There are a lot of showcase houseplants in this world which add beauty and calmness to a space. Among them, Wandering jew plants are some of the most attractive and unique houseplants. They have the ability to brighten and light the room with aesthetics. Besides that, they are also known as inch plants and wandering plants.
Likewise, the best thing about this plant family is that they are quick to grow and need minimum care. Hence, to know about its variety, growing conditions, pest diseases, and more, read this complete article.
What is Wandering Jew Plant?
Wandering jew plant is basically a type of plant genus known as “Tradescantia”. It consists of around 75 plants. These plants are also called inch plants or wandering plants in common language. They are houseplants which are used as hanging planters or floor space decoratives.
What makes them unique and attractive is their colorful appearance and fast growth rate. Along with that, some of the most popular and loved plants under this category include “Quicksilver”, “Tricolor”, “Purple Heart”, etc.
Also, they have beautiful leaves which are often found in colors including green, silver, purple, pink, etc. Aside from this, wandering jew plant care is also very easy and hassle-free which is another great reason to opt for this plant family. However, if you are a pet parent, make sure to choose the right wandering plant as some of them are toxic for animals.
Growing Conditions of Wandering Jew Plant
Wandering plants are no doubt very easy to grow. Beyond this, these beautiful plants still need some conditions to become healthy and live longer. Hence, to know about those basic conditions, read the below-shared points:
Soil
A soil mix which is good to hold moisture and eliminates extra water is optimal for these plants. In this case, making a pot mix which has coarse sand, peat moss, and garden soil will work great.
Sunlight
Wandering plants cannot tolerate direct sunlight for a maximum time, as this leads to fading of their leaves. Other than this, east or west-facing indirect or filtered sunlight is all they require to grow rapidly and stay fleshy.
Temperature
Room temperature which is between 60 degrees fahrenheit to 80 degrees fahrenheit is best suited for wandering plants. Besides this, during the winters or when the temperature falls down, make sure to keep them at a place which is warm and humid.
Water
Overwatering these plants is not suggested at all, as this can lead to the rotting of roots. Hence, to keep them happy and flourishing, first, let the top layer of soil dry and then water it enough to make the base wet. Moreover, minimal sprinkling of water on a daily basis will also work great.
Humidity
This type of plant family needs humidity around them to resemble their natural habitat in which they grow. For this, you can set up a humidifier in that space or put a bowl with water and pebbles around the pot. In addition to this, make sure to keep a check of proper ventilation otherwise it may cause pet issues.
Care and Maintenance of Wandering Jew Plant
Seeding the plant and giving it the required conditions for a while will not result in long-term green lush corners. Besides that, an individual has to make sure of proper inch plant care and maintenance to have happy and healthy plants forever. Hence, some of the most effective tips for this are as follows:
Cutting
Regular trimming of the wendring plant will prohibit healthy growth. Hence, make sure to use sharp and clean scissors to trim the plant. Moreover, this process should be done during the early summer or spring season to get the best results.
Fertilization
Giving organic fertilization to these plants is necessary. Hence, make sure to use well balanced and water soluble fertilizers. They are easily available in the market or you can make your own at home. Furthermore, the appropriate time to fertilize the plants is during the spring and summer season. In addition, make sure to stop or minimize fertilizing during the winters and falls.
Replanting
Repotting such plants is very important. Hence, you need to transfer the plant every year to a pot that is at least one size bigger than the previous one. Doing this process during the spring season works best.
Different Varieties of Wandering Jew Plant
The wandering plant is not an individual plant as it is a plant family that has a number of plants under it. In conclusion, to know about the varieties of wandering plants read the below-shared points:
Tradescantia Fluminensis: This is one of the most common and highly liked inch plants. This plant has very dark green leaves and three petaled white flowers which make the space bright and calm.
Tradescantia zebrina: The name of this plant variety is based on zebra. It has dark purple shiny leaves with creamy white color strips. Additionally, the tip of the leaves are silver in color.
Tradescantia pallida: This wandering plant has a dark purple color. Along with that, its special element is its pink-colored flower.
Does The Wandering Jew Plant Suffer From Common Pests and Plant Diseases?
Yes, of course! All pants have a risk of pests and diseases. For instance, spider mites commonly infect such plants because they prefer warm and dry surroundings. Therefore, to stay away from such issues, misting water or keeping the humidity high will give great results.
Besides this, you can also wash off the plant within a fixed period of time to eliminate mites. Other than this, Aphids are also another pest which sucks up the health of this plant.
Aside from this, the most common diseases that occur in such plants is due to overwatering. To overcome this, you should add pebbles to the base of the pot so that drainage becomes easy and smooth. Besides this, the other disease that occurs in such plants is fungal issues. In this, the leaf develops spots, dies, or collects a powdery substance.
Conclusion
In this blog post, we talked about various aspects of wandering jew plants. Ranging from its care and maintenance to variety and risks, we covered everything in this article. This aesthetic plant adds charm to the space with very minimum efforts. I hope the page helped you with the required information.
FAQs
How long do wandering plants live?
Plants like these live for a few years if given proper care and maintenance.
What does a wandering jew plant look like?
The inch plant has fleshy and shiny leaves. They display colors including dark green, dark purple, white, and silver.
How to propagate wandering jew plants in water?
For propagating the wandering plant, first cut the stem into 6-inch size. Cut the node as well. Secondly, put the cut stem into water and set it in such a way that it stays submerged. In addition to this, change the water on a weekly basis and wait until roots come out of it. Thus, once done, transplant it into the soil.
Can I keep my wandering jew plant outdoors?
Yes, you can keep such plants outdoors as well, but make sure the sunlight is not harsh or direct. Also, the weather should not be too cold or too hot.
What are the signs that my wandering jew plant needs more sunlight?
Discoloration of the leaves, slow growth rate, and excessively falling leaves are some of the signs that states that such plants need sunlight to become healthy again.
