How to Grow and Care for Tradescantia zebrina (Purple Heart)

Soil: Grow it in fertile, loose soil, mainly a mix of leaf mold, garden soil and river sand. Light: Plenty of light, mainly bright indirect light. Temperature: Keep it in a suitable range, ideally between 18 and 30 degrees. Fertilizing: Apply light fertilizer frequently. Pruning: Cut off long branches to keep growth even.

I. Growing Methods

1. Soil

Although it has low requirements for soil, the soil must still be loose and fertile. A potting mix made of leaf mold, garden soil and river sand is the best choice.

2. Sunlight

It is very afraid of strong light, so during normal care it should be placed in a shaded spot, but the light must still be bright, otherwise its growth will be affected.

3. Temperature

It likes a warm environment, and the ideal temperature is between 18 and 30 degrees. In winter, prevent cold damage; at this time the temperature should be kept above 10 degrees. If it drops below 4 degrees, the plant will enter a dormant state, and if it drops below 0 degrees, it will freeze to death.

4. Fertilizing

It is very fond of fertilizer and needs plenty of fertilizer and water, but do not fertilize it carelessly, for example with strong fertilizer or fertilizer skewed toward nitrogen or phosphorus and potassium. Always keep the fertilizer concentration low and apply it frequently, so that its nutrition stays balanced.

5. Pruning

On plants that have been grown for a long time, the leaves often drop, which affects their appearance. So the overlong branches and leaves need to be cut off to encourage new branches to sprout and grow more new leaves.

II. Points to Note

1. When growing it in spring, choose a spot near a window to ensure enough light, otherwise the stems will grow excessively and it will bloom less.

2. It likes higher humidity. If the air is too dry, the leaves will dry out easily and the leaf tips will turn yellow, so during the growing season, spray water on the leaves at the right times to increase air humidity.

3. In winter, keep the room temperature above 5 degrees so it will get through the winter safely, and do not water too much, to prevent root rot and yellow leaves.

4. During growth, to keep its branches and leaves well shaped, when the stems reach 20 to 30 cm, pinch out the growing tips as appropriate to encourage new branches to sprout, otherwise the branches will grow thin and spindly, which affects its appearance.