Tradescantia zebrina (=T. pendula; Zebrina pendula), sometimes known as the Wandering Jew, is a common houseplant in the spiderwort family (Commelinaceae) valued for its variegated leaf. There are other indoor plants with the same common name (such as the similarly styled but stronger T. fluminensis), but this one stands out for its lovely purplish-green leaves with stripes. The plant for those with green thumb prowess is this one! It can survive in nearly any interior environment thanks to its extreme toughness. This delicate perennial can be cultivated outdoors in warm climes (zones 9–11) where it does not freeze or as an annual where winters are chilly. It is native to southern Mexico and Guatemala.
This creeping plant grows 6–12 high and provides a wonderful groundcover. It has succulent stems that are clasped by ovate to lanceolate leaves. The lower leaf surface is a consistent deep magenta, while the top leaf surface is green to purple with two broad, silvery-white stripes. If you look closely, you might detect tiny hairs along the leaf margins, and you might notice that in brilliant light, the surfaces appear to shimmer. In our region, full sun has the highest color intensity; however, in more southern places, too much sun will cause the colors to wash away. Low light levels cause stems to lose their lowest leaves and most of their color. The stems will ascend at the flowering tips and branch or root at the nodes. At the nodes, the stems are easily broken. In those who are vulnerable, the mucilaginous, watery sap can lead to skin irritation.
The unassuming boat-shaped flowers range in color from white to lavender. They feature 3 petals and noticeable yellow anthers, just like other tradescantia blooms. Throughout the year, plants may occasionally blossom, albeit they hardly ever occur on houseplants.
Light shade outdoors and strong light indoors are ideal conditions for this plant. After all threat of frost has passed, it can be put outside, but take sure to gradually adapt it to brighter circumstances to avoid sunburn. dispense bottled water. When the earth is left to dry out between waterings, this plant thrives. Heavy trimming is tolerated, and pinching the plants will encourage thicker foliage. Any lanky growth can be trimmed back and used as cuttings for further growth.
T. zebrina works well as a trailing plant in seasonal pots or as an underplanting for bigger houseplants like a ficus tree, plumeria, or normal hibiscus. It can be utilized as ground cover or as filler at the base of other tall tropical plants like elephant ears, cannas, and bananas. Once all threat of frost has passed, treat it as an annual and plant cuttings in the ground for the growth season. It grows quickly and has trailing branches that can get straggly (particularly in low light situations), so you might want to occasionally replace the tops of containers with tip cuttings to keep it from wilting.
Due to the ability of each segment to produce a new plant, many individuals purchase this plant from friends or plant sales. Cuttings that quickly take root in water or damp soil can be used to start T. zebrina plants. As roots develop at the nodes when in contact with moist soil, it can also be layered. A few cultivars are occasionally listed, including “Purpusii,” “Tricolor,” and “Quadricolor,” although they don’t appear to differ greatly from the species. University of Wisconsin-Madison student Susan Mahr
What causes my Tradescantia to bloom?
Place the Tradescantia “Nanouk” as close to a north or east-facing window as you can because it prefers bright, indirect light.
Your plant will require less water if it is facing north because it will receive less light.
If your plant begins to look lanky or if its gorgeous colors start to fade and turn basic green, you won’t be providing it with enough light.
The leaf edges become crunchy when there is too much light. Your Tradescantia will begin developing buds and flowering during the growing season with the correct amount of light.
A Tradescantia has flowers, right?
In the middle of the 17th century, South and Central American spiderwort was transported by ship to Europe. Tradescantia is a member of the Commelina family and is often referred to as the inch plant or the spider lily (Commelinaceae). About 65 different species of plants belong to this genus as a family. Like the majority of Commelina species, Tradescantia is a lush perennial that enhances garden areas. Other kinds’ drooping stems make them attractive hanging basket houseplants. The pointy, lance- or ovular-shaped leaves of spiderwort are immediately linked to the plant’s base and vary in shape according on the type. Depending on the cultivar, leaves can range from light to dark green in color. These Tradescantia types are planted solely for the lovely leaf decoration because some of them have a very attractive red leaf underside. Other spiderwort species and variants, like the aptly called Tradescantia zebrina plant, have variegated leaves. Most Tradescantia species have blue, purple, white, or pink blooms. Depending on the cultivar, spiderwort can bloom from May to September. Due to the abundance of blossoms and the quick regrowth of buds and petals, the single, little flower blooms for only a short period of time. Tradescantia flowers, when cultivated outside, also provide pollinators with a plentiful supply of pollen and nectar.
What can I do to make my Tradescantia bloom?
What causes houseplants to flower? and “How can I get my houseplants to flower?” even when the plants in question are not typically grown with an emphasis on flowering, especially in a typical household environment, very frequently arise! Of course, I can identify to this because the “plant experimenter” in me is constantly curious to learn about new things like this and to comprehend the factors that influence plants’ behavior. You may induce flowering as a grower in a few different ways:
Light intensity
First, think about the growing environment and whether your plant is merely surviving or is flourishing. If you want to encourage your houseplant to flower, it could need to be receiving a larger intensity of light, so move to a brighter position. Plants that aren’t in optimal lighting circumstances are far less likely to flower.
Plant maturity
If you are growing on a young plant, it can take some time because certain plants won’t blossom until they reach a particular degree of maturity. After taking a few years to bloom for the first time, My String of Hearts has since flowered every year for the past three years, most frequently in the summer.
The plant needs repotting
Your plant may have outgrown its present pot if you haven’t repotted it in a while, with roots wrapping around the pot’s base. In addition to producing offsets (new growth) when houseplants are pot-bound, they can also send forth flower spikes or blossoms along the stem (like String of Hearts). Therefore, you might wish to maintain the plant rather tightly packed in the pot to promote flowering. It’s possible for new plant enthusiasts to eagerly repot their plants too frequently (I’m sure we’ve all done it! ), which causes the plant to continually prioritize producing new roots above leaves or blossoms.
It might be stress-flowering
Keeping your plant in its pot as described above is one approach to prevent this, as is watering it less frequently. If your plant has been under stress, you might also discover that this can actually cause the plant to blossom. Moving your plant can also have a comparable impact.
It’s been subjected to a fluctuation in temperatures between day and night
Last but not least, changing the environment’s temperature can be effective for some plants, including jewel orchids like Ludisia discolor + Macodes Petola. If you have a suitable area, you might want to try this out if you’re interested in seeing if cooler nighttime temperatures will enhance the likelihood of your plant going into blossom.
Thank you for reading; I hope you enjoyed seeing some blooms from indoor plants. Visit my pages on Pinterest or Instagram to see more images and videos. As always, I appreciate your support and will add additional pins for you to share or save below.
Flowers from Tradescantia last for how long?
The three-petaled spiderwort flowers can be pink, white, red, or blue to purple in color. The many blooms will continue to bloom for up to four to six weeks in the summer, however they only stay open for one day (blooming in the morning and closing at night). Depending on the variation, the plant’s foliage is made up of arching, grass-like leaves that can reach a height of up to two feet (0.5 meters).
Spiderwort plants are excellent for use in borders, edging, woodland gardens, and even containers because they grow in bunches. If you don’t have much garden area, you can even grow spiderwort indoors.
What can I do to make my Tradescantia pinker?
Additionally, the Tradescantia genus contains 75 different kinds of wildflowers. The 17th-century botanist John Tradescant is credited with giving the place its name.
The term “wandering” describes how it spreads quickly and roams all over your window sill. They are quite simple to grow indoors. The majority are indigenous to South America, where they form thick mats beneath forest trees.
I put my Fittonia albivenis mosaic plant next to my Tradescantia tricolor to bring out the gorgeous pink hues. The green leaves of this trailing plant have veins that are dark pink. They work well together.
How come my Tradescantia is developing?
The greatest solution for this issue is to move your plant to a more sunny area. Both direct and indirect sunshine are beneficial for the wandering jew plant. But too much direct sunshine will burn and sear your plant.
[2] Excessive Fertilizer
The majority of tropical native plants, including wandering jew plants, develop swiftly. In the winter, they frequently slow down before picking up speed again in the spring.
Its overfeeding of fertilizer, especially high-nitrogen feed, is the problem.
Your roaming jew will expand swiftly as springtime approaches. This growth advantage may encourage the growth of additional vegetation.
The spike may outpace the growth of your plant’s foliage, giving it a lanky appearance.
Quantity over quality is the issue with leggy growth brought on by excessive nitrogen-rich fertilizer.
It will generate longer, spindly stems at a much faster rate rather than strong stems steadily. In the long run, that won’t be of any use to your lost Jew.
How to Fix
A wandering jew plant doesn’t require much fertilizer despite its robust growth.
A general-purpose water-soluble houseplant fertilizer (see the most recent pricing on Amazon here) should be sufficient once every 4 to 6 weeks. Make sure the fertilizer is diluted to half the labeled strength.
[3] Wrong Pot Size
Once more, wandering jew plants grow aggressively, especially when fed and illuminated properly.
It has overrun the pot if the leggy growth is accompanied by roots that pierce the bottom of the container.
The lanky development of your plant indicates that it requires additional assistance and resources. The wandering Jew has the ability to transform into a creeping plant if given the chance.
A plant that grows swiftly may also use up the nutrients in the growing media quickly, giving it a lanky appearance.
If it has outgrown its current pot, take into account switching to a bigger one. It should be wider than the current pot by at least a few inches. In the early spring, right before the growth spike, you must do this.
[4] Temperature Stress
Like too much fertilizer, high temperatures will accelerate the growth of your wandering jew plant. Long, slender stems will form as a result of this.
There won’t be much time for foliage development to catch up, which will cause lanky growth.
When the central heating is running at full blast inside, this typically occurs. As a result, keep your plant away from heaters, heater vents, radiators, and fireplaces.
How should I handle Tradescantia flowers?
75 species make to the genus Tradescantia, also known as Indian Paint, Wandering Jew, or Spiderwort. These unique plants add a unique element to the landscape and are very simple to grow and maintain.
So how did such a beautiful plant come to have such an odd common name? Although nobody can be certain. According to others, the plant was given its name because of the way its blossoms hang down like spiders. Others contend that it has medicinal qualities because it was originally used to cure spider bites. In any case, it is a valuable addition to the garden.
The three-petaled blossoms can be red, pink, white, or purple in addition to their typical blue to purple hue. The many blooms will continue to bloom for up to four or six weeks in the summer, however they only stay open for one day, flowering in the morning and closing at night. Depending on the species, the plant’s foliage consists of arching, grass-like leaves that reach a height of one to two feet (30 to 60 cm).
Tradescantias are excellent for use in borders, edging, woodland gardens, and even containers because they grow in clusters. If yard space is at a premium, you could even grow it indoors.
Growing Conditions
Tradescantias are straightforward to grow and are remarkably hardy. They usually flourish on soil that is wet, well-drained, and acidic (pH 5 to 6). Although they thrive in partial shade, these plants may also thrive in bright sunlight as long as the soil is maintained hydrated.
Propagation
Tradescantias can be propagated from seed, division, cuttings, or acquired plants. When planting them in the spring, space them 8 to 12 inches (20 to 30 cm) apart and 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 cm) deep. Summer or fall stem cuttings will readily root in the ground. Outside, seeds can be lightly covered and sowed in the fall or early spring.
Tradescantia seeds should be started indoors around eight weeks before being moved outside. Germination should take place somewhere between 10 days and 6 weeks. A week following the final spring frost, seedlings that have been hardened off can be put outdoors.
Tradescantia as an Indoor Plant
Tradescantias can be grown indoors under the right conditions. Give the plant either a soilless mix or potting compost based on loam, and keep it in filtered strong light. In order to promote bushier growth, you should also pinch out the growing tips.
If possible, let it spend the warm spring and summer days outside. When it is actively growing, water sparingly and fertilize every four weeks with a balanced liquid fertilizer. In the winter, use little water.
Grower’s Tips
Water these plants frequently, especially if you’re keeping them in containers, as they prefer to be kept very moist. Cutting the plants back once flowering is over can frequently encourage a second bloom and assist avoid re-seeding. About 8 to 12 inches (20 to 30 cm) from the ground, cut the stems back.
Tradescantias grow quickly, therefore it is a good idea to divide the plants every three years in the spring.