Unlocking the Secrets of Tradescantia: The Ultimate Care Guide

[@kathleenhall3868]

Great survey, Andrea. Love tradescantia. I've found it best to be diligent about pruning the trailing variety because the stems are actually quite tender. So much so that a long vine will actually bruise at the pot's edge from the weight, eventually killing that section. On mine, when the vines get long, I put the pot beside another pot of soil, then drape the ends there. Sprinkle a little soil at the nodes (or lightly pin the node to the new pot's surface): They will root easily. Sever from the original plant when you're ready. These new pots make wonderful gifts, without fussing w/water propagation > potting up.

[@jodidelong3663]

First, you get full points for referring to cultivars as well as species! Second, you are a lot of fun to watch, (I only discovered you a couple of weeks ago) because you're encouraging, knowledgeable, and a cat person to boot. Thank you for all the time you obviously put into your videos. Last spring I planted a wee green and white tradescantia (not sure of cultivar or variety) sold as a container filler, outside into one of my many planters. Holy moly. We haven't had frost here yet and it is like three feet long, very bushy, and lovely. I will always add them to outdoor containers from here on in. I did take some cuttings last week and they appear to be already rooting. Now, as for Callisia repens...that's an ongoing challenge for me. Cheers from Nova Scotia.

[@Planty-Mandy]

Hi from Alberta! I have a huge beautiful Callisia repens and the most important key I’ve found is TONS of light. I have mine blasting in direct south sun all day long. If it’s not completely bright pink, it’s not getting enough light.

[@msscamp100]

Very good video, thank you. Tradescantia is one type of plant that I could never keep alive and didn't know what I was doing wrong. I think I know now, and will give this plant another try. I love how the Nanouk looks. LOL

[@tinapomfrey5412]

Thank you for doing another great video, especially on an under-appreciated plant (imo). I had a pallida when I was a kid, I knew it as Moses in the Cradle, and I bought it as a houseplant. I wasn't aware that they were hardy in Texas. I now have two varieties of fluminensis, two of the spathacae and another variety, sillamontana, which is fuzzy and sunstresses to a beautiful purple. They all do well under 6500K LEDs during the winter. My green fluminensis is 38 years old; I started it from a spindly, 4 inch cutting from my first job out of college, and now, I have multiple plants and have given away more than I can count. My fav will always be the Zebrina. With proper care, the leaves can grow very large and remarkably metallic.

[@AlohaPlantLife]

38 years old! That’s awesome!💚

[@glorianayeagley9258]

Very informative video. Thank you.

[@AlohaPlantLife]

You are welcome!💚

[@MariePotsPlants]

I looooove my tradescantia! The silvery shimmer is just beautiful! I always have lots of propagations going on because it seems to snap fairly easy.. but hey I love propagating 😂 that tri color is gorgeous!!!! I always stress over cutting back long vines but later say what didn’t I do that sooner?! I love my Purple Heart outside! Nothing can stop that thing! Love the little blooms on them.

[@AlohaPlantLife]

I totally agree!💚

[@MariePotsPlants]

@@AlohaPlantLife 💚

[@cathyspooner7093]

I love your videos your very smart and very good at explaining about plants

[@AlohaPlantLife]

Thank you!💚

[@AlienDrone_22]

Just found you and subbed after one vid. I really enjoyed listening to you explain everything, easy to follow and so thorough. Thank you! I have only been on my journey to becoming an indoor plant mama for about 2 years. My Zebrina was one of my earlier plants and it has become one of my favorites. So happy and full no matter where it sits, you are right about them being adaptable. I place the plant just out of reach of direct sunlight in the summer and will move it to the window sil on cooler or cloudy days. It also makes lots of little flowers. So far my indoor plant collection is at 25 but my Tradescantias (2 Nanouks as well) are some of my favorites to care for. My Zebra plant and my Calathea Medallion are my fussiest plants by far but they are doing well as I do check them daily. Looking forward to checking out your other videos. ❤

[@AlohaPlantLife]

Thanks! And welcome to the planty fam!

[@MikeyDonna]

You have way more knowledge of plants than all the houseplant KZbinrs I subscribe to. Do you have a degree in plants? If not how did you attain all that knowledge? Surely not from watching other KZbin’s. I feel I can trust you to guide me on my plant journey. Thank you so much. Oh, and keep a kids water squirt gun on hand to surprise Leo with when he starts playing with a plant. As you squirt his face give a sharp loud “NO!”. He will learn to associate the no! with the surprise squirt and down the road you can discontinue the squirt but he will associate the no! with discomfort and eventually just stay away from the plants.

[@AlohaPlantLife]

No, I do not have a degree in plants, I just learned through experience and thorough research from scientific sources.💚

[@od.vandeveer]

I have another tradescantie, the tradescantia sillamontana matuda . Different with bright pink flowers and really hairy silver leaves

[@musicalmarion]

I've had houseplants all my life and I NEVER found pests on my Tradescantias or Spider plants. There has to be a chemical reason for this, and it's very interesting how Mealy Bugs avoid certain species. We could turn this to our advantage if a poper study was done! Trads are super easy and tolerant and the end leaves can be massive if under bright lights on a main stem. The biggest drawback is indeed how fast they grow, dropping vines and leaves, so they need constant pruning to stay looking good. The purpose of a vine is to self propogate in new territory so I find there's a limit to the length of a good hanging plant 🌿

[@lisawagner6076]

I am binge watching you again, 😂😂 Can you do a video on what those 3 numbers in the fertz mean? Like what is the difference between 20-20-20 and 10-10-10 ??? Are they the same thing? Is the higher the numbers better?? I know the numbers are N-P-K, but I am not sure how to compare them on the different product labels.

[@donnabecker3969]

Great video!

[@AlohaPlantLife]

Thanks!💚

[@cheesechaos]

Hmm, now I'm not sure again. I previously tried identifying the plant I have, and I came to the conclusion that "albiflora" and "albovitatta" are outdated/misused names. Now I'm between fluminensis "Variegata" and Continental Group "White Giant". I was thinking the fluminensis usage was also incorrect, so the plant really belongs under the Continental Group. But poking around again today, I do see fluminensis "Variegata" used a good amount. I guess I'll wait to see how my plant matures, then I'll look into it again.

[@MarisaAndChew]

My mom has totally drowned two tradescantia, the zebrina died completely despite my best efforts to take cuttings they were just too far gone, the other one I can't recall the name, I think she calls it a leopard (she buys them for their tags) and I've had to completely take cuttings and after like 7 weeks it's finally looking like a plant again, mostly... I just got her a nanouk BC she was sad about her zebrina and I couldn't find a zebrina and I intentionally got her one in the 1-2 inch pot so she can stay it every freaking day if she wants and it should be fine. She named it, nanouk BC it sounds Aboriginal and "cute" and I'm like well at least we know what species it is 🤷🏼‍♀️ PS we live in a very high Aboriginal populated area, so much so that our towns signs are in both English and Ojibwe and most of us know at least a few words and have some DNA so it's not an inappropriate wording. Unfortunately, Google doesn't have Ojibwe on the translate, I don't think it has any native languages. It has many spellings though through different communities and seems to mean "polar bear".

[@AlohaPlantLife]

Technically the name of the city I live in is a Native American word but I think hardly anyone realizes it and everyone I tell that to doesn’t believe me until they look it up.🙄 Fingers crossed this one survives for your mom💚

[@Caitybear396]

They have been called wandering jew since the 1960s no one ever took offense back then. And they remained being called wandering jews the last 60 years. Not sure why in 2023 everyone all of a sudden took offense to that name? And not the last 60 years? I say personally, people should just relax with whatever name a plant is be happy that plant exists and enjoy the plant regardless of a name

[@juliashearer7842]

How do you know no one took offence?

[@Caitybear396]

@juliashearer7842 because no one mentioned it since the 60s. It wasn't until the 2020s everyone started complaining about the name

[@ct2co2AZ]

Agreed. I am part of todays generation yet believe that we just need to settle down and not be so hypersensitive. It is rediculous I can’t even keep up anymore with what’s considered PC. I’m Jewish for the record

[@cathyspooner7093]

I only know it by wandering Jew

[@theghostking-7951]

How many jewish friends did you have in the 60s?

[@MarisaAndChew]

You "mildly toxic to pets" Me "hey cat, your not using these two shelves on your car condo right? Thanks!" Loads it up with toxic plants and halo grow lights The cat "welcome to my jungle!" She's even got a cactus... Oddly and happily, she only eats the plants that are not toxic, which means my point tail palm has a pixi cut...

[@BIGGERJ76420]

Left the video as soon as your WOKE was exposed.

[@AlohaPlantLife]

Good riddance👋