The Latest Complete Guide to Growing Inch Plant: Methods and Precautions
Inch plant, also known as inch plant lily, variegated inch plant, and variegated bamboo vegetable, is an evergreen herbaceous plant of the genus Tradescantia in the Commelinaceae family. In South China it propagates very quickly when planted, and can be seen everywhere not only in gardens, campuses, institutional green spaces, and around residential homes; some have spread and grown into a wild or semi-wild state. It is often grown for ornamental purposes. Now let us take a look at the growing methods and precautions for inch plant!
Growth Habits of Inch Plant
In its place of origin, inch plant mostly creeps and grows on shady, damp ground, and it fears being scorched by direct sunlight. It can tolerate a low temperature of 8℃, is not cold-hardy, fears intense heat, and can grow normally above 14℃. It requires relatively high air humidity; in dry air, the leaf tips often dry out and the leaf edges scorch. It is not drought-tolerant but tolerates waterlogged conditions, and it is not strict about soil pH.
Propagation Methods for Inch Plant
Inch plant is usually propagated by cuttings; simply take several nodes of healthy stems and insert them into moist sand and they will take root. The optimal temperature for cutting roots to strike is 18-25℃. If it is below 18℃, it is very difficult for the cuttings to root, and growth is extremely slow. But above 25℃, the cut ends of the cuttings are easily infected by pathogens and rot, so attention is needed. At the same time, after cuttings are taken, the relative air humidity must be kept at 75-85%, with misting 1-3 times a day to increase humidity. However, with excessive misting, the cuttings are easily infected by pathogens and rot, so over-caring must be avoided.
How to Grow Inch Plant
1. Soil: Inch plant is not demanding about soil, but it grows better in fertile, loose soil. It is best to use a mix of 40% leaf mold, 40% garden soil, and 20% river sand.
2. Sunlight: Inch plant fears direct strong light and needs to be kept in a semi-shaded place for care, or given 70% shade. When kept indoors, place it in as bright a spot as possible.
3. Temperature: The optimal growing temperature for inch plant is 18-30℃. It dislikes cold and frost; the overwintering temperature should be above 10℃. Below 4℃ it enters a dormant state, and when the temperature approaches 0℃ it will die from frost damage.
4. Fertilizing: Inch plant has a high demand for fertilizer and water, but it most fears careless fertilizing, concentrated fertilizer, and one-sided application of nitrogen, phosphorus, or potassium fertilizer. It should follow the fertilizing (and watering) principle of “light fertilizer applied frequently, small amounts with more applications, and complete nutrition”.
5. Pruning: On inch plant plants that have been grown for too long, the lower leaves often drop off, which affects the ornamental effect. At this point, the overly long branches and leaves should be cut off to encourage new buds to sprout from the base of the stems and grow new branches and leaves.
Precautions for Inch Plant
1. In spring and autumn, inch plant should be placed indoors near a south-facing window for care. If light is insufficient for a long time, the stems and leaves tend to grow leggy, the internodes become longer, and it blooms little or not at all.
2. Inch plant requires relatively high air humidity. If the air is dry, the leaves tend to dry out easily and the leaf tips scorch. Therefore, during the growing season, water should be sprayed on the stems and leaves frequently to maintain air humidity.
3. To keep the branches and leaves full, when the stems grow to about 20-30 cm, pinch out the growing tips to encourage branching; otherwise the branches grow thin and long, affecting the ornamental effect.
4. In winter, inch plant can overwinter safely as long as the room temperature is kept above 5℃. During overwintering, the plant is in a dormant state and needs little water. If watered too much, it very easily causes root rot and yellow leaves.
5. When growing inch plant, pay attention to giving it regular light to prevent leggy stems and leaves. In summer, it must not be exposed to direct blazing sun, and after pruning, do not water heavily before new stems have sprouted.