How to Grow Tradescantia zebrina (Inch Plant) from the Spiderwort Family: Growing Methods and Winter Care Tips
Tradescantia zebrina, also called Tradescantia pendula, variegated spiderwort, inch plant, water inch plant, and variegated inch plant, is a perennial evergreen herbaceous plant in the spiderwort family (Commelinaceae) and the genus Tradescantia. The color distribution on the leaf surface resembles the surface of a watermelon, with purple-green in the middle and two silvery-white stripes on either side. Let's take a look below at the growing methods and care tips for Tradescantia zebrina.
The stems of Tradescantia zebrina are weak and brittle, creeping along the ground in a trailing growth habit. Because its leaves resemble bamboo and are beautiful, it is often grown as a potted plant hung indoors to enjoy its stems and leaves that spread out and hang softly, hence the name Tradescantia zebrina (hanging bamboo plum).
In home decor, Tradescantia zebrina is usually a small potted plant. It grows quickly and can cover a full pot in 1 year. Its branches and leaves trail and hang, and its leaf colors of purple, green, and silver are intermingled and dazzling. It can be placed on a tall stand or the top of a cabinet and allowed to hang down naturally, or it can be hung in a basket for display. It can also be placed above a windowsill so that it hangs down to form a green curtain. In courtyard cultivation, it is often used for overall arrangements. The leaves of the plant may sometimes turn entirely green; at this time, they should be removed promptly to prevent all the leaves of the whole plant from turning green.
Growing Methods for Tradescantia zebrina
1. Soil requirements: Tradescantia zebrina has no special requirements for soil; it is basically the kind that can survive once stuck in…… Water requirements: Tradescantia zebrina likes moisture. During the growing season, water once a day to keep the soil moist, and spray water on the leaf surface. Reduce the amount of water in winter.
2. Fertilization requirements: During the growing season, applying liquid fertilizer once a month is sufficient.
3. Temperature requirements: The suitable growth temperature for Tradescantia zebrina is 10-25°C. The overwintering temperature must not be lower than 10°C. It likes partial shade and should avoid direct sunlight. However, being in too shady a place for a long time often causes the stems and leaves to grow leggy and the leaf color to fade.
4. Tradescantia zebrina likes sufficient scattered light. Under bright scattered light, the plant grows luxuriantly and the leaf color is vivid. Tradescantia zebrina avoids direct sunlight; when the light is too intense, the leaf color becomes dull, and the leaves turn yellow and scorched. Normally, Tradescantia zebrina needs to be kept in a semi-shaded place for care, or given 70% shade. If Tradescantia zebrina is kept indoors, try to place it in a bright place, and every one or two months move it outdoors to a semi-shaded place or keep it shaded for a month, so that it can accumulate nutrients and restore its growth vigor.
5. During the growth period of Tradescantia zebrina, watering should follow the principle of “alternating dry and wet while leaning toward moist”, fully supplying water and keeping the potting soil moist without drought. Especially in high summer temperatures, extra attention must be paid to replenishing water in time so as not to let the potting soil dry out. But in winter, watering must be restrained; just keep the potting soil slightly moist.
6. During the growing season, apply a fertilizer combining nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium once every half month to Tradescantia zebrina, which can promote luxuriant branches and leaves and bright leaf color. Before young Tradescantia zebrina plants have grown into shape, they should be fertilized more appropriately to promote lush growth. After they have taken shape, fertilization can be appropriately reduced, and it is not suitable to apply nitrogen fertilizer alone or in excessive amounts; otherwise, although the branches and leaves will be thick and strong, the beautiful markings on the leaf surface will fade and turn green. After autumn begins, stop applying nitrogen fertilizer and apply only phosphorus and potassium fertilizers to help the plant overwinter. Stop fertilizing in winter.
7. During the seedling stage of Tradescantia zebrina, pinching should be done 1-2 times, which can promote a compact and luxuriant plant shape. For Tradescantia zebrina grown for more than 2 years, the plant should be heavily pruned once in spring along with repotting, to encourage the base of the plant to sprout and grow new branches and leaves, so as to restore good ornamental value.
Care Tips for Tradescantia zebrina
1. Tradescantia zebrina can be propagated by cuttings and division, and this can be done throughout the year. For cuttings of Tradescantia zebrina, you can combine it with pinching, cut healthy branch tips as cuttings, insert them into river sand, place them in partial shade, and keep them moist; they root very easily. The stems of Tradescantia zebrina creep along the ground, and after roots form at the nodes, they can be separated and planted to become new plants.
2. During the growing season, Tradescantia zebrina should keep the potting soil moist, and water should often be sprayed on the stems and leaves to maintain relatively high air humidity, so as to prevent the leaf tips from drying and scorching.
3. Apply a dilute liquid fertilizer to Tradescantia zebrina once about every 15 days, but be careful not to fertilize too much. If too much nitrogen fertilizer is applied, the leaf color will fade.
4. Tradescantia zebrina likes a semi-shaded environment. In spring and autumn, it is suitable to place it in a place with bright scattered light indoors. In summer, pay attention to shading to avoid exposure to intense sunlight.
5. In winter, the room temperature for growing Tradescantia zebrina should be kept above 10°C, and the amount of watering should be appropriately reduced. If too much water is given at this time and the potting soil remains wet for a long time, it is easy to cause root rot and yellow leaves. In winter, it should be placed facing south so that Tradescantia zebrina can see more sunlight.
Winter Care Methods for Tradescantia zebrina
Choice of placement location:
In winter, Tradescantia zebrina should be moved indoors to a brighter location, either hung up or placed directly in a sunny spot indoors for care.
Winter temperature:
In winter, the room temperature must be kept above 8°C for Tradescantia zebrina to overwinter safely. Only above 14°C can Tradescantia zebrina resume normal growth.
Notes during the winter dormant period:
In winter, Tradescantia zebrina enters its dormant period. During dormancy, watering should be reduced. If the original watering frequency is still followed, it will cause the leaves of Tradescantia zebrina to turn yellow in patches or develop root rot. When watering, it is best to do so around 9 a.m. on a sunny day.
Overwintering outdoors:
If Tradescantia zebrina overwinters outdoors in winter, the entire plant should be carefully wrapped with plastic film. If it is winter in the north, a protective layer should be set up around it. On sunnier days, the plastic film can be lifted at noon to let Tradescantia zebrina get some air.
Winter fertilization:
When fertilizing Tradescantia zebrina in winter, you can follow the sequence of fertilizing—watering—watering—fertilizing—watering—watering. The interval is about 7 to 10 days, and the specifics should also be determined according to the actual environment in which Tradescantia zebrina is grown.
Air humidity:
Winter weather is relatively dry, so water can often be sprayed on the leaf surface of Tradescantia zebrina and around it to increase air humidity. If it is Tradescantia zebrina after cutting, water can be sprayed 2 times a day, but do not spray too much each time; excessive spraying will cause the cuttings of Tradescantia zebrina to rot.
Growing Tradescantia zebrina in winter is not recommended to be kept in the bedroom for a long time.