Wandering Jew Plant: Care, Growing Guide [Type of Tradescantia zebrina +FAQs]

Ben Broadby

Tradescantia zebrina, also known as Wandering Jew, spiderwort, or inch plant, is a creeping plant mainly utilized for ornamental purposes inside and outside of homes.

Table Of Contents

What is the wandering jew plant's name?

The wandering jew plant name is Tradescantia zebrina, Zebrina pendula is a common name for several species of plants in the Tradescantia genus, including: Silver leaf plant, Wandering Jew, and Flaming torch.

There are lots of types of Wandering Jew (or VARIETIES)


As a houseplant, it requires little care and grows rapidly. If you are considering cultivating the wandering Jew houseplant, here is a comprehensive guide to its care, including watering, pruning, and everything else.

Tradescantia zebrina is a well-known houseplant with a purple and silver striped appearance. Consequently, it is utilized for decorative purposes. It is a fast-growing plant that is simple to maintain if given the proper care. This post details everything you need to know about this houseplant.It includes directions on how to care for the wandering Jew houseplant after planting, including information on light, water, soil, fertilizer, repotting, trimming, and propagation. Read on to find out.


 Wandering Jew plant Care Guide and Propagation

After buying the plant, fill the pot you intend to plant it in with dirt. You can use a pot or a hanging basket. After putting the plant in the soil, move the pot or basket to a location in the filtered sun. Water the plant and make sure the soil is always moist. Here are some pointers on maintaining the plant.


Light

The houseplant wandering Jew prefers bright yet indirect sunlight. The Wandering Jew produces more blossoms when exposed to greater light, and its highly colored foliage begins to fade when not exposed to sufficient light.


Water

This houseplant should receive sufficient water, not so much that it becomes drenched, nor so little that it becomes dry. The goal is to keep the soil moist for the entire period of plant growth. Occasionally add water to ensure that the dirt in the pot absorbs all the water.


Soil

You can use a conventional potting mix for your wandering Jew, but they will do even better if you provide them with soil that has more organic material.

To create your own soil combination, combine the following in equal parts:

You're aiming for the ideal balance between water retention and drainage, so water the plant, see which direction the soil tends to go, and then adjust appropriately.


Fertilizer

Ensure that the utilized fertilizer is water-soluble. Utilize it a minimum of twice every month during the growing season.

Avoid nutrient burn on the foliage by diluting the solution to a 50% concentration.

Once a year, you can also apply a slow-release fertilizer to the soil.


Repotting

If your wandering Jew begins to feel cramped in its present pot, search for one that is a few inches wider.

Prepare your container by lining the sides with some new potting soil.

Remove the plant from its current container and place the root ball into the new one.

Add or remove dirt as needed to achieve the desired placement. Lightly compact the planting medium to secure the plant in place.


Pruning

As Wandering Jew plants have a propensity to become lanky, periodic trimming is required to maintain a healthy appearance.

Simply cut the stems back and pinch off the stem tips. The plant will send out two shoots from the area beneath the squeeze, making it bushier.


Propagation

The propagation of Wandering Jew is simple by stem cuttings. Therefore, do not discard stem cuttings when you prune your houseplant. Remove all but a few leaves from the stem cuttings and set them in a smaller container containing moist potting soil in a warm, bright location.

You'll start to see fresh shoots emerge after one to two months. The easiest to propagate houseplants are Wandering Jew plants.

As simple to care for as this plant is, it has its own obstacles in the form of pests and diseases. Some animals and humans have selective skin irritation, making it a hazard for walking.


Pests

Spider mites are the most prevalent pests you will encounter on wandering jew plants. They prefer warm, dry environments, so one approach to combat them is to maintain a high humidity level or spritz your wandering Jew plant.

In the event that this does not work, you can wash the plant with water to remove the mites. For much more severe infestations, you should eliminate affected areas and apply a systemic insecticide.


Diseases

The majority of ailments you will encounter are a result of overwatering. Root rot is a significant issue for the majority of houseplants and has two causes:


Things You Need To Know About wandering Jew (Tradescantia zebrina)

Does wandering Jew plant like sun or shade?

Wandering Jew Light Requirements They need a lot of light to maintain their bright colors, but direct sunlight will burn their leaves. If they don't get enough light, their leaves will start to fade and look dull.

Is wandering Jew an annual or perennial?

A popular houseplant, Tradescantia zebrina, is a trailing evergreen perennial with attractive, lance-shaped, green to purple leaves with two wide, silvery longitudinal stripes and the lower leaf surface is solid magenta.

How long do wandering Jew plants live?

Believe it or not, it's natual for your Tradescantia to become leggy and spindly after a few years. They're known to have a limited life span of just 24 to 40 months, so if this is the case, it's best to propagate as many stems as possible and discard the parent plant.

How to Grow Tradescantia Zebrina

  1. The potting mix used for these plants should have a large amount of well-draining soil.

  2. Hang it up in a hanging basket

  3. The plant needs plenty of indirect light to keep its stripes.

  4. Don't allow T. zebrina to get too dry between waterings.

  5. Feeding your plant food will give it a boost

  6. To encourage new, fuller growth of leggy stems, pinch the top back of each stem once a week for about five seconds.

  7. Grow more T.

Is Tradescantia zebrina poisonous?

Tradescantia zebrina is a type of Zebra Plant that is poisonous. This plant can cause hallucinations, numbness, weakness, and tingling sensations in the mouth and/or throat.

Where should a wandering Jew be placed?

Giving your plant enough sunlight will allow the plant to thrive. An eastern-facing windowsill is a good spot for Wandering Jew plants. They'll receive bright indirect light throughout the day, but watch to make sure the space doesn't become too hot in the afternoon.

We suggest you use gardens and hanging baskets for wandering Jew. They are easy to grow, do not require much water, and can be placed anywhere indoors.

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How to pinch wandering jew?

It is important to know how to trim them properly so that they don't die out because of over-trimming.

The most common way to trim a wandering jew plant is by pinching them off at the base with your thumb and forefinger. When you pinch it, some of the leaves will come off with it and some will remain on the stem.

To prune a wandering jew plant, pinch or trim off new growth as well as any thin, weak growth and dead leaves. You can also prune off the long tendrils if you prefer to keep the plant compact and thick.


Conclusion

The Wandering Jew plant is a relatively simple plant to grow and care for. In addition to simple maintenance and rapid growth, inch plants are elegant and attractive. It is a naturally creeping plant that requires sufficient sunshine, moisture, and well-drained soil. Fertilize it at least once each month, prune it, and propagate it, and your garden will soon be wonderfully landscaped.

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