A Detailed Guide to the Planting Methods and Cultivation Techniques of Tradescantia zebrina
Plant aliases:
hanging spiderwort, variegated inch plant
Latin name:
Zebrina pendula
Family and genus:
Commelinaceae, Zebrina
Distribution:
Native to Mexico.
Morphological characteristics:
Perennial creeping herb. Stems slightly fleshy, much branched, creeping, rooting easily at the nodes. Leaves semi-succulent, without petioles, elliptical-ovate, apex shortly pointed, entire, surface purple-green with silvery-white stripes interspersed, leaf underside purplish-red, leaf sheaths sparsely hairy, flowers several clustered at the tips of the branchlets.
Growth habits:
Water: likes moisture; during the growing season water once a day to keep the soil moist, and mist the leaves. Reduce watering in winter.
Fertilizer: during the growing season, apply liquid fertilizer once a month.
Soil: not particular about soil.
Temperature: optimal growing temperature 10-25°C, overwintering temperature around 5°C.
Light: likes partial shade, avoid direct sunlight.
Cultivation and propagation:
Mainly by cuttings and division. Cuttings can be taken except in summer and winter, root very easily, and have a high survival rate. Division is carried out in spring and autumn, and dividing old plants also survives easily.
Because Tradescantia zebrina can produce roots from every node under suitable temperature and humidity, cuttings have a high survival rate. Cuttings can be taken from March to early May and from September to October; select robust growing branches, cut them into sections 7-10 cm long, each with 2-4 nodes, trim off the lower leaves, and keep the upper terminal or lateral leaves.
For cuttings, river sand or vermiculite can be used as the growing medium, or a half-and-half mix of garden soil and rice-hull ash, or a half-and-half mix of garden soil and leaf mold. Put the growing medium into a prepared pot or homemade wooden box up to eight-tenths full, and press it flat gently with a small wooden board. Then insert the prepared cuttings into the growing medium to a depth of 1/3-1/2 of the cutting length; after inserting, press lightly with your hand so that the plant is in close contact with the growing medium, water thoroughly with a fine watering can, and place in a shady spot. After that, keep the potting soil moist, and during this period mist the leaf surface with a fine watering can; roots will grow in about 15 days.
During the growing period, pinch off the growing tips in time to encourage the plant to produce side branches, then pot up for maintenance. Cuttings taken in spring will grow into large plants by autumn.
Landscape uses:
Small potted plant. It grows quickly and can cover a whole pot within 1 year; its branches and leaves creep and hang down, and the leaf colors of purple, green and silver alternate, dazzling to the eye. Place it on a tall stand or the top of a cabinet and let it hang down naturally, or grow it in a hanging basket for appreciation. It can also be placed above a windowsill, letting it hang down to form a green curtain. In courtyard cultivation it is often used for overall arrangements. The plant's variegated leaves can sometimes turn green; at this time, remove them promptly so that the leaves of the whole plant do not all turn green.
Cultivation Methods for Tradescantia zebrina
The leaves of Tradescantia zebrina are very distinctive; ordinary Tradescantia zebrina has two green glossy stripes on the leaf surface flanking the green central part, while the two-colored Tradescantia zebrina and the four-colored Tradescantia zebrina are even more special. In fact, Tradescantia zebrina is not very difficult to grow, but the four-colored Tradescantia zebrina is relatively more difficult to grow, and if you want to maintain its color, you need to pay attention to the cultivation methods when planting.
Tradescantia zebrina
1. Light: Tradescantia zebrina needs bright light in every season to encourage the plant to grow dense and vivid leaves. If the light is too dim, the stems will grow thin, long and straggly, and the leaves will fade. But do not let direct sunlight hit it.
2. Temperature: Tradescantia zebrina likes a warm environment; the temperatures of spring, summer and autumn are all suitable for growth, and growth is very slow at lower temperatures. In winter, when the temperature is about 10°C, attention must be paid to keeping it warm.
3. Watering: during the growing season, wait until the topsoil is dry about 2.5 cm deep before watering Tradescantia zebrina. When the potting soil is slightly dry, the leaf color will be more vivid. During the winter dormant period, wait until the potting soil is half dry before watering moderately.
4. Fertilizing: during the active growth period, apply a nitrogen-based compound fertilizer once every half month to Tradescantia zebrina.
5. Propagation: the old leaves of Tradescantia zebrina fall off easily, making the lower part look bare, so when growing Tradescantia zebrina it is best to regularly cultivate new plants for renewal. Tradescantia zebrina roots easily from stem cuttings, and can even be propagated by water cuttings. When potting up, plant 5 or 6 plants together.
Cultivation and Management of Tradescantia zebrina
Tradescantia zebrina, also called hanging spiderwort, is a perennial evergreen herb of the Commelinaceae family and the Tradescantia genus. The leaves are ovate; the leaf underside is deep purple, and the leaf surface color varies by variety. Ordinary Tradescantia zebrina has two silvery-green glossy stripes on the leaf surface flanking the green central part. Another example is two-colored Tradescantia zebrina, whose leaf surface is bronze in the center with narrower silvery stripes on both sides; and four-colored Tradescantia zebrina, whose leaf surface has irregular pink, green, milky-white and silvery-white stripes, the most beautiful and also the most difficult to grow. To grow Tradescantia zebrina well, the issues to note are: First, light: Tradescantia zebrina needs bright light in every season to encourage the plant to grow dense and vivid leaves. If the light is too dim, the stems will grow thin, long and straggly, and the leaves will fade. But do not let direct sunlight hit it.Second, temperature: Tradescantia zebrina likes a warm environment; the temperatures of spring, summer and autumn are all suitable for growth, and growth is very slow at lower temperatures. In winter, when the temperature is about 10°C, attention must be paid to keeping it warm.
Third, watering: during the growing season, wait until the topsoil is dry about 2.5 cm deep before watering Tradescantia zebrina. When the potting soil is slightly dry, the leaf color will be more vivid. During the winter dormant period, wait until the potting soil is half dry before watering moderately.
Fourth, fertilizing: during the active growth period, apply a nitrogen-based compound fertilizer once every half month to Tradescantia zebrina.
Fifth, propagation: the old leaves of Tradescantia zebrina fall off easily, making the lower part look bare, so when growing Tradescantia zebrina it is best to regularly cultivate new plants for renewal. Tradescantia zebrina roots easily from stem cuttings, and can even be propagated by water cuttings. When potting up, plant 5 or 6 plants together.