In the fall, take seven 3-inch cuttings from the tops of your purple heart plant that is growing outside. In a juice glass with 1 inch of water added, insert the cuttings after removing the lowest leaves. Place the glass on a sunny ledge away from direct sunlight, and until the cuttings root, keep the water level at one-third their height. In water, purple heart plant propagation typically takes place in two weeks.
In water, is purple heart possible to grow?
Tradescantia pallida is a delicate evergreen perennial grown as an ornamental for its eye-catching purple foliage. It is native to northeast Mexico, from Tamaulipas to Yucatan. Joseph Nelson Rose gave it the name Setcreasea pallida in 1911, but D.R. Hunt of the Royal Botanic Garden Kew classed it in the genus Tradescantia in 1975. S. pallida or S. purpurea, the former names, are still frequently used.
This herbaceous plant in the Commelinaceae (spiderwort family) is a low-growing trailer that is commonly known as purple heart or purple heart wandering jew (and occasionally “Moses in the Basket, although this usually refers to a different species). It is hardy in zones 7 through 10, but it is easily grown as an annual or houseplant in colder climates.
On thick stalks, dark purple, lance-shaped leaves up to 7 long are produced alternately. The fleshy leaves create a sheath around the stem and are covered in light hairs. The stems are exceedingly delicate and can snap off when brushed or vigorously kicked. It will wither down to the ground in the winter in colder climates, but in the spring it will reappear from the roots. The sprawling plants can extend much farther and grow to a height of nearly a foot.
At the ends of the stems, relatively unnoticeable pink or pale purple blooms with vivid yellow stamens appear from midsummer through fall, as well as intermittently at other seasons. The three petals on these half-inch broad blooms are characteristic for this genus.
Purple heart can be grown as a houseplant, as a ground cover, as a trailer in a variety of containers, or cascading in baskets. They spread rather quickly and work best when planted in large groups in the ground. The purple foliage complements other plants’ pink, light purple, or burgundy blossoms beautifully and contrasts well with their gold, chartreuse, or variegated leaves. For striking combos, use it with complementing hues. scarlet begonias, orange marigolds, or chartreuse coleus.
Try putting it in a container with golden creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia ‘Aurea’ or other types), Marguerite beautiful sweet potatoes, or light green asparagus fern. Alternately, pair it with coral-colored scarlet sage (Salvia coccinea ‘Coral Nymph’), pink petunias, or lavender or pink verbena. Four o’clocks (Mirabilis jalapa), lantana, scaveola, vinca (Catharantheus roseus), and Mexican petunia are other recommendations for plants with pink or purple flowers (Ruellia brittonia).
For best color development, cultivate purple heart in full sun; plants grown in shadow tend to be more green than purple. Plants can grow more compactly if you pinch them. Plants can withstand drought and grow when neglected, but they also accept constant watering. When you are actively growing, fertilize every month. After flowering, prune plants to keep them from becoming spindly. Reduce watering throughout the winter and hold off on fertilizing houseplants or those grown in containers to be kept indoors during the winter. Scales and mealybugs can be a nuisance, but purple heart has few other pests. Some people and dogs may have skin redness and irritation from the juice from the leaves or stems, but this is not a frequent issue.
Simply push a node into the soil or potting mix to get a cutting from any section of the plant to root, and plants can be readily propagated (or place in water until roots develop). This plant can also be grown from seed, however that material is infrequently accessible.
Can a chopped purple heart grow back?
If you’re giving the plant to a novice gardener, label the bag with the recipient’s name, the date the plant was cut, and some basic propagation instructions.
Tip
When growing purple heart plants, it’s easy to propagate cuttings by placing them straight in wet potting or garden soil and maintaining them there until new growth appears. Take cuttings from outdoor plants in the spring or summer and from indoor purple heart plants whenever they are actively growing.
Warning
In some areas, purple heart plant is regarded as invasive, and residents of those areas should dispose of surplus plant material carefully because it frequently roots in the places where it is dropped.
How long does purple heart take to establish itself?
Purple Heart is simple to spread. It can either be multiplied from seeds or stem cuttings. The majority of gardeners, however, often reproduce this succulent through cuttings because seeds are not frequently accessible.
To do this, simply follow the 5 steps listed below:
Step 1: Use a clean, sharp knife or a pair of scissors to remove a few healthy stems from the mother plant that are about 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 cm) long and just below a segment node in the spring or early summer.
Step 2: Cut off the lowest leaves from the cuttings before planting them immediately into a potting mix container that has been wet. As long as they don’t overlap, you can plant more than one cutting.
Step 3: Seal the clear plastic bag around the pot or container using elastic rubber. As the plastic will hold the moisture within, you should have to water it less frequently as a result.
Step 4: Place your cuttings until they root in a sunny area out of direct sunlight.
Step 5: You can now remove the plastic from the pot once new growth begins to show on the stems (this normally takes about a month).
 
Which plants thrive in water the most?
Examples include Indian lotus (Nelumbo nucifera), water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica), Chinese water chestnut (Eleocharis dulcis), water caltrop (Trapa natans), wild rice (Zizania), and watercress (Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum).
Can purple heart be grown indoors?
A fast-growing member of the spiderwort family with dark purple leaves and long purple stems is the purple heart plant (Tradescantia pallida), also known as purple secretia or purple queen. Although the plants also produce tiny pink and purple flowers, it’s the leaves that really stand out.
Plants with purple hearts have several uses. It works well as a trailing border around rock gardens and other enclosed garden settings, as well as a ground cover to provide a pop of foliage and bloom color to your landscaping. It will also flourish in a hanging basket indoors or outdoors or in a planter on the patio.
The native Mexican plant known as the purple heart was previously classified under the genus Setcreasea pallida, but a botanist at the Royal Botanic Garden Kew changed its classification to Tradescantia in 1975. The plant is still frequently referred to by its previous names, S. pallida or S. purpurea.
Do purple hearts require direct sunlight?
The slender, folded leaves develop in dense, spreading clumps that reach a height of about 10 inches from erect to trailing, succulent stems. The pinkish hue of the new shoots is perfectly complemented by tiny, fleeting pink blooms that sporadically grow at the stem tips. In mild regions, purple heart looks beautiful all year long. Frost will inhibit top growth elsewhere, but plants can regrowth from the roots. As far north as USDA Zone 6, purple heart may endure the winter months.
Use it in borders, planters, and hanging baskets for an eye-catching color accent. Red, yellow, and orange blooms contrast brilliantly with silver foliage, which pairs well with white or pink blossoms. The plant purple heart is ideal for use as a groundcover. You may wish to maintain it in pots or in locations bordered by pavers because it can spread aggressively in areas where it is hardy. Additionally, it looks fantastic indoors.
Culture: Purple heart may tolerate mild shade, but it prefers a location with wet but well-drained soil and full sun. To promote branching, pinch or trim the shoot tips every few weeks. You may simply start new plants from the bits of the stem that were cut off since they take root quickly.
Special remarks: Purple heart is a drought-tolerant plant that enjoys frequent watering.
Why is my plant with purple hearts dying?
I’ve addressed some of the most frequent queries about purple heart plant maintenance in this article. Please add it to the comments box below if yours isn’t already there.
Why is my purple heart plant dying?
Your purple heart plant is dying for a number of different reasons. Common causes include inconsistent watering (often too much), a lack of sunlight, or low conditions.
Is the purple heart plant indoor or outdoor?
Given the right conditions, the purple heart plant can be successfully grown both inside and outside. In colder climates, it should be kept inside, but in warmer ones, it can spend the entire year outside.
Knowing how simple it is to cultivate, the eye-catching purple heart plant can be a lovely addition to your house or yard. To enjoy Tradescantia pallida for many years to come, use these care suggestions.
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What kind of plant is purple heart?
Sunlight is necessary for the foliage to turn a beautiful purple color. The succulent purple heart is it? Purple heart is regarded as a succulent because of its large, fleshy leaves that hold water.
Can purple heart plants be transplanted?
Spreading as a groundcover, purple heart (Tradescantia pallida) has dark purple leaves. Throughout the summer, the plant’s tiny pink flowers bloom continuously, although they only open in the morning. The U.S. Department of Agriculture classifies purple heart as hardy in zones 8 through 11, where a little frost may set back some foliage but infrequently kills the entire plant. Purple heart should be moved and transplanted in the fall after the season’s flowering is through or in late winter before growth begins again.
A sandy, well-drained garden bed should have 2 inches of compost spread over it. The top 6 to 8 inches of soil should then be mixed with the compost. Purple heart can take minor shadow if reduced blooming is not a problem. For best flowering, prepare the bed in a spot that receives full, all-day sunlight.
With a trowel, delve into the main mass of roots surrounding the base of the purple heart plant. With as few roots severed as possible, remove the plant out of the earth by sliding the trowel beneath the root ball. Even when the main plant is plucked, any leftover roots in the ground can reappear.
If desired, divide the purple heart into two plants by using the trowel blade to cut the root ball in half. Either transplant both plants to the new location, or leave one plant in the original bed and move the other division.
To the same depth as the root ball, dig a hole in the new bed. The purple heart should be inserted into the hole at the same depth at which it was growing earlier, with the top of the root ball resting just below the soil’s surface. Place the plants 12 inches apart from one another on all sides.
Immediately after transplanting, water the purple heart to wet the soil to a 6-inch depth. To retain moisture and safeguard the roots as they regrow, cover the bed with a 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch.
Where do I find a purple heart cutter?
Even the most inexperienced beginner can grow and spread the purple heart with ease.
- Use a clean, sharp knife to trim the 3- to 4-inch stem tips off of your purple heart plant in the spring or summer.
- Trim the leaves off the stem’s lower third.
- Perlite should be poured into a 3-inch pot to begin the cutting for a friend.
How frequently should purple hearts be watered?
Purple heart is fairly drought-tolerant once planted, but if it receives regular summer water, it will appear cleaner and more lush. From spring till fall, water it once a week with an inch of water. To keep the roots healthy, let the soil surface dry out in between waterings. Increase watering to twice weekly during periods of high heat or drought if the soil is drying out sooner than usual. In the winter, cut back on watering to once every two weeks, and avoid providing any during rainy weather. Purple hearts growing in pots should also be watered if the top layer of soil becomes dry. Fill the pot with water until the extra drains out of the drainage holes. For this plant, always use containers with drainage holes.
What does it mean to pinch a plant?
Pinching, also referred to as tipping, is a pruning technique frequently applied to young plants to promote branching. These terms are also occasionally used to describe the removal of plant buds in order to prevent branching.