Your plant’s leaves are losing their color and pattern, giving them a washed-out appearance.
Solution
You might be exceeding your plant’s tolerance for direct sunlight. Try moving it away from the sun’s direct rays or to a location that only receives a little direct sunlight in the mornings and evenings.
Why are the leaves on my Tradescantia turning brown?
Traveling Jew Plants need medium levels of humidity, and they have a difficult time thriving in rooms with very dry air. The leaves will eventually begin to brown if there is a constant absence of dampness. Typically, this begins at the tips and edges and works its way down the length of the leaf.
Winter months call for particular caution about dry air since Wandering Jew Plants will struggle because of central heating and reduced ventilation.
If only the leaf tips are brown, the issue was probably discovered quite early, making the solution much easier and less time-consuming. Investing in a humidity monitor is an excellent approach to prevent problems with humidity because it will allow you to observe what’s happening in your space and take action before anything goes wrong!
Here are some of the simplest ways to raise the humidity in your home and stop your Wandering Jew Plant from developing any more dried, brown leaves.
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Misting the leaves
Misting the leaves of your Wandering Jew Plants with a spray bottle is one of the easiest ways to enhance humidity. If the air is particularly dry, we advise performing this a few times per week. It’s crucial to just mist in the morning so that the water has time to evaporate before it gets dark. The leaves can perish quite quickly if the temperature decreases and they are still damp. Because they’re so inexpensive and have a wonderful design, we adore these spray bottles from Amazon.
Pebble tray
Over a tray of tiny pebbles, spread out your Wandering Jew plants. Put enough water in the dish to cover the pebbles halfway. The roots will decay if they are left in a pool of water all day, therefore you want to make sure that the water level never reaches the pot.
The water in the tray will gradually evaporate over time, increasing the humidity level. To prevent the water from growing stagnant, replace it every few days. It will begin to smell if not!
Give your plant a shower
You can immediately increase the humidity and give your Wandering Jew Plant’s leaves a brief spray to remove any dust. Use only lukewarm water to avoid shocking or burning the plant. In order to prevent the plant from being damaged, try to keep the water pressure somewhat low.
Move your plant
The humidity levels in your home’s kitchens and bathrooms are typically higher than those in other rooms. This is a result of cooking and bathing steam. We advise relocating your Wandering Jew Plant into these well-lit areas so you won’t have to worry about remembering to mist or water it.
Buy a humidifier
Purchase a humidifier if you want a long-term fix for increasing the humidity in your home. They work well to keep your home’s humidity levels at a good level and aren’t overly pricey. Consider it an investment in yourself as well as your houseplants because they have additional advantages like improved sleep and healthier skin. This Amazon humidifier is our favorite since it performs an excellent job of retaining some humidity during the colder, drier months.
Do you want to learn more about how to make your Wandering Jew Plant and other indoor plants more humid? We have a whole guide on this.
How frequently should Tradescantia nanouk be watered?
Tradescantia A window that faces north or east is ideal since nanouk grows best in strong, indirect light. When the top inch or two of the soil feels dry, water your plant, being careful not to let it become too dry. Your plant will require less water at a window that faces north since it will receive less light there than it would in one that faces east.
It’s an excellent plant to put in a bathroom window since Tradescantia Nanouk thrives in a humid climate and the steam from your shower or tub will keep the air moist. By placing a Tradescantia Nanouk in close proximity to other plants that appreciate humidity and running a humidifier nearby, you can also create a humid environment. Making a humidifying tray to place beneath your plant is an additional choice.
Because Tradescantia Nanouk is such a hardy plant, fertilizer is not necessary. If you want to fertilize your plant, feed it every two to four weeks during the spring and summer growing seasons with a typical houseplant fertilizer diluted to half strength.
Keep the stem cuttings from pruning your Tradescantia Nanouk so you can utilize them to grow new plants.
How can a dying nanouk be saved?
To maintain the vibrant hues of its leaves, Tradescantia Nanouk requires strong indirect light, well-draining soil made of orchid bark, perlite, and some horticulture sand, as well as watering from below to prevent leaf rot. every two to three weeks, water. It should be between 60 and 75 °F (16-24C). Ideal humidity ranges from 40 to 60 percent. Use a balanced fertilizer monthly, diluted to half-strength in the spring and summer.
How much light do Tradescantia nanouk require?
When given the proper conditions, Tradescantia nanouk grows quickly. Although it doesn’t always require complicated maintenance, there are a few conditions that must be satisfied for the greatest outcomes. Continue reading to find out how to maintain this fashionable plant by giving it ample light, drained soil, and houseplant fertilizer.
Sun and Temperature
The ideal light for Tradescantia nanouk is direct, bright sunlight. In full sun, it can also flourish, though it might not flower as much or at all. For higher flower production, tradescantia plants require 6–8 hours of bright, indirect light per day. These requirements can be satisfied by a sunny windowsill as long as there is ample light. Instead of the lovely light purple/pink variegated foliage, the plants’ leaves will turn solid green if they don’t get enough light.
Although Tradescantia nanouk can be cultivated outdoors in USDA zones 10–12, it is advised to grow this plant as an indoor houseplant instead. Maintaining ideal growing conditions indoors is much simpler and will reward you with pink and green leaves, pink buds, and tiny white flowers. Both frost/freeze damage and extremely hot weather can harm this plant. This plant prefers a temperature range of 55 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit, which is typically consistent with interior home conditions.
Water and Humidity
When planted in potting soil with sufficient drainage, tradescantia nanouk only needs a moderate amount of water. Don’t forget to include a drip tray and a drainage hole in your container to catch any extra water. How quickly the soil dries out and the climate in your home will determine the ideal watering plan. Because of its rather weak roots, bottom watering is not advised for this plant. It is ideal to use a watering can with a slender spout that can poke through the leaves and reach the soil. Water until the soil is at least one inch deep is wet.
It’s crucial to maintain soil moisture, but be careful not to overwater since this could lead to rotted roots. To prevent fungus infestations, wait until the top 2 inches of soil are completely dry. Instead of overwatering, it is preferable to err on the side of underwatering. Another justification for growing this plant inside is to manage the watering schedule.
If the atmosphere inside of your home is dry, there are a number of techniques to provide the humid climate that these houseplants prefer. A pebble tray is an easy way to improve the humidity around your plant. Put a layer of tiny pebbles in a tray, add water to the tray, and then place the container with your nanouk on top. Water will gradually evaporate, producing some humidity. Plant humidifiers are inexpensive and simple to order online. Since the foliage of houseplants releases moisture, which creates humidity, you can also arrange them together. A humidity grow tent would be a larger and less appealing choice.
Soil
Because Tradescantia nanouk’s roots are so prone to rot, they thrive in soil that drains properly. It will work with a regular houseplant mixture mixed with some coarse sand and/or orchid bark. You can also add some perlite to otherwise compacted soil to improve drainage. This plant will tolerate neutral soil, although it likes slightly acidic soil with a ph between 5 and 6. A little bit of acidity in the soil will produce considerably more colorful foliage. The back of the package will have directions and a ratio for how much acidifier to mix into the soil if you want to acidify your soil.
Fertilizing
Despite not requiring fertilizer, tradescantia nanouk care is modest. It grows quickly and can survive without it. However, a generic all-purpose houseplant fertilizer reduced to half strength is a fantastic option if you want to give your plant a boost. To produce plants that are happy and healthy, fertilizing with half the recommended strength once or, at most, twice a month will be more than sufficient.
Pruning
If you want to encourage compact development in tradescantia nanouk, pruning is important. On the other hand, if you want the nanouk stems to grow tall before falling over and trailing down the sides of its pot, don’t prune. To keep your home from looking like a scene from Jumanji, you’ll need to cut back this plant eventually. Additionally, it provides a chance to grow cuttings. This plant can be pruned by making a cut just below a leaf node; new growth will then develop there. Don’t be scared to prune these plants because they grow so quickly; doing so will encourage bushier growth.
Propagation
Tradescantia nanouk is a patented plant, hence the majority of them have a tag on them warning against propagation. This rule applies to propagation that is meant for sale and not for personal use. Simply avoid selling your young plants! Cuttings are an astonishingly simple way to multiply Tradescantia nanouk. When the time comes for you to propagate plants, the plant parent will even send out aerial roots at the leaf nodes.
Tradescantia nanouk stem cuttings can be propagated by submerging them in a glass of water; after a week, new roots will appear. Place them directly into the soil after discernible root development is visible. Within a few weeks, the new plant will begin to establish. To help the parent plant fill out the pot, you might even want to plant the cuttings in the same pot.
Why is my Tradescantia nanouk acting up?
Even a novice plant parent can easily take care of their Tradescantia Nanouk. Follow our guide on how to care for your Tradescantia Nanouk, from sunlight requirement to common problems and its solutions.
Sunlight
Giving your Tradescantia Nanouk bright, indirect sunlight or full sun is the first thing we recommend doing to take care of it because doing so promotes more bloom output.
The color of your Tradescantia Nanouk’s leaves may be fading because to inadequate sunlight, which is a common problem.
Solution: Set up your Tradescantia Nanouk in a steamy shower or close to a sunny window. Your Tradescantia Nanouk will grow leggy if it doesn’t receive enough light. Additionally, the leaves will be slightly smaller, with more green and less variegation.
Water
Watering your Tradescantia Nanouk when the top inch of soil is dry comes next on our list of things to do to take care of it. Usually, once every week is plenty. Additionally, it relies on the kind of lighting your plant is exposed to. The soil must be moist, however excessive moisture should be avoided as this might cause root rot.
Frequently Occurring Issue: Too much water may be the cause of your Tradescantia Nanouk’s drab and sickly appearance.
Giving the plant too much water is one of the most frequent errors made by novices or new plant parents. Only water your Tradescantia Nanouk once every week. Keep the soil damp but not drenched.
Use distilled water or a water filter system instead of tap water because some houseplants can be sensitive to salts in it. If this isn’t possible, overnight storage of the water in an open container is advised.
Humidity & Temperature
Put your Tradescantia Nanouk in a room with a little bit more humidity to add to our list of things to take care of it because it thrives in a humid climate. If you wish to enhance the humidity, we advise misting it frequently, putting it close to a humidifier, or using a pebble tray.
The ideal temperature range for Tradescantia Nanouk is between 75°F and 55°F during the day and at night.
Food
We also recommend feeding your Tradescantia Nanouk once or twice a month using fertilizer for houseplants that has been diluted to half the recommended concentration. Overfertilization should be avoided because it can cause dark leaf tips. Before adding fertilizer, make sure the soil is moist.
To prevent fertilizer burn or plant burn, it’s crucial to apply the fertilizer according to the recommended timing and amount.
Pests & Other Problems
The biggest issue with Tradescantia Nanouk is overwatering, which can result in fungus gnat problems as well as fungal infections and root rot. Always check to see if the ground is wet. If it is, let the soil to dry out entirely before watering again.
We also advise cutting off any decaying or damaged stems and leaves. The opposite is also true; if you let your Tradescantia Nanouk become too dry, it can draw spider mites. Increasing humidity and keeping a proper watering schedule are recommended.
Give your Tradescantia Nanouk a thorough shower with fresh water if it has a spider mite infestation. After that, spritz it with a 50/50 isopropyl alcohol and water solution. To eradicate all spider mites and their eggs, repeat the misting multiple times.
The maintenance of your Tradescantia Nanouk is now complete. Consider adding a Tradescantia Nanouk to your collection if you’re seeking for a new plant. It’s a hardy, attractive plant that looks fantastic in your living room or home office.
Expand your knowledge of plants. For additional information on various houseplants and advice on how to keep your plants alive and healthy, visit our blog on plant care.