Care Tips

Light, Soil, Humidity, Water, Temperature

tradescantia

WANDERING PLANTS, INCH PLANTS, SPIDER WORT

Tradescantia are extremely fast growing plants with colorful leaves, great for outdoor hanging baskets as long as they have some shade and the right temperatures.

There are over 80 different species. Amongst them are hardy, tropical, and desert general classifications; which indicate which environment the plant usually thrives in.

Tropical is the most common, grown in hanging baskets and requiring bright light but warm temperatures. These are great to decorate your shaded patio with during the late spring and summer, but they do best as houseplants.

Hardy tradescantia can mostly be planted in pots outside in a partially-shaded area. If mulched and protected from frost, they can come back every year. However, there are some varieties native to New Mexico that can survive down to -30°F in the ground.

Desert tradescantia are generally broken down further into desert and semi-hardy desert. They have fuzzy, thicker leaves to survive dryer conditions. Hardy versions can survive to 0°F

  • Tropical: 65-90°F

    Hardy: 30-85°F
    Hardy Native: -30-90°F

    Desert: 32-100°F+
    Hardy Desert Native: 0-110°F

  • Moderate preferred

  • Bright, indirect.
    All varieties need a little shade—tropical more than others.

  • When top 1 inch is dry, every 1-2 weeks. Less in Winter months. Tropical is drought-resistant like other varieties.

  • Light, well-draining, coarse

    Recommendations: Black Gold Cactus Mix, Perlite, Pumice, Zeolite, Lava rock, Chicken grit

  • Frequent pruning for indoor pots and hanging baskets

    Great beginner plant, especially for propagating. Propagates well in water.

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