of nutrients are the 2 main causes of this issue.
Reduce your watering frequency when you fear your plants are being overwatered, and follow these steps to determine whether they may be lacking in nutrients:
Each deficiency produces a different yellowing on the Isotoma fluviatilis in question, here’s how to spot them:
- Magnesium deficiency starts as yellow patches between leaf veins on older leaves. Veins stay green as yellow moves from the leaf center out. Leaf edges turn yellow last.
- Iron deficiency also shows as yellowing between leaf veins, but it hits young leaves on plant tops and branch tips first.
- Sulfur deficiency starts with the newest leaves, turning them yellow throughout.
- Leaf edges turning bright yellow but inside leaf remaining green are signs of potassium insufficiency. The symptoms first appear on older leaves, and the leaf edges quickly become dark.
- A lack of nitrogen is indicated by a widespread yellowing. Older, inner leaves are the first to yellow. As the yellowing progresses, it eventually touches young leaves as well.
Our Solution
According to the symptoms mentioned above, you just have to act accordingly. You can reduce your watering frequency, or fix a deficiency in Potassium, or Nitrogen, for that, you just have to buy a special soil for your deficiency, a consultant in a gardening store will know perfectly well how to inform you.
Is my Blue Star Creeper sunburned?
It is simple to determine whether your Blue Star Creeper (your Isotoma fluviatilis) has sunburn. Your plant will change color in this instance, beginning to turn yellow or white, much like it does on us.
As we saw above, the leaves of your Blue Star Creeper can also change color if it receives too much water or insufficient light.
The bottom of the yellow leaves with a shaded area closer to the base can be examined to determine if they have been sunburned. If this part remains greener, the yellow leaf is most likely sunburned and not something else.
Why are my Blue Star Creeper leaves turning brown?
Most of the time, leaves of a Blue Star Creeper that turn brown is a sign that your plant has been sunburned, it has probably been exposed to too much direct sunlight. Don’t panic, your plant probably won’t die from this, but its growth will take a hit.
Should I leave my Isotoma fluviatilis in direct sunlight?
No! If your Isotoma fluviatilis (or Blue Star Creeper) has the symptoms described above, don’t leave it in direct sunlight, that’s the reason why your Blue Star Creeper is in such a state!
Our Solution
As stated in the paragraph above, the cure is straightforward: simply position your plant’s Blue Star Creeper so that it is out of direct sunlight. With proper watering and this method, your plant should quickly come back to life.
Why are my Isotoma fluviatilis leaves drooping or wilting ?
In most cases, this happens when your Isotoma fluviatilis lacks water. This is especially the case for large plants, naturally they need more water than others.
Whether your Isotoma fluviatilis plant’s pot appears light, the soil and roots are likely fairly dry and need water, so you can readily tell if it needs to be hydrated.
Our Solution
If the soil in your plant’s pot is completely dry, you will need to start by moistening it so that the roots will also benefit from the water. A common mistake is to drown the Blue Star Creeper right after a dry period thinking that it needs a lot of water.
This is the case, but giving too much water at once is the best way to finish it off, you should actually water the soil normally, resuming a quiet watering rhythm.
Caring Tips for Isotoma fluviatilis
Water Occasionally
Water is essential to the survival of your plant, however, it is important to balance the rate of watering. As we explained above, overwatering could have fatal consequences for your Isotoma fluviatilis.
The best way to know if your plant needs water or not is to touch the soil, if you feel it is still wet, it is probably a good idea to wait a few more days.
Always keep temperatures stable
It’s also a good idea to keep your Isotoma fluviatilis at a constant temperature, especially if it’s kept indoors. In general, at GreenShack, we suggest booking a temperature between 65 and 85 degrees F. Of course, keep your Isotoma fluviatilis away from radiators, air conditioners, and other sources of hot or cold air.
Keep your Blue Star Creeper Dust-Free
This one relates to indoor plants. Just like your furniture, dust collects on the leaves of your indoor plants. The issue is that this can block the photosynthesis process from starting, which would cause the plants to gradually lose their color.
This would be a true journey into hell for your Blue Star Creeper and would also satisfy the pests.
To remove the dust from the leaves of your plant, take a microfiber cloth and gently rub the leaves. You can wet the cloth to make it easier to remove the dust, but never use corrosive products (such as rubbing alcohol!)
Keep drainage in mind
If you tend to overwater, you need to pay attention to your drainage, and we advise choosing a saucer and a pot with drainage holes if they are not already there.
You can add volcanic rocks (or any other pebbles with holes) to the bottom of your pot in the interim if your pots don’t already have holes in them. This will help to form a channel so that the water doesn’t pool there for too long (preventing the rot of the roots!).
