Tradescantia Sillamontana: White Velvet Plant Care

Tradescantia Sillamontana, commonly known as cobweb spiderwort, or white gossamer plant, is a Wandering Jew plant that has variegated leaves and a deep purple color.

It’s also known as the “Hairy Wandering Jew” plant because the dull-olive-colored leaves are covered with more silver-white woolly hairs.

Whether you want to add hanging plants in your living room or create outdoor borders and woodland gardens, we have got great news for you.

This is because it propagates easily and adds vibrant color indoors when you allow them to trail in the macrame plant hangers.

Read on to learn more about the Tradescantia Sillamontana white velvet, its origins, and how to care for it in the garden.

What is a Tradescantia Sillamontana?

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Coming from the spiderwort family of plants, Tradescantia sillamontana, or White Velvet plants, are low-growing evergreen perennial species.

Moreover, in summer, you can see vibrant purple or magenta flowers blossoming from June to September, thus increasing the overall beauty of this unique species.

The Tradescantia Sillamontana white velvet produces gray-green, oval-shaped succulents that can measure up to two inches (five cm) long, creating a shape similar to a fountain.

In its native habitat of Mexico, the White Gossamer plant has been known to grow up to 12 inches tall and 16 to 20 inches wide.

Furthermore, you can see flowering purple blooms with three petals blooming right in the middle of the leaves forming at the terminal leaf axils.

The flowers open early in the morning and close at night.

Moreover, you can facilitate a second bloom by cutting the plants once they don’t bear any flowers. You can conveniently cut 8 to 12 inches off the stems.

Where to Plant Tradescantia Sillamontana

  • Indoor plant hanging
  • Borders for the garden
  • Indoor and outdoor cascading screens
  • Ecological decoration
  • Combine it with other decorative plants to create flower beds in the garden.

How to Care for Tradescantia Sillamontana

Any gardener who has ever seen or grown Cobweb spiderwort (Tradescantia sillamontana) is aware that it is a beautiful and low-maintenance plant that can be added to any space.

Cobweb spiderworts thrive in full sun or partial shade, as well as being drought tolerant. In addition, they are resistant to pests and diseases.

In this section, we will discuss further how to care for Tradescantia Sillamontana.

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Lighting

Tradescantia Sillamontana, or White Velvet Plant, only requires bright, indirect light.

However, if it doesn’t get enough light, the leaf marking begins to fade. On the other hand, full sun exposure (i.e. too much sun) will burn the leaves.

Temperature and Climate

Tradescantia Sillamontana grows best in warm weather in temperatures ranging from 60 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

The best climate to plant these Cobweb Spiderwort plants is in USDA plant hardiness zones 10a, 10b, 11a, and 11b.

Furthermore, you will notice that cobweb spiderwort plants will bloom when they are in mild climates.

Be careful when growing in cold weather; temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit will damage and possibly kill these plants.

As for moisture, typically all Tradescantia will turn brown if there is a lack of humidity in the air.

If you are planting your White Velvet plants indoors, you can use a humidifier to add moisture to the air.

Alternatively, you can place pebbles in a tray of water and place the Cobweb spiderwort planter on top of the pebble tray to increase the humidity around the plant.

Soil

Tradescantia Sillamontana thrives in moist, acidic, well-draining soils with a pH level of between 5 and 6.

However, if you can’t find soil that is acidic it is not the end of the world.

One of the best things about growing cobweb spiderwort is that it isn’t picky about the soil.

To increase the acidity in the soil, add some compost to the potting mix.

Also, you can add soil amendments such as peat moss, or vermiculite to increase the moisture in the soil as these amendments are good at locking the moisture within the soil.

Watering

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Tradescantia Sillamontana likes to be regularly watered up until you see the water draining from the pot’s bottom.

During the warmer months of the year, you should water your plant more than during the winter months.

Whatever you do, don’t let your Cobweb spiderwort plant sit in the water soggy soil.

Overwatered soil will lead to the plant appearing dull or worse it can lead to root rot.

Fertilizing

You don’t need to fertilize Tradescantia Sillamontana regularly.

All you need to do is fertilize once a year in spring or early summer.

Alternatively, adding soil amendments like compost will increase nutrients within the soil.

If you have your Tradescantia Sillamontana indoors, adding a little balanced liquid fertilizer will go a long way.

Pruning

You should regularly prune and trim Tradescantia white velvet plants to shape them to your liking.

It can get really bushy and out of control if you don’t do some pruning once in a while.

Another reason for pruning your White Velvet Tradescantia is that it prevents it from self-sowing and becoming weedy and wild.

Propagation

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Propagate Tradescantia Sillamontana by stem cuttings.

One of the most convenient ways to propagate the Tradescantia Sillamontana white velvet is by cutting a few branches and submerging them in fresh soil about four to six inches deep.

The cuttings should be around 4 to 5 inches long, and you should cut them diagonally under the stem’s node.

Later, remove the leaves from the lower surface and place the branches in the soil.

You should ensure the stems are eight to 12 inches apart from one another.

Allow for a scab to form on the cut end, which should take anywhere between three and five days. You’ll then see root growth within a few weeks.

As for when to propagate Tradescantia Sillamontana from stem cuttings, any time of the year is preferable, but preferably in the spring.

If your cuttings don’t root, you might consider using a rooting hormone. We’ve used it in the past and it simply works – roots sprout every time.

FAQ

Is Tradescantia Sillamontana an indoor plant?

Tradescantia Sillamontana can be grown indoors or outdoors. Just ensure to provide the plant with soil that is combined with soil amendments like compost and peat moss. Place it in bright, indirect light and to encourage bushier growth, you should regularly prune and pinch out the growing tips of the plant.

Can Tradescantia Sillamontana Tolerate full sun?

Tradescantia Sillamontana prefers indirect light that is bright. They require a lot of light, and if they don’t get enough of it, you’ll notice that the markings on their leaves begin to fade over time. Direct sunlight, on the other hand, will burn their leaves

How do you propagate Tradescantia Sillamontana?

Propagate the Tradescantia Sillamontana from stem cuttings. Take a stem cutting that is at least four to five inches in length and has several leaf nodes in order to propagate the plant. Allow for the scab to form on the cut end, which should heal within a week. You should notice roots forming in a few weeks.

How Do You Take Care of a Cobweb Spiderwort?

Take care of a Tradescantia Sillamontana by regularly watering it during the spring and summer; make sure to water it regularly to keep the soil moist, and then reduce the amount of water you use in the autumn and winter. Prune any old or wilted stems to help the plant grow stronger. Fertilize with a general fertilizer at the beginning of the spring season, or alternatively, add compost to the soil to enhance the nutrient content. every so often. If you see discoloration of the leaves, it means the plant isn’t getting sufficient light.

Conclusion

The white velvet tradescantia sillamontana is a multi-purpose and attractive species that you can hang indoors or add to the flowerbeds as an ornamental border.

Moreover, you can quickly grow the cobweb spiderwort plant in late fall, early summer, or spring in your garden or indoors in a container.

One of the main reasons behind the popularity of cobweb spiderwort among professional gardeners is its simple care and unfussy propagation.

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 make a great choice indoors as houseplants or outdoors as groundcovers. Other types of Tradescantia plants to consider are listed below.

References

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