Stem cuttings may also be used to create new potted plants. Evergreen. Propagation: Easily propagated by stem cuttings or division. Common name(s): Moses-in-the-Cradle; Family: Commelinaceae; Stem cuttings: yes; Leaf cuttings: no; Root cuttings/runners: no; Time: the year round Watch for mealybugs, scale, whiteflies and spider mites. I've got a Tradescantia spathacea (Oyster plant) here which I've had for 1 month. 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. It is widely cultivated in tropical areas because of its attractive foliage. 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. As a houseplant, grow in hanging baskets or along shelves. Keep the potting mix moist by watering when the top 1” (2.5 cm) of the soil is dry. Browse pictures and read growth / cultivation information about Tradescantia, Moses-in-a-Basket, Boatlily, Oyster Plant (Tradescantia spathacea) 'Hawaiian Dwarf' supplied by … But not Tradescantia leaves! If kept outdoors in the summer provide it with afternoon shade. Toxicity: Tradescantia spathacea ‘Tricolor’ contains sap that is toxic to pets. What's the best way to keep these plants pruned? Established plants have drought tolerance. How to Care for a Moses Plant. You have a single stem that will continue to grow taller and it will not produce branches or baby plants. There are a few ways to propagate your Tradescantia. Smooth. It has shown invasive tendencies by escaping gardens and naturalizing in parts of Louisiana and Florida. 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). 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. Etymology: The genus epithet Tradescantia named after John Tradescant (died 1638), gardener to King Charles I of England. Tradescantia zebrina is known for being extremely easy to propagate. It was still in good shape, just slightly less purple than it could be. It is commonly grown in the West Indies. In order that it remains really purple, it needs a lot of sunlight. Propagate by stem-cuttings, seeds or division. I talk more about this subject in 7 factors that affect your houseplant watering frequency. You only need an inch of plant to create a whole new specimen. Placing it near a north facing window will probably result in the loss of purple. If winters are cold and harsh where you live, it would be better if you bring it indoors for the winter. (22-30 cm) 12-15 in. Find out which of the most common houseplants are also toxic to your pets in Common house plants that are toxic to cats! It can cause contact dermatitis when in contact with bare skin and is highly irritating if eaten. Winter hardy to USDA Zones 9-11 where it is noted for its ease of culture and tolerance for wide range of growing conditions. Tradescantia Pallida has such beautiful trailing deep purple leaves and it flowers the cutest little light purple flowers. Use a peaty, soil-based potting mix. You may simply pinch of a branch or a few branches and submerge the cuttings in fresh soil. 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. Rock gardens. Just place the cutting’s stem in water and place the vase in a light spot. Best in filtered or part sun locations. 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. Moses-in-the-Cradle plants are originated in Belize, Guatemala, and regions of southern Mexico, such as Tabasco, Chiapas, and the Yucatan Peninsula. Cut the Segments. 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. Variegated Moses In The Cradle. Place pots in a bucket or tray to take to the site of the plant along with the pruners and growth hormone. 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. Partial to Full Shade. Also causes minor skin irritation in humans. To get the cutting – you can cut it anywhere along the stem and place it in water or directly in soil. Moses in the Cradle plants are considered toxic to humans and pets. At this point, a bit of water every two weeks will be plenty. I’d say you’ll have success in 99.9% of times. Plants from the genus Tradescantia, including the Tradescantia Purple Heart, are toxic to cats and dogs. 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. Foliage Color: Burgundy/Maroon. But if your winters are not that cold, you can easily have it outside during year round. Easily propagated by seeds, stem cuttings or division. 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. 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. You can also use a soil moisture meter if you have one. 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. Borders. Keep your cutting in a brightly lit place and change the water every few days. I love Tradescantia Purple Heart because it can withstand different lighting conditions. Plants will spread to form a dense ground cover over time. Watering: Water thoroughly once the top inch of … If you feel like the soil is still moist, you don’t need to water it. Also grows in shade, but the foliage may not have as bright of colors and it may get leggy. (15-30 cm) Spacing: 9-12 in. To get the cutting – you can cut it anywhere along the stem and place it in water or directly in soil. As we already touched the lighting topic, lets talk more about it. Watery sap may result in skin stinging and itching in sensitive individuals or animals. But, just to compare, I never needed to water it every day when I had it indoors. In St. Louis, it is easily grown as a houseplant. It … I've attached two pictures which show the growth over the past month. Keeping the soil constantly wet, especially if you have your Tradescantia indoors, can lead to root rot. Specifically, I find it awesome that it can withstand even direct sunlight. I like to bring it inside to have a touch of color in my apartment. As with all my houseplants, I fertilize my Tradescantia Pallida once a month with a complete liquid fertilizer diluted in water. The Tradescantia Spathacea comes with a beautiful rosette of pinky foliage and will produce tiny white flowers at the base that appear in clusters. Flowers bloom throughout the year. Rhoeo spathacea is the synonym of Tradescantia spathacea. Just keep in mind that the more light it gets – the more purple it will be. 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. The Garden wouldn't be the Garden without our Members, Donors and Volunteers. So, since I had mine outside on full sun all day long, I watered it pretty much every day, sometimes every 2-3 days. This makes it one of the most beautiful tri-color combinations that can transform your garden. Tradescantia spathacea. When she gave it to me it still hadn’t had any roots. 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. Tradescantia Purple Heart is one of the easiest to propagate! For more information see: Problems Common to Many Indoor Plants. Allow the top 1-2 inches to dry out between waterings and cut back on the water during the winter months. Change the water once every week or so. Provides Winter Interest. I found my Tradescantia is a heavy drinker. You can place your Tradescantia near any window – east, west, north, south – and it will continue to grow. Genus epithet 'Tradescantia' named after John Tradescant (died 1638), gardener to King Charles I of England. Scientific Name: Tradescantia spathacea; Common Name: Oyster Plant, Moses in the cradle, Rhoeo, Boat Lily; Light Requirements: Bright, indirect light. Plant in a peat-based potting soil and give it plenty of bright light. Sometimes called boatlily and oysterplant, Moses-in-the-cradle (Tradescantia spathacea) is a succulent perennial plant noted for its burgundy and bluish-green foliage. 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 is very easy to root in soil or water, making it a fun plant to propagate. I’d say you’ll have success in 99.9% of times. Plant should not be eaten raw, as the sap can cause burning pain in mouth and throat. Prepare the Pots. Flowers are followed by fruit (3-celled capsules). Tradescantia pallida, known by Purple Heart, Purple Queen or Wandering … Orange/Apricot. Where is this species invasive in the US. Look how much it grew in just under a year! Herbaceous. But the great thing is that even if it turns green – it can easily turn purple again! Quick ID. That doesn’t mean that you should constantly keep the soil wet – water your Tradescantia when the first few cm of soil are dry. Prepare your pots by filling with potting mix then water well. Tradescantia spathacea (commonly called as boatlily or Moses in the cradle) is an ornamental, herb plant with underground rhizomes, Clumping rosette form. Mine didn’t get enough sunlight last winter and it slowly started turning green. The only thing that happened is that it grew like crazy! 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. Sun Exposure: Light Shade. Best in filtered or part sun locations. 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. 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. This type of Tradescantia is commonly found in gardens and is used as an indoor and an outdoor plant. Don’t worry if you forget once in a while—it will occasionally tolerate a missed watering. During its active growth season, you should water no more than once a week. Species epithet 'spathacea' means 'with a spathe', describing the spathe-like bract holding the flowers. Potted plants may be taken outside in summer. White flowers in axillary cymes are enclosed by long-lasting, boat-shaped, purple bracts, hence the common name of Moses-in-a-basket. 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 … Tradescantia spathacea 'Variegata' Add To My Wish List . Look out for drooping yellow leaves, they are a symptom of too much water. How to care for Moses in the cradle plant: To take care of a Tradescantia spathacea, grow in a bright location with partial shade. (30-38 cm) Will grow in direct sun with some afternoon protection. How frequent you’ll need to water it will depend on many different factors. Plants like a consistently moist but well-drained soil during the growing season, with reduced watering from fall to late winter. Will grow in direct sun with some afternoon protection. The leaves are a dark teal-tinged forest green on top and vivid violet underneath. Height: 6-12 in. 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. It's growing extremely fast and now can't support itself and is leaning over. Keep your cutting in a brightly lit place and change the water every few days. 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. Tradescantias do best in partial shade but will do equally well in sunny areas as long as the soil is kept moist. Water when the top inch of soil is dry and be sure to water the soil underneath the leaves. Also grows in shade, but the foliage may not have as bright of colors and it may get leggy. You can of course also propagate Tradescantia fluminensis in water and even grow it in a vase indefinitely. Foliage: Grown for foliage. With regular watering, you’ll begin to see new growth shortly. Plants like a consistently moist but well-drained soil during the growing season, with reduced watering from fall to late winter. Outdoors, it forms an excellent ground cover. One of the stems of my grandma’s Tradescantia accidentally broke and she placed it aside for me. I had mine all summer long on my balcony, facing south, getting sun directly – all day long. Plants also can grow well on rocky soils. It isn’t called inch plant for nothing. The plant needs high humidity and … 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! How to take tradescantia pallida (purple heart) cuttings. Keep the soil moist, as it is best not to let your Tradescantia Zebrina become too dry. If I … This plant is resistant to deer. Native Range: Southern Mexico, Belize, Guatemala. 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. Water Requirements: Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater. To most of common houseplants, if placed on direct sunlight for many hours, leaves can get damaged. Tradescantia pallida. You can also root your cuttings in water if you prefer. No serious insect or disease problems. Tradescantia Purple Heart is one of the easiest to propagate! Every “cutting” rooted out successfully, and I didn’t even pay much attention to it! Tradescantia Purple Heart will love a spot where it gets many hours of sunlight. Linear leaves with purple undersides are arranged radially Moses in the Cradle Toxicity. Hardiness. Stick your finger in soil and check out if the soil is still moist or not. The plant goes through a slower, dormant stage of growth in winter. Rot may occur if soils are kept too moist. To grow a vibrant Tradescantia Spathacea, keep its soil moist by watering once or twice in ten days. Plants may be pruned hard in very early spring if needed. Moses in the Cradle is a rather succulent herb with a dense cluster of sturdy sword-shaped leaves arising from a trunklike stem. I actually got mine in a “form of a broken branch”. 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