Foliage Color: Burgundy/Maroon. When she gave it to me it still hadn’t had any roots. Plants also can grow well on rocky soils. If you do place your cutting in soil directly, be sure to keep the soil moist for a couple of weeks, until roots start to grow. Flowers are followed by fruit (3-celled capsules). This type of Tradescantia is commonly found in gardens and is used as an indoor and an outdoor plant. If winters are cold and harsh where you live, it would be better if you bring it indoors for the winter. Water it only when the top of the soil has dried out. But if your winters are not that cold, you can easily have it outside during year round. You can also use a soil moisture meter if you have one. Rhoeo spathacea is the synonym of Tradescantia spathacea. I found my Tradescantia is a heavy drinker. Plants from the genus Tradescantia, including the Tradescantia Purple Heart, are toxic to cats and dogs. I had mine all summer long on my balcony, facing south, getting sun directly – all day long. No serious insect or disease problems. Water when the top inch of soil is dry and be sure to water the soil underneath the leaves. It … Moses in the Cradle Toxicity. Tradescantia pallida, known by Purple Heart, Purple Queen or Wandering … If I … Plants like a consistently moist but well-drained soil during the growing season, with reduced watering from fall to late winter. Watch for mealybugs, scale, whiteflies and spider mites. How to take tradescantia pallida (purple heart) cuttings. Easily propagated by seeds, stem cuttings or division. It isn’t called inch plant for nothing. Every “cutting” rooted out successfully, and I didn’t even pay much attention to it! Will grow in direct sun with some afternoon protection. Tradescantia pallida. Tradescantias do best in partial shade but will do equally well in sunny areas as long as the soil is kept moist. Sometimes called boatlily and oysterplant, Moses-in-the-cradle (Tradescantia spathacea) is a succulent perennial plant noted for its burgundy and bluish-green foliage. Keep the potting mix moist by watering when the top 1” (2.5 cm) of the soil is dry. Propagate by stem-cuttings, seeds or division. You may simply pinch of a branch or a few branches and submerge the cuttings in fresh soil. Potted plants may be taken outside in summer. (15-30 cm) Spacing: 9-12 in. Also causes minor skin irritation in humans. For more information see: Problems Common to Many Indoor Plants. I actually got mine in a “form of a broken branch”. Linear leaves with purple undersides are arranged radially Alongside Tradescantia Pallida, we can commonly also find T. Zebrina (aka Wandering Jew), T. Fluminensis (aka Small-leaf spiderwort) and T. Spathacea (aka Moses-in-the-cradle). USDA hardiness zones 9a to 11b: from 20 °F (−6.7 °C) to 50 °F (+10 °C).. How to Grow and Care. Find out which of the most common houseplants are also toxic to your pets in Common house plants that are toxic to cats! Sun or shade; regular to ample water. Best in filtered or part sun locations. At some point, you will need to prune it back. Tradescantia spathacea is very easy to root in soil or water, making it a fun plant to propagate. As a houseplant, grow in hanging baskets or along shelves. Tradescantia spathacea is a stunning plant to brighten up your space, keep it in bright, indirect sunlight and allow it to dry out in between waterings. Also grows in shade, but the foliage may not have as bright of colors and it may get leggy. You have a single stem that will continue to grow taller and it will not produce branches or baby plants. Height: 6-12 in. Quick ID. Winter hardy to USDA Zones 9-11 where it is noted for its ease of culture and tolerance for wide range of growing conditions. Will grow in direct sun with some afternoon protection. Water Requirements: Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater. This makes it one of the most beautiful tri-color combinations that can transform your garden. Don’t worry if you forget once in a while—it will occasionally tolerate a missed watering. Hardiness. Sun Exposure: Light Shade. The easiest method to propagate wandering jew is to stick a cutting into some fresh potting soil, pour some water on it and it should be good to go. Partial to Full Shade. When you use liquid fertilizers, it’s important that you follow the instructions on the bottle so you don’t over fertilize your plants! Tradescantia spathacea (commonly called as boatlily or Moses in the cradle) is an ornamental, herb plant with underground rhizomes, Clumping rosette form. What's the best way to keep these plants pruned? Cut below a node, and place the cutting in water; it will readily grow roots. I’d say you’ll have success in 99.9% of times. The leaves are a dark teal-tinged forest green on top and vivid violet underneath. Keep your cutting in a brightly lit place and change the water every few days. Herbaceous. If you feel like the soil is still moist, you don’t need to water it. Full Shade. Plant in a peat-based potting soil and give it plenty of bright light. The Tradescantia Spathacea comes with a beautiful rosette of pinky foliage and will produce tiny white flowers at the base that appear in clusters. Tradescantia spathacea, commonly called Moses-in-a-basket or oyster plant, is a clump-forming evergreen perennial that is native to southern Mexico, Belize and Guatemala.It is widely cultivated in tropical areas because of its attractive foliage. I love Tradescantia Purple Heart because it can withstand different lighting conditions. Pruning will not harm the plant, but it will shorten it and give you a tip cutting that you can propagate easily in water, in the base of the existing plant or in its own small pot. So, since I had mine outside on full sun all day long, I watered it pretty much every day, sometimes every 2-3 days. Specifically, I find it awesome that it can withstand even direct sunlight. If kept outdoors in the summer provide it with afternoon shade. How frequent you’ll need to water it will depend on many different factors. Common house plants that are toxic to cats, Heart shaped leaf houseplants | perfect gift for your loved ones, 7 factors that affect your houseplant watering frequency, Philodendron Hederaceum aka Heartleaf Philodendron | care tips, Chlorophytum comosum aka Spider plant | care & propagation, Syngonium care tips | how to care for the Arrowhead Plant. Common name(s): Moses-in-the-Cradle; Family: Commelinaceae; Stem cuttings: yes; Leaf cuttings: no; Root cuttings/runners: no; Time: the year round It can cause contact dermatitis when in contact with bare skin and is highly irritating if eaten. With regular watering, you’ll begin to see new growth shortly. Mine didn’t get enough sunlight last winter and it slowly started turning green. Foliage: Grown for foliage. Allow the top 1-2 inches to dry out between waterings and cut back on the water during the winter months. Even if you buy a small plant or get a cutting from a friend, your Tradescantia will expand so much you won’t believe it! I’d say you’ll have success in 99.9% of times. Cut the Segments. The Garden wouldn't be the Garden without our Members, Donors and Volunteers. Rock gardens. Look out for drooping yellow leaves, they are a symptom of too much water. Species epithet 'spathacea' means 'with a spathe', describing the spathe-like bract holding the flowers. Tradescantia spathacea, usually known as Moses-in-the-Cradle, Boat Lily, Cradle Lily, Oyster plant, or the Bloaty, is a species of herbs in the Commelinaceae family. Tradescantia spathacea, commonly called Moses-in-a-basket or oyster plant, is a clump-forming evergreen perennial that is native to southern Mexico, Belize and Guatemala. As with all my houseplants, I fertilize my Tradescantia Pallida once a month with a complete liquid fertilizer diluted in water. I guess it’s a good thing it’s a trailing plant that you can easily place out of reach of children and pets, on top of a shelf or hanging down the ceiling. That doesn’t mean that you should constantly keep the soil wet – water your Tradescantia when the first few cm of soil are dry. Stick your finger in soil and check out if the soil is still moist or not. Flowers bloom throughout the year. Placing it near a north facing window will probably result in the loss of purple. Use your finger to make a hole in the middle of each pot for the cutting. Etymology: The genus epithet Tradescantia named after John Tradescant (died 1638), gardener to King Charles I of England. Browse pictures and read growth / cultivation information about Tradescantia, Moses-in-a-Basket, Boatlily, Oyster Plant (Tradescantia spathacea) 'Hawaiian Dwarf' supplied by … Propagation: Easily propagated by stem cuttings or division. To get the cutting – you can cut it anywhere along the stem and place it in water or directly in soil. During its active growth season, you should water no more than once a week. Toxicity: Tradescantia spathacea ‘Tricolor’ contains sap that is toxic to pets. Tradescantia Pallida, or more commonly known as the Tradescantia Purple Heart, is one crazy fast growing plant, especially if you bring it outside during spring and summer. White flowers in axillary cymes are enclosed by long-lasting, boat-shaped, purple bracts, hence the common name of Moses-in-a-basket. Named garden selections offer flowers in white, blue shades, lavender, purple, shades of pink from pale to near-red; these plants are often sold as Tradescantia x andersoniana or as members of the Andersonia Group. Description: Tradescantia spathacea is a rather succulent small and low-growing plant, with rosettes of waxy lance-shaped leaves metallic green above, with glossy purple underneath. Tradescantia zebrina is known for being extremely easy to propagate. It's growing extremely fast and now can't support itself and is leaning over. Watering: Water thoroughly once the top inch of … Plants like a consistently moist but well-drained soil during the growing season, with reduced watering from fall to late winter. To most of common houseplants, if placed on direct sunlight for many hours, leaves can get damaged. Moses in the Cradle is a rather succulent herb with a dense cluster of sturdy sword-shaped leaves arising from a trunklike stem. How to care for Moses in the cradle plant: To take care of a Tradescantia spathacea, grow in a bright location with partial shade. Moses in the Cradle plants are considered toxic to humans and pets. Scientific Name: Tradescantia spathacea; Common Name: Oyster Plant, Moses in the cradle, Rhoeo, Boat Lily; Light Requirements: Bright, indirect light. I talk more about this subject in 7 factors that affect your houseplant watering frequency. Will tolerate lower light but foliage coloration will be less vibrant. Look how much it grew in just under a year! On a few occasions I accidentally broke some of the stems and I would just place them back into soil with the rest of the plant. Prepare the Pots. Just place the cutting’s stem in water and place the vase in a light spot. As we already touched the lighting topic, lets talk more about it. Tradescantia / ˌ t r æ d ɪ ˈ s k æ n t i ə / is a genus of 75 species of herbaceous perennial wildflowers in the family Commelinaceae, native to the New World from southern Canada to northern Argentina, including the West Indies.Members of the genus are known by the common names spiderwort or Indian paint. The plant goes through a slower, dormant stage of growth in winter. Where is this species invasive in the US. Keep the soil moist, as it is best not to let your Tradescantia Zebrina become too dry. Orange/Apricot. Stem cuttings may also be used to create new potted plants. It has shown invasive tendencies by escaping gardens and naturalizing in parts of Louisiana and Florida. (30-38 cm) Plant should not be eaten raw, as the sap can cause burning pain in mouth and throat. Best in filtered or part sun locations. Variegated Moses In The Cradle (Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder) ... as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation. Tradescantia Pallida has such beautiful trailing deep purple leaves and it flowers the cutest little light purple flowers. Place pots in a bucket or tray to take to the site of the plant along with the pruners and growth hormone. Tradescantia spathacea. To get the cutting – you can cut it anywhere along the stem and place it in water or directly in soil. It is commonly grown in the West Indies. Use a peaty, soil-based potting mix. This plant is easily grown indoors in pots or containers.Genus name honors John Tradescant (1570-1638) and his son John Tradescant (1608-1662), botanists and successive gardeners to Charles I of England. The plant needs high humidity and … Tradescantia Purple Heart will love a spot where it gets many hours of sunlight. The long leaves (grows up to 40 to 60 cm long, 4 to 6 cm wide) are sword-shaped, dark teal green on top, glossy purple on … Rot may occur if soils are kept too moist. It typically grows as a 6-12" tall rosette consisting of narrow, spirally arranged, linear-lanceolate, stiffly-ascending, sword-shaped, dark green leaves (to 6-12" long) with purple undersides. There are a few ways to propagate your Tradescantia. Tradescantia Purple Heart is one of the easiest to propagate! Change the water once every week or so. Smooth. It was still in good shape, just slightly less purple than it could be. Prepare your pots by filling with potting mix then water well. The only thing that happened is that it grew like crazy! Outdoors, it forms an excellent ground cover. You only need an inch of plant to create a whole new specimen. It is widely cultivated in tropical areas because of its attractive foliage. Moses-in-the-Cradle plants are originated in Belize, Guatemala, and regions of southern Mexico, such as Tabasco, Chiapas, and the Yucatan Peninsula. You can of course also propagate Tradescantia fluminensis in water and even grow it in a vase indefinitely. You can place your Tradescantia near any window – east, west, north, south – and it will continue to grow. Watery sap may result in skin stinging and itching in sensitive individuals or animals. This plant is also known as Rhoeo discolor and more frequently in the horticulture trade as Rhoeo spathacea.The species name is a Latin word referring to the spathe-like large bracts which envelope the flower. Plants may be pruned hard in very early spring if needed. But, just to compare, I never needed to water it every day when I had it indoors. Genus epithet 'Tradescantia' named after John Tradescant (died 1638), gardener to King Charles I of England. One of the stems of my grandma’s Tradescantia accidentally broke and she placed it aside for me. Variegated Moses In The Cradle. Borders. Keeping the soil constantly wet, especially if you have your Tradescantia indoors, can lead to root rot. Evergreen. In order that it remains really purple, it needs a lot of sunlight. Just keep in mind that the more light it gets – the more purple it will be. Keep your cutting in a brightly lit place and change the water every few days. How to Care for a Moses Plant. To grow a vibrant Tradescantia Spathacea, keep its soil moist by watering once or twice in ten days. Also grows in shade, but the foliage may not have as bright of colors and it may get leggy. In order to have a really happy Tradescantia Pallida indoors – place it in a spot where it will get bright indirect sunlight or direct sunlight. Noteworthy Characteristics. Growing Tradescantia is easy, and you will find the plants to be quite resilient.These plants typically grow in moist, well-drained and acidic (pH 5 to 6) soil. Provides Winter Interest. (22-30 cm) 12-15 in. Tradescantia spathacea 'Variegata' Add To My Wish List . At this point, a bit of water every two weeks will be plenty. Established plants have drought tolerance. But the great thing is that even if it turns green – it can easily turn purple again! I've attached two pictures which show the growth over the past month. This plant is resistant to deer. In St. Louis, it is easily grown as a houseplant. Native Range: Southern Mexico, Belize, Guatemala. You can also root your cuttings in water if you prefer. But not Tradescantia leaves! Tradescantia Purple Heart is one of the easiest to propagate! Plants will spread to form a dense ground cover over time. I like to bring it inside to have a touch of color in my apartment. 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