Repotting your plant about once a year is a good idea because this species is so tenacious. Fresh potting soil should be added to a container that is one size larger than the preceding pot. It will grow fuller and bushier if you pinch new growth or prune your Tradescantia Nanouk. Because this plant despises having wet roots, be sure to select a new container with drainage holes.
Does my Tradescantia need to be repotted?
Tradescantia grows on rocky wayside in its native habitat of Argentina and Brazil. These plants don’t need a lot of soil to support their long stems and thick foliage. Why is this significant?
It’s not necessary to repot your Tradescantia just because it’s expanding. The emergence of new growth indicates that your plant is thriving in its surroundings.
What are some of the reliable signs?
Slower growth or roots poking out of the drainage hole are both signs that your plant needs a bigger container.
Don’t pot your plant repeatedly or seemingly for no reason. Wait until you see the proof. Leave your Tradescantia till the following spring if it is developing normally.
How is a Tradescantia nanouk transplanted?
Because Tradescantia nanouk grows rapidly, you might need to regularly cut or repot it. Why not spread some pieces while doing so? Propagation of Tradescantia nanouk is remarkably simple. It closely resembles Tradescantia zebrina (wandering dude). Here is how to go about it.
Tradescantia nanouk propagation by division
You’ll frequently see that a tradescantia nanouk you purchase has a few distinctly different stems in the soil. even more compact ones I divided mine because it had so many stems! Simply carefully remove the plant from its pot and divide it at the roots to accomplish this. If you need to rip a few roots, don’t worry.
Then, using well-draining soil, plant each in a separate tiny pot. Don’t worry if it doesn’t seem too happy with you for the first couple of weeks. Some plants experience some shock after being divided and replanted.
Tradescantia nanouk propagation by stem
Tradescantia nanouk can also be propagated via stem clippings. This is a wonderful strategy to use if you accidently knock a branch off while trimming your nanouk. I’ve used this method of propagation with purple queen, and it works exactly the same way.
Take a few-inch-long slice of a nanouk stem and remove the bottom leaves to propagate it in water. Place a glass of water inside, being careful to keep the top foliage from submerging. You’ll be able to plant it after you have a strong set of branch fresh roots after a few weeks!
Take the same kind of cutting if you want to propagate nanouk stems without the water-rooting process. Take out the lower leaves. After that, plant the cuttings in a soil that drains well. To help maintain the soil just moist enough, water a little more frequently than you would a typical plant.
This encourages root expansion. Pull back on your water until you can lightly tug on the cuttings but still encounter some resistance. New roots have emerged. Yay.
You can frequently get away with simply clipping a few stems and placing them immediately back into the pot your existing plant resides in because soil propagation is so simple. This encourages a large, bushy plant with new development!
When should Tradescantia be repotted?
Prune and pinch. To prevent Inch Plant from becoming too leggy, pinch the stems back. As this plant grows most vigorously in the spring and summer, these are the optimum seasons to prune. The stem cuttings can be easily multiplied to create new plants. Older stems can be removed at the soil level as they will naturally lose some of their leaves.
Look out for insects.
Small, greenish insects known as aphids are drawn to the plant’s abundant new growth. They can be found on the stems of fresh shoots. Additionally, keep an eye out for spider mites by looking for webbing between stems and on the undersides of leaves. Although they are uncommon, during the winter when the indoor air is dry, spider mites may infest houseplants. To keep them away from your plant, use a cool-mist room humidifier nearby. Your tropical houseplant will enjoy the humidity!
Repot only when the Inch Plant outgrows its container in the spring. A pot that is too large will hold too much water, so switch to one that is only 1-2 inches larger. Utilizing a container with drainage holes is the simplest technique to avoid soil that is too wet. Insert a plain pot into a cachepot, a beautiful planter without drainage holes, if you wish to conceal it. In order to maintain the inner pot above the drainage water, I put little rocks in the bottom of cachepots.
Dry potting soil or dry air are the two main causes of brown leaf tips. Regular watering and maintaining a high humidity level are part of inch plant maintenance.
Is Tradescantia a toxic plant? Yes, both cats, dogs, and people are poisoned by this common houseplant. Sadly, those protruding, long stems are appealing to cats, which is another good reason to plant it in a hanging basket where it is out of reach. Wearing gloves while pruning and repotting Inch Plant is a good idea because doing so may cause skin irritation in certain people.
Buying Tips
The term “inch plant” refers to a number of taxa in the family of spiderworts. Choose your favorite; they are all simple to grow. Additionally, they are all active growers. If you purchase a little plant, it won’t take long for its luxuriant, trailing stalks to overflow a container’s sides.
One of the most prevalent is Tradescantia albiflora. The leaves of the cultivars “Variegata” and “Quicksilver” are green with creamy white variegation.
How come my Tradescantia nanouk is so lanky?
Despite being developed to be a simple-to-grow plant, Tradescantia Nanouk is prone to common growth issues including root rot and leaf color loss.
Root Rot
In order to prevent the plant from rotting, it is best to water the soil directly rather than the space in between the leaves. Be constant in your waterings to keep the soil moist and prevent it from ever drying out totally.
Loss of Leaf Color
Pick a location with lots of indirect light. Tradescantia Nanouk plants that are leggy are probably not getting enough sun. Try moving your plant to the east side of your home if it is currently in a north-facing window. Usually, a bright bathroom window is a perfect area to restore unhappy plants to their lush state. This plant can tolerate less light, but its hues and variegation will deteriorate, and it may even become pale as its leaves droop.
Are deep pots necessary for Tradescantia?
The soil is where tradescantia care advice must begin. These plants require constant, even moisture that never becomes soggy. Use well-draining potting soil and choose more frequent watering to accomplish this. (More to come on irrigation!)
As was said earlier, these plants only cling to a small amount of dirt in their natural habitat. This determines the size of the pot you select for your houseplant. Overwatering and root rot are caused by selecting a container that is too big for your plant. Although these plants have rapid growth, their root systems only need a small amount of soil to support them. To accommodate the plant’s present root ball, choose a pot that is 1/2 inch larger. By doing this, you can guarantee that the plant’s root system will swiftly absorb moisture and keep it from growing in soggy soil.
Last but not least, use a pot with a drainage hole when caring for Tradescantia.
Making the choice of a clay or terracotta pot is also advantageous because the clay draws moisture from the soil. In contrast, ceramic or plastic containers keep moisture in the soil, which could result in soggy roots.
Are misting nanouk plants enjoyable?
Tradescantia Nanouk enjoys dampness, right? Your Nanouk is a tropical plant, and humidity is good for tropical plants in general. The Nanouk was created to be a tough plant with thick leaves, so giving more hydration is a want rather than a necessity.
In a more humid setting, your Tradescantia Nanouk will be stronger and more vibrant.
Does my Tradescantia Nanouk need to be misted? One method used by plant owners to provide humidity to their plants is misting. Water doesn’t treat nanouk leaves well. It is not advisable to mist your Nanouk.
It is preferable to use a humidifier if you want to offer your plants the extra humidity they need to flourish.
What part of my Tradescantia nanouk do I cut?
- To encourage new development, pinch or trim your plant by cutting the stem just above the leaf and node. In other words, the node and leaf will stay attached to the plant.
- Just below the node, cut the stem to allow for plant propagation. This means that the portion you cut off should have the node.
Knowing the locations of nodes is crucial since they are the sources of new development, such as branches, leaves, roots, and other parts of the plant. The nodes are seen in the shot below as ridges with lines running up the stem.
My Tradescantia nanouk is crunchy; why?
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.
What is the rooting time of Tradescantia nanouk?
Within a week of starting a stem cutting to grow roots in water, you can expect to see results. Within a month, the roots ought to be long enough to be transplanted.
It can take between 2-4 weeks for roots to grow long enough to be established when you propagate directly in soil.
The offspring are already root-attached when a parent plant is divided, but it may take a few more weeks for the roots to become robust and healthy in the new pot.
Size & Growth
Nanouk Tradescantia spreads readily and has a highly compact, upright growth habit. It is regarded as a quick grower. Normally, the plant grows to a height and width of slightly less than three and a half inches.
The plants have sturdy stems, smooth upper leaves, and rather fuzzy lower leaves.
Tradescantia Nanouk’s variegated leaves are remarkably robust, vigorous, and plump. Beautiful colors of green, light purple, grey green, pink, and cream can be seen in the leaf coloration.
Flowering & Fragrance
Pink or white flowers are both possible, and they can bloom consistently from early spring until the beginning of October, when the plants are actively expanding. Tradescantia Nanouk may continue to bloom through the winter if kept inside.
Nanouk Plant Care: Light & Temperature
Tradescantia albiflora ‘Nanouk’ thrives in direct or bright indirect sunshine. Greater flower output results from indirect bright light. The leaves will fade if there is not enough light.
The Nanouk Tradescantia cultivar prefers daytime temperatures of 55 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. This Tradescantia can survive the winter outdoors in USDA hardiness zones 10 through 12.
Watering & Feeding
Overwatering is much more problematic than underwatering with indoor plants in general. After the earth has nearly dried out, thoroughly water it.
Tradescantia Nanouk will often benefit from weekly watering. The plant should never be left standing in water.
This variety of Tradescantia doesn’t actually require fertilizer, like the most of them. Brown leaf tips may result from overfeeding. Give your plant a half-strength solution of a high-quality liquid houseplant fertilizer if you do decide to fertilize it.