Tradescantia Zebrina Plant Care
(Wandering Jew)
Tradescantia Zebrina is a very versatile and incredibly easy to grow plant that makes them one of the best indoor plants to have around. They are a Southern Mexico native plant, loved for their vibrant coloured leaves and vines. As the Tradescantia Zebrina/Wandering Jew love higher humidity levels, they are an excellent choice to bring some colour to your bathroom. Your Tradescantia Zebrina can be grown in hanging baskets, in pots, or as ground cover as well.
General
Foliage typically grows up to 15-22 cm high and can spread in all directions. They have fleshy and pointed stems with oval leaves that range from green to blue with a purple and silvery stripe.
Your Wandering Jew is also known as Spiderwort, Wandering Jew, and Inch Plant. All these names come from its ability to grow and spread very quickly with a bit of care.
Amongst the most popular trailing plants globally, your Tradescantia Zebrina is perfect as an ornament due to its vines and three-petaled purple flowers.
Sunlight
Your Wandering Jew requires indirect but bright sunlight. They do well when kept at a window that gets at least eight hours of indirect sunlight.
However, under insufficient sunlight, the leaf-striping pigment will fade.
Leaf scorching may happen during midsummer due to excessive sunlight. So try keeping your Wandering Jew plant in partial shade with plenty of light but protected from direct sun.
Watering
Try to keep the soil consistently moist during summers. You can water your Tradescantia Zebrina once or twice a week when the soil’s top inch becomes dry.
However, if you notice drooping yellow leaves, cut down the water as it is a sign of excessive moisture.
Your Wandering Jew plant loves higher humidity levels making it an ideal bathroom plant. Consider regularly misting it.
Soil
Your Wandering Jew will grow exceptionally well in all-purpose soil with a slightly acidic texture. As they like to stay moist, you can consider mixing organic matter in the soil as well. But make sure that the plant is not waterlogged.
Fertiliser
Feeding your Tradescantia Zebrina is not a must, but it will reward you with enhanced growth if you do. Feed your plant monthly with half-strength liquid fertilizer or a weak liquid fertilizer only during the summer and spring seasons.
Toxicity
Your Tradescantia Zebrina is mildly toxic to humans and pets if consumed.
Additional Care Information
To keep your plant’s beautiful markings, you will need to provide them with bright indirect light. Please do not keep your plant in cold areas as it will turn the leaves of the plant green.
Due to the vining nature of your Tradescantia Zebrina, regularly prune it to maintain an appealing lush and bushy appearance.
Troubleshooting
Crispy brown and crystalline leaves: It indicates either excessive sunlight or less watering- Water your plant regularly and shift into an area with indirect sunlight.
Leaf tips turning Brown: Suggests your plant is kept in a room with very low humidity- Use a sprayer to mist your plant to maintain the humidity
Limp Stems and excessive leaf falling: This is caused by quite prolonged and extreme underwatering- Water your plant more frequently.
