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What Are Tricolor Wandering Jew Plants?
Tricolor Wandering Jew Plant (Tradescantia fluminensis) is an attractive indoor plant. It belongs to the genus Tradescantia.
However, due to its speedy growth, many people consider it a weed species in the garden.
This plant is native to South America. It is also known as an inch plant, wandering trad, wandering willie, and wandering gypsy.
You can also plant them in a hanging basket.
The stem of Tradescantia fluminensis can grow to more than two feet.
It is a popular plant mainly because of its hassle-free maintenance with its tricolor leaves.
The pointed tips and fleshy foliage make this variety impressive.
Tradescantia fluminensis is a variegated cultivar that is invasive. They suppress the growth of other plants growing around them.
However, because of its pretty foilage, it is associated with an excellent ground cover in landscaping. Their dark-green leaves are around 2.5 inches long.
In Southeastern United States, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand, this plant is so abundant that it’s regarded as a nuisance and a noxious weed [1].
Most of the plants that belong to this genus are troublesome.
The sap of these plants is a skin irritant. Wandering Jew is also known to be irritating and possibly toxic to pets.[2]
These plants are called ecosystem engineers due to their unique characteristics [3].
Most of these species are native to South America and look very charming thanks to their variegated leaves.
You can use hanging baskets to grow them in your home or have them growing in your landscaping as ground cover
Caring Guide for Tradescantia fluminensis Plants
Light
Tradescantia fluminensis is popular mostly because of its attractive foliage. Pink, purple, green, and white stripes make their leaves extremely beautiful.
Because of their unique blend of stripes, you’ll find them in many homes and offices as they are common indoor plants.
However, the leaf color may turn brown if the light is not provided sufficiently.
It can survive in locations receiving medium to indirect sunlight. Though we suggest you place it someplace that receives direct sunlight.
However, the scorching mid-afternoon sun will be excessive, so the morning and evening sunlight is the best.
Lack of sufficient light can result in discoloration of the green leaves, which may subtract from their beauty.
You can determine the plant’s needs by observing the color of its leaves.
Discoloration of the leaves will likely indicate that the plant needs more light since plants use sunlight as food.
These plants are invasive species but can form an excellent ground cover. They also have a vigorous growth habit, and they thrive in the garden.
Water and Soil
Water Tradescantia fluminensis thoroughly from late March to late October due to the higher evaporation rate during this period. You can reduce the amount of water during the fall.
Water is an important factor that affects the growth of Tradescantia fluminensis. It prefers to live in moist soil, but excessive water can cause root rot.
If the Wandering Jew is planted in a pot, you should moisten potting mix regularly.
The water requirement of this popular houseplant is relatively low. For this reason, don’t stress too much if you forget to water it occasionally.
Before watering, observe the moisture condition of the potting mixture. If the surface becomes too dry, you can water them.
If you want to make potting soil for them, you should use an adequate amount of vermicompost, compost, peat, and other organic materials with a higher water retention capacity.
Also, do not forget to make drainage holes beneath the pot. The holes will enhance the drainage condition.
Temperature and Humidity
The Tradescantia fluminensis requires is a temperature between 65 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit (19 and 26-degree Celsius).
If the temperature drops below 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius), the plants may die.
Humidity is another factor that can affect the beauty of the variegated leaves. If the level of humidity falls, the leaves will turn brown.
Therefore, to obtain an optimum amount of humidity, you can use a humidifier. Another great idea is to place them in the kitchen or bathroom.
You can also mist the leaves often to increase the humidity level.
Fertilizer
Tradescantia fluminensis does not require a lot of fertilizer. Remember, they are considered weeds in many places because of their growth rate.
If you fertilize them too often, then you will have to prune them regularly.
Still, they require food to stay healthy. You can fertilize them during the growing season, which is between March and October.
You can either apply slow-release fertilizer plant food or liquid fertilizer.
Pruning and Propagation
Flowering inch plant is mainly used as an ornamental houseplant, so people need to prune them often.
However, if you plant them outdoors, you don’t have to prune them quite as often.
Due to their vining nature, it is better to cut their stem tips. It will let them appear bushy and pleasing.
There are several ways to propagate Tradescantia fluminensis. You can plant the cut stems in soil or submerge the cut section in water.
After planting it in the soil, do not forget to water it. The root will come out of the nodes within a few weeks.
FAQ
Can I place Tradescantia fluminensis in direct sun?
Tradescantia fluminensis may live in a variety of light conditions, although it likes a well-lit position with at least some direct sunshine (the hot afternoon sun may be a bit too much for it — morning or evening sun are perfect). Although it may be placed in direct or bright light, it should not be exposed to direct or intense heat.
What are the Common pests of Tradescantia fluminensis?
Aphids feed on tradescantia fluminensis (Spiderwort) Leaves, weakening them and spreading disease. Leaves twist and yellow due to aphids. Spider mites generate webbing and tiny dots on spiderwort leaves. Spraying leaves with a strong stream of water in the morning deters insects.
Is Tradescantia fluminensis a succulent?
No, it is not a succulent plant. Tradescantia, or inch plant, is native to North and South America. There are roughly 60 species, most of which are hanging plants, although a few grow upwards. Although not succulent, the stems may hold a lot of water.
How fast does Tradescantia fluminensis grow?
The ability of the Tradescantia plant to spread and flourish fast with little care or support. This is one of the easiest houseplants to grow and spread, and it requires little maintenance. You might have fully established plants from stem cuttings that you have taken in less than 6 months.
Conclusion
To sum up, Tradescantia fluminensis are excellent houseplants because of their beautiful colored leaves that are pink, white, and purple.
They are very easy to grow, and anybody can take care of them. They just need some water, planted in well-draining soil, and bright light to thrive.
Other Tradescantia Plants (Wandering Jew plants) to Consider
If you’re looking for a houseplant or some landscaping plants, there are other varieties of Tradescantia to consider. Wandering Jew plants are a great choice indoors as houseplants or outdoors as groundcovers. Other types of Tradescantia plants to consider are listed below.
References
Lindsey Hyland grew up in Arizona where she studied at the University of Arizona’s Controlled Environment Agriculture Center. She continued her gardening education by working on organic farms in both rural and urban settings. She started UrbanOrganicYield.com to share gardening tips and tactics. She’s happy to talk about succulents and houseplants or vegetables and herbs – or just about anything in a backyard garden or hydroponics garden.