Why tradescantia dries from the root. Tradescantia is an unpretentious indoor and garden plant. What does the plant look like
Tradescantia is a genus of herbaceous plants of the Kommelinov family, which consists of thirty species and is successfully grown when cared for at home and in open ground in our latitudes. These are perennial flowers with curly shoots and alternate leaves, the shape of which differs in different species.
Tradescantia blooms both in garden cultivation and indoors. The color of flowers does not match in all species, but it often happens with a purple tint. But it can have different tones depending on the growing conditions. In the ground, the plant reaches half a meter in height.
Tradescantia is quite poisonous, so after touching it, you need to wash your hands with soap and water. In culture, quite a few species are grown.
Types of Tradescantia photos and names
- the shoots of this species are creeping, and the leaves are oval elongated, green in color, but there is also a variegated variety. Inflorescences are small, white in color. Different varieties of this species have various interesting variegated coloration.
- creeping stems of this species have a reddish color. The underside of the leaf is purple. Inflorescences are pink-white, sepals are purple. There is also a variegated variety, in which the leaves are decorated with yellow lines.
- the common name for hybrid varieties derived from the virgin species. Purple lanceolate leaves, flowers of different colors form umbellate inflorescences.
- has straight, branched shoots that grow above 50 cm. The leaves are long, lanceolate. Flowers are purple with a pink tint. There are varieties with a different color of inflorescences.
Or hanging - has red stems, leaves about ten centimeters long, oval in shape. The leaf is decorated with a pair of silver lines. Purple inflorescences.
Also called myrtle - stems are scarlet-purple with a green tint, creeping. The leaves are rounded, small. There are variegated striped varieties.
- densely covered with white fluff, which serves to protect from the bright sun, so this species must be placed in brightly lit places, otherwise the fluff will disappear.
one of the smallest species. The leaves are small, green in color, covered with small dark spots.
Or veiled - bears xiphoid olive-colored leaves. Forms a not very large bush. Mostly distributed as a potted flower. You will find detailed information on growing and caring for a reo flower at home here.
Tradescantia pale or purple , is actually a plant of a different species. This is which is confused with Tradescantia. This plant has very long shoots that grow up to a meter. Leaves with a purple tint, slightly covered with fluff below, purple. It has small pink flowers.
Tradescantia home care
Indoor tradescantia should be placed in places with bright diffused lighting. In general, it withstands direct sunlight well, but during the hours of sunshine it is better to hide the flower in order to avoid burns.
Variegated tradescantia require more light, as the leaves may lose their color. Shade is best maintained by white-flowered tradescantia.
In a hot period, it is impossible for the temperature to exceed 25 degrees, and in winter 12, but if the temperature is slightly higher in winter, then this will not harm the plant either.
During the spring-summer period, tradescantia must be constantly well watered, only so that the water does not stagnate in a container with a plant. Irrigation liquid is needed settled, preferably rain. Watering should be done after a couple of days, after the substrate has dried in a pot.
In winter, watering should be reduced and it should be done only when all the soil is dry. You can not keep this plant without moisture for too long, it is very sensitive to this and may die. In the hot summer, tradescantia will not interfere with spraying.
Fertilizer is performed every fifteen days, alternating organic and mineral top dressing. Please note that in perstroleaf varieties, organic fertilizers affect the color of the leaves. It is not necessary to fertilize the flower in autumn and winter.
In order for Tradescantia to look beautiful, it needs to be trimmed a little annually, pinched and replanted. Transplantation is carried out simultaneously with pruning. For young plants, this procedure is annual, for old ones it is performed every couple of years. Drainage is essential when planting.
The soil can be made from two parts of leafy soil, one each of turf and humus, as well as half a part of sand. But you can buy special soil in the store.
Garden tradescantia planting and care
For growing garden tradescantia, you need to choose a slightly shady area, preferably next to a pond. The soil needs a weak acidity, fertile.
A garden flower also requires watering, especially in the heat, but waterlogging the soil is fraught with the formation of rot. With the advent of autumn, moisture is stopped.
For the first time, tradescantia is fertilized with the removal of snow with complex mineral fertilizer. Further feeding is carried out as for an indoor flower.
But if the soil is fertile enough and contains clay, then the first couple of years the fertilizer can be completely omitted.
At the end of autumn, fading flowers are removed and the area is mulched with peat, and it is also insulated.
How to propagate tradescantia at home
Reproduction of room tradescantia is carried out in such ways.
The seed method is used in early spring. Seeds are sown in peat mixed with sand and create greenhouse conditions for them. The temperature required for germination fluctuates around 20 degrees. From time to time it is necessary to carry out airing and spraying seedlings. Flowering of such tradescantias will begin only after three years.
Propagation by cuttings does not depend on the season. Cut stems more than 10 cm long, five copies are planted in containers with soil made of sand and a mixture of humus soil with compost (in equal shares).
The temperature for growing cuttings is about 18 degrees. Rooting takes place in the first week after planting. Decorative species take root longer.
Reproduction by division of the rhizome is carried out during transplantation.
Tradescantia garden reproduction
For garden tradescantia, dividing the bush is also the easiest type of reproduction. In early spring, you just need to divide the bush and plant the parts.
For propagation by cuttings, material with internodes is taken. In June, the cuttings are cut off and the lower leaves are removed from them, and then they are simply planted in the ground. By autumn, the plant will already grow a little. You can also plant cuttings for a couple of weeks in a greenhouse.
To grow tradescantia for a garden from seeds, they are sown before winter, and in the spring, when there are no more frosts, they dive into the ground.
But some species of Tradescantia, and especially Virginian, reproduce well by self-sowing. It is better to remove sluggish flowers, as you can get an excessive amount of plant bushes all over the garden.
Diseases and pests
- Tradescantia leaves turn yellow if it lacks moisture.
- If the air humidity is too low the tips of the leaves begin to dry out .
- Too long shoots and few leaves indicate a lack of light.
- If the leaves turn black , then perhaps this is a defeat by rot.
- In open ground, the plant may suffer from aphids and slugs .
- Before winter, the flower begins to lose its decorative appearance. Its shoots become long and its leaves dry . To rejuvenate a flower, transplant.
- No flowering most often happens due to excessive fertilization with organic top dressing.
Genus Tradescantia ( Tradescantia) has about 70 species of plants from the Commeline family ( Commelinaceae). They are perennial evergreen herbaceous plants. The natural range of Tradescantia is located in the tropical and temperate zones of America and stretches from northern Argentina to southern Canada. The name "tradescantia" appeared in the 18th century and came from the name of the gardener of the English king Charles I, John Tradescant (senior), who described this plant. Among the people, tradescantia is known as "women's gossip" (however, like saxifrage). Perfectly cleans the air in the room.
Tradescantia Anderson ‘Osprey’ (Tradescantia x andersoniana). © Wouter Hagens Content:
Description of Tradescantia
The shoots of Tradescantia are creeping or straight. Leaves elliptic, ovate, lanceolate, alternate. Inflorescences are axillary, located in the axils of the upper leaves and apical.
Tradescantia are one of the most common and easy to care for indoor ampelous plants. The dense green of the shoots of the plant is quite easy to obtain by pinching, which enhances branching.
In rooms, tradescantia should be placed so that its long creeping shoots can hang freely. They are placed in hanging vases, planters or placed on shelves, tall furniture. Tradescantia blooms well in room conditions. Bluish or blue-violet flowers appear at the ends of long stems. Varieties of Tradescantia Anderson and Virginskaya are used for open ground in middle lane Russia.
Tradescantia contains a complex of nutrients and medicinal substances. Aquarists put a pot with a young tradescantia on the glass lying on the sides of the aquarium, and the growing stems of the plant soon descend into the water and form a beautiful green mat on its surface.
Tradescantia purifies and humidifies the air in the room, neutralizes electromagnetic radiation.
Tradescantia Anderson. © John Brandauer
Features of growing tradescantia
Bloom: depending on the species - from spring to autumn.
Light: bright diffused. Can tolerate direct sunlight (in limited quantities). Green-leaved forms tolerate shading.
Temperature: in the spring-summer period in the region of 18-25 ° С. In autumn and winter, it prefers cool conditions (12-16 ° C), however, it can tolerate warmer conditions.
Watering: plentiful, as the top layer of the substrate dries up, in spring and summer. Moderate watering in autumn and winter.
Air humidity: does not play a significant role. In the summer it is recommended to spray.
top dressing: in spring and summer at least 2 times a month with organic and complex mineral fertilizers. Variegated forms should not be fed with organic fertilizers. In autumn and winter - no fertilizing.
pruning: Tradescantia stems tend to be exposed, so their timely pruning and pinching helps to form the desired shape of the plant.
rest period: not expressed. Tradescantia Virginia and Tradescantia Anderson have a pronounced dormant period in the autumn-winter period.
Transfer: young plants once a year, adults after 2-3 years, in spring, combined with pruning of long shoots.
reproduction: seeds, cuttings or dividing the bush.
Tradescantia zebra-shaped, or hanging. Zebrina (Tradescantia zebrina). © Mokkie
Tradescantia Care
Tradescantia develops better in places with bright diffused light (although it can withstand direct sunlight), but can also tolerate partial shade. Best Places for cultivation - at windows facing west or east, they can grow at the north window, shading is required at the south window in summer. Variegated forms need more light. In low light, variegated forms lose their color, often turn green, and vice versa - they are painted very intensely and variegated on a sunny window. With an excess of direct sunlight, tradescantia leaves can burn out. The most shade-tolerant tradescantia is white-flowered.
For the summer, indoor tradescantia can be taken out to a balcony protected from the wind and direct sun or planted in the garden (but you need to remember that tradescantia is very fond of slugs, and aphids can attack it).
Tradescantia grows well both in warm (with an average temperature of 25 ° C) and in cool rooms (where in winter the temperature can fluctuate in the range of 12-16 ° C). The plant normally tolerates a warmer wintering.
Tradescantia needs abundant watering in the spring and summer, while the water should not stagnate in a pot. Water a day or two after the top layer of the earth dries out. In winter, the substrate is maintained in a moderately wet state. Watered two to three days after the top layer of the substrate has dried. Need to follow all year round so that water does not accumulate in the pan. Half an hour after watering, the unabsorbed water from the pan must be drained, the pan should be wiped dry with a cloth. Watering is done with soft, well-settled water.
Feed during the growing season (spring and summer) at least 2 times a month with organic and complex mineral fertilizers. Variegated forms should not be fed with organic fertilizers; this may cause the original color of the leaves to be lost. Do not feed in autumn and winter.
A feature of room tradescantia is rapid aging, growth and loss of decorativeness: the leaves at the base of the stems dry out, the shoots become bare. To rejuvenate the plant, annual short pruning, pinching of shoots and transplanting the plant into fresh ground are practiced.
Plants are transplanted in the spring, young once a year, adults after 2-3 years, combined with pruning of long shoots. The substrate is humus, closer to neutral (pH 5.5-6.5). The plant grows well in a mixture of 2 parts of deciduous, 1 part of turf and humus soil with a small addition of sand. Ready-made soil for Tradescantia is on sale. The bottom of the pot needs good drainage.
Tradescantia navicularis (Tradescantia navicularis). © LucaLuca
Reproduction of tradescantia
Tradescantia easily propagates vegetatively - the bush can be divided from spring to mid-August. It should be borne in mind that when digging out its powerful root system will inevitably be damaged. When planting, the long roots of the delenki are cut to 15 cm. At the same time, the aerial part of the delenka is also cut off, otherwise it will not take root.
If you divide the bush at the beginning of the season, the plant easily restores the root system and takes root quickly. In July-August, especially in hot weather, rooting divisions should be shaded and even covered for two weeks - with a micro-greenhouse or a piece of covering material.
Tradescantia also reproduces well by stem cuttings with two or three internodes. Covered with a film, they take root perfectly in 2-3 weeks and winter in the ground. If there are no severe frosts in autumn and winter, cuttings overwinter, rooted even at the end of August.
In the conditions of central Russia, the seeds of Tradescantia have time to ripen, and they often self-sow. And although at seed propagation varietal characteristics of plants are not preserved, you can get seedlings with beautiful flowers of various colors.
Tradescantia Anderson ‘Zwanenburg Blue’. © Henryr10
Types of tradescantia
Tradescantia Anderson (Tradescantia x andersoniana)
Under this name, complex garden hybrids are combined with the participation of Tradescantia virginiana (Tradescantia virginiana). This should also include most of the hybrid forms and varieties cultivated under this name.
Plant 30-80 cm tall with erect, branched, angular stems, leafy along the entire length. Leaves linear-lanceolate, purple-green. The flowers are flat, purple, blue, pink or white, collected in an umbrella-shaped inflorescence. Bloom from June to September. Has many varieties.
The best varieties:
- J. G. Weguelin - flowers are large, bright, sky blue.
- Iris - deep blue flowers.
- Purewell Giant - carmine red flowers.
- Leonora - purple-blue flowers.
- Osprey - white flowers.
Tradescantia virginiana ( Tradescantia virginiana)
The homeland of the plant is the southeastern regions of North America. Perennial plant with upright, branched knotty stems 50-60 cm tall. The leaves are linear-lanceolate, up to 20 cm long, with a small sheath covering the stem. The flowers are three-petaled, pink-violet, up to 4 cm in diameter, numerous, collected in umbellate inflorescences at the top of the stems, under which there are two large, keeled bracts. Blooms from early July to August for 60-70 days. The fruit is a capsule opening with longitudinal valves. Can be used as a hardy ground perennial.
Tradescantia virginiana (Tradescantia virginiana). © Fritzflohrreynolds
It has varieties:
- Coerulea - blue flowers.
- Rubra - red flowers.
- Atrorubra - blood red flowers.
- Rosea - pink flowers.
Most of the forms and varieties indicated in the catalogs under the name Tradescantia virginiana are correctly attributed to Tradescantia Anderson ( Tradescantia x andersoniana).
Tradescantia white-flowered ( Tradescantia albiflora)
Synonyms: referred to in literature as Tradescantia tricolor ( Tradescantia tricolor C.B.Clarke), Tradescantia uridis ( Tradescantia uiridishort.).
The plant is native to Tropical South America. Creeping shoots. The leaves are oblong-broadly ovate, 4-6 cm long and 2-2.5 cm wide, pointed at the apex, glabrous on both sides, green or silvery-variegated, glossy. Inflorescences are apical, sometimes axillary. The flowers are small, white; bracts are white.
In culture, there are several varieties and varieties:
- Albovittata - with white stripes on the leaves.
- Tricolor - with white and pinkish-lilac stripes on the leaves.
- Aurea - with green stripes on yellow leaves.
- Aureovittata - leaves on top with longitudinal golden yellow stripes.
Tradescantia Blossfeld ( Tradescantia blossfeldiana)
The plant is native to Argentina. Perennial herbaceous semi-succulent plant with creeping and ascending greenish-red stems. The leaves are alternate, sessile, with tubular sheaths, oblong or elliptical, with a sharp or pointed apex, 4-8 cm long, 1-3 cm wide, dark green above with a slight reddish tint, purple below. Leaves below, leaf sheaths and stems under the nodes are densely pubescent with long white erect hairs.
Tradescantia Blossfeldiana (Tradescantia blossfeldiana). © Tig
Flowers on long, densely pubescent pedicels in paired curls at the ends of the shoots and in the axils of the upper leaves. Inflorescences below are surrounded by two leaf-shaped bracts of unequal size. Sepals 3, they are free, purple, densely pubescent. Petals 3, free, white in the lower half, bright pink above. The filaments in the lower third are pubescent with long white hairs.
If the leaves have wide few yellow stripes, and the two adjacent right leaves will have similar patterns (the neighboring left ones have the same pattern, although they differ from the right ones in the pattern), then this is the Variegata form. With insufficient lighting, inept cuttings or pruning, beautiful stripes on the leaves may disappear.
Tradescantia hairy ( Tradescantia pilosa)
Tradescantia hairy - distinguished by erect stems and elongated leaves with dense white pubescence. Flowers lilac-pink.
Hairy tradescantia (Tradescantia pilosa). © Jason Hollinger
Tradescantia zebra ( Tradescantia zebrina)
Synonym: Hanging Tradescantia ( Tradescantia pendulus a), Zebrina hanging ( Zebrina pendula). Shoots creeping or hanging down, glabrous, often reddish. The leaves are oblong-ovate, 8-10 cm long, 4-5 cm wide, the upper surface is green with two silvery-white stripes along the leaf. The underside of the leaf is red in color. The flowers are small, purple or violet.
Tradescantia navicular ( Tradescantia navicularis)
The plant is native to Mexico and Peru. Succulent plants with creeping bare shoots. The leaves are ovate, boat-shaped, small, 4-2 cm long and up to 1 cm wide, thick, pointed, keeled below, densely dotted with purple dots, ciliate at the edges. Apical inflorescence. Flowers with pink petals. Highly ornamental ampelous plant.
Tradescantia motley ( Tradescantia multicolor)
Tradescantia variegated has dense, small, green leaves with white and pink stripes. Very decorative densely growing look.
Tradescantia riverine, or myrtle-leaved ( Tradescantia fluminensis)
The plant is native to Brazil. Shoots creeping, purple-red, in green spots. Leaves ovate, 2-2.5 cm long and 1.5-2 cm wide, dark green above, lilac-red below, smooth on both sides; petiole is short.
Commonly grown forms are Variegata (i.e. variegated) with frequent cream stripes and Quicksilver with white stripes.
Tradescantia riverine, or myrtle-leaved (Tradescantia fluminensis). © John Tann
Precautionary measures: whole plant tradescantia pale ( Tradescantia pallida) is slightly toxic and may cause skin inflammation.
Diseases and pests of tradescantia
Pests love Tradescantia. It can be affected by aphids, whiteflies, thrips, spider mites, and mealybugs.
Spider mites appear when conditions are too dry. The leaves wither and eventually fall off, a web is visible on the stem. The plant must be treated with soapy water, rinsed with warm water. Spray regularly.
The scale or false scale sucks the cell sap from the plant, the leaves turn pale, dry, fall off. Dark gray or dark brown plaques are visible on leaves and trunks. First you need to mechanically clean off the pests using a soapy solution, then treat with an insecticide such as Actellik or Fitoverm.
If the leaves of the plant are small, pale and elongated, it may be time to rejuvenate the plant, or the plant is too dark. Move it closer to the light.
If the tips of the leaves are brown and dry, it means that the air in the room is too dry. Regular spraying should be carried out and the plant should be removed away from heaters and radiators. Or perhaps the plant is not watered enough. Increase watering.
The faded color of variegated species is most likely the consequences of a lack of light, move Tradescantia to a brighter place.
If the shoots at the base are softened and darkened, then, perhaps, water stagnates in the pot, the stem began to rot. Cut it off and root it.
Tradescantia is able to surprise anyone with its unpretentiousness and beauty!
1. Growing temperature: in spring and summer, normal room temperature ranging from 18 to 22 ° C is suitable for keeping, in winter a cool dormant period is needed at a temperature of - 10 - 12 ° C. |
2. Lighting: shading from direct sunlight only during the daytime in spring and summer, sunbathing is required in the morning and evening for several hours daily. The brighter the leaves of a flower are colored, the more sunlight it needs. |
3. Watering and humidity: Let the top layer of soil dry a few centimeters deep between waterings during the warm season and reduce the frequency of watering according to the room temperature in autumn and winter. Air humidity is increased only during hot summer hours. |
4. pruning: sanitary - removal of old and diseased shoots, pinching out fading buds in order to maintain an attractive appearance. Formative pruning maintains a compact flower shape and rejuvenates plants. |
5. Priming: Tradescantia adapts well to most types of soil, but nutritious, loose substrates are preferred. |
6. top dressing: in spring and summer, they are fed every 2 weeks with complex mineral fertilizers, applying them directly to the soil. The frequency of top dressing in the winter months is reduced to 1 time per month. |
7. reproduction: by seeds or stem cuttings in spring and summer, by dividing large plants when transplanting in spring, by air layering. |
botanical name: Tradescantia.
Tradescantia flower - family . Commeline.
plant homeland. The bush originates from Mexico.
Description. The tradescantia genus consists of about 65 plant species. Tradescantia may have creeping stems or form basal rosettes of leaves.
Leaves sessile or on very short petioles, oblong-lanceolate or elliptical. The leaf arrangement is alternate. Leaf colors include green, dark green, purple, burgundy, white. The underside of the leaf blade is often colored in a contrasting shade. Variegated varieties have longitudinal contrasting stripes.
flowers small, inconspicuous, white, pink or lilac, with 3 triangular petals, solitary or in few-flowered inflorescences, located on the tops of the shoots.
Interestingly, after flowering, the plants form lateral shoots at the site of the inflorescence.
Height. Tradescantia homea reaches 30 - 60 cm. The final dimensions will depend on the conditions of detention and the characteristics of the variety.
2. Outdoor cultivation
In open ground, tradescantia is kept as an annual plant or taken for wintering in a warm room.
For landing, a location protected from direct sunlight during the daytime is selected, which, moreover, will be protected from strong gusts of wind.
The landing is carried out in the second half of May- early June, when the night frosts recede.
For placement, a small plot of land is prepared, which is carefully dug up and weeds are removed.
After loosening, they dig small planting holes, at the bottom of which you can place a small drainage layer in the form of coarse river sand or fine expanded clay.
On the drainage layer, you can put a small amount of humus, well-rotted horse or cow manure.
Too heavy, clay soil is ennobled by the addition of organic matter and sand to improve drainage.
Bushes are placed in planting holes at the same depth on which they were in pots and sprinkled with earth in a circle.
After planting, the substrate around Tradescantia is rammed.
Further care for planted plants will consist of timely watering, fertilizing, loosening and weeding.
Plants can't stand frost, so in the autumn months it is better to bring them indoors.
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3. Tradescantia care at home
3.1.Ground
For growing Tradescantia any will do well-drained soil containing organics.
As a basis for the mixture, you can use such light components as leafy and soddy soil, as well as humus and garden soil.
Add perlite or coarse sand to the soil to improve drainage - the earth should easily pass moisture and air to the roots of the plant.
3.2. Reproduction of tradescantia
Reproduction of the bush is usually quite easy - even a small shoot or cutting is able to form an attractive, beautiful plant over time.
- Tradescantia most often propagates vegetatively - by apical cuttings, in spring and summer.
- Cuttings 10 - 15 cm long are separated from the mother plant with a pruner.
- Rooting occurs easily and quickly in a mixture of peat and wet sand or in ordinary water - within 2 - 3 weeks.
- Remember that a cutting placed in an opaque container of water will root faster than a cutting rooted in a clear glass.
- Plants rooted in water are planted in the substrate when the roots reach a length of 1 - 2 cm.
- When planted, such flowers delay their development, as the root system adapts to new conditions of existence.
In order for the bushes to appear lush and thick, it is worth planting 5-7 cuttings in one pot.
Some varieties divide into several parts when transplanting, in the spring. The rhizomes of these plants cut cut into pieces with a sharpened and sterilized knife.
When dividing, it is necessary to ensure that each division receives a well-developed root system and a ground part.
The wound surface remaining during division is sprinkled with crushed charcoal powder or simple ash - this will dry and disinfect the surface.
After planting in separate containers, watering begins only after a few days, so that the roots disturbed by division do not begin to rot.
lodging stems tradescantia easily take root on one's own in contact with the ground - this property is used for reproduction air layers.
- For such reproduction, next to the pots in which the mother plant is located, they put another small pot of soil.
- Long stems are taken to this container, pinned to the surface of the earth and lightly sprinkled with the substrate, leaving the top of the shoot above the soil surface.
- The soil in a layered pot is gently and regularly moistened with a spray bottle.
- After some time, roots appear in the leaf node of such layering.
The successful completion of the rooting process will be indicated by the appearance of new, young leaves and shoots.
Still through 2 - 3 weeks after the appearance of new growth, the layers can be completely separated from the mother bush.
Another method of reproduction is seed However, in relation to tradescantia, this method is rarely used, since cuttings, division and air layering will still be the most successful and fastest.
Seed propagation is more suitable for experienced and curious flower growers, who will be interested in observing the entire process of plant development from the very beginning.
- Fresh seeds are sown in spring on the surface of a well-moistened, loose and nutritious substrate, consisting of a mixture of peat and river sand, taken in equal amounts.
- A container with seedlings is placed in a warm (about 20 degrees Celsius) and protected from direct sunlight.
- To maintain optimal high level moisture container with seedlings cover the top with glass or transparent plastic wrap.
- Every day, the seedlings are aired, removing the shelter and removing the accumulated condensate from it.
- With the advent of the first sprouts, which can be seen within 7 - 10 days, the shelter is removed.
- The first pick into separate, small cups is carried out with the appearance of the first 2 - 3 true leaves.
- They begin to feed the picked plants after another 2-3 weeks, using a very weak solution of mineral fertilizers for ornamental leafy plants.
In tradescantia, obtained from seeds, the first buds will appear only in the third year of life.
3.3. How to prune and grow tradescantia
Caring for tradescantia is not difficult. Proper formation of the crown of this perennial will help to end up with a compact and dense plant. In addition, regular pruning can rejuvenate plants, which over time lose the lower leaves and expose the stems.
Pinch the apical buds of young shoots to form lateral shoots. Pruning is carried out with a sharply sharpened, sterile tool.
If shoots with green leaves appear on varieties with variegated leaves, they should be removed immediately.
Take out indoor flowers to fresh air in the warm season, taking care of shelter from strong winds, direct sunlight and rain. Tradescantia especially dislikes strong gusts of wind.
Since the plants do not tolerate frost, they should be brought into the house for the winter.
Do not put flower pots near heaters during the winter months and under air conditioning in the summer.
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3.4. How to transplant a houseplant
Tradescantia at home love a little cramped conditions, so take your time to change the size of the pot.
Transplant spring, with the beginning of new growth, this procedure is usually carried out simultaneously with pruning.
Young bushes are planted annually in a larger pot, but adult specimens can only be transplanted every 2 - 3 years.
Pot for tradescantia should have large drainage holes.The plant has a very modest root system and should be planted rather in shallow, wide bowls.
Instead of transplanting, it is better to use gentle transshipment, transferring the plant to a new container along with the old clod of earth without destroying it. Such a procedure will be less traumatic for the root system of the flower.
- Before planting, a drainage layer is laid out on the bottom of the pot in the form of broken bricks, expanded clay, river pebbles or crushed stone. Also, it would be nice to use fragments of clay pots as a drainage layer.
- The drainage layer is sprinkled on top with a small layer of substrate and a bush is placed in the center of the pot.
- Along the perimeter, tradescantia is sprinkled with fresh earth mixture, which, after planting, is tamped with fingertips to remove air pockets.
If there are signs of decay of the root system and the plant does not look very healthy, then it is worth holding transplant with complete soil replacement.
To do this, the plant is taken out of the old pot and the roots are carefully shaken off the old soil, then they are carefully examined, rotten and old roots are cut with a sharp pruner.
Planting of such plants is carried out only in fresh and well-sterilized soil, since pathogens may remain in the old mixture.
In general, Tradescantia is very easily tolerates a transplant and easily recovers after it and continues to develop.
3.5. Diseases and pests of tradescantia
Even for this widespread and unpretentious flower, there is a certain agricultural technique, the violation of which will lead to various diseases.
- An excess of nutrients in the soil is harmful to varieties with variegated leaves - they fade.
- The tips of the leaves dry out and turn brown when the air humidity is low.
- With a lack of lighting, the plants become elongated and pale, the internodes lengthen, and the leaf blades become smaller.
- Variegated varieties in low light can become just green.
- With stagnant moisture and insufficient drainage, the plants rot.
- With a lack of light on the shoots will form less leaves, the internodes will become longer.
- fades with insufficient watering, its leaf blades lose turgor.
- Fungal diseases appear when the bushes are kept in too cool and humid conditions, as well as in case of insufficient air movement.
- does not grow- in the winter months, when kept cool and in low light, plants can really stop their development.
- Leaf blades become small with a lack of nutrients in the substrate, as well as when grown in direct sunlight.
From insect pests the plant can be attacked by spider mites, aphids, whiteflies, thrips and scale insects.
Insects - pests
insect name | Signs of infection | Control measures |
Small bright dots on leaf blades, yellowing and falling leaves. Disturbed white, small butterflies take off from the surface of the leaves | Chemicals: Zeta, Rovikurt, INTA-VIR, Fufanol and even Karbofos, Aktellik, Aktara, Confidor, Commander, Tanrek. Folk remedies : soap solution, garlic solution, yarrow and tobacco infusion, dandelion infusion, sticky traps for adult insects | |
Inconspicuous cobwebs on the leaves, yellowing and falling of foliage with extensive damage. The surface of the leaf plates becomes dead and covered with small cracks. Plant development slows down. | Folk ways . Plants can be washed in the shower and left in the bathroom in a humid atmosphere for half an hour. Irradiation with an ultraviolet lamp every week for 2 minutes. Chemicals based on pyrethrum, sulfur powders, Fitoverm, Aktellik. | |
Sticky droplets appear on the leaf blades, leaf blades curl and deform, tender buds and young leaves wither. On the tops of the shoots, buds or the underside of the leaf plates, insect colonies can be seen. The flowers of an aphid-infested plant may become misshapen. | Folk ways: nettle infusion, decoction of rhubarb leaves, wormwood, soap solution, tobacco and dandelion infusion, onion, marigold, yarrow, tansy, dusting with virgin ash. Chemicals: Sulfur powders, treatment with green potassium soap of green mass without getting into the ground, Decis, Aktellik, Fitoverm. | |
The appearance of yellow spots on the leaf plates, small brown dots can be observed on the underside of the leaves. When spreading, pests cause the leaves to turn yellow, dry and fall off. | Folk ways. Increase the humidity of the air, wipe the surface of the leaves with soapy water to reduce the number of pests. Preparations based on pyrethrum - 2-fold treatment with an interval of 7-10 days, spraying with tobacco infusion, infusion of yarrow or Persian chamomile, decoction of cyclamen tubers. Chemicals: dusting with sulfur powders, the use of anabasin - sulfate in a soapy solution. | |
Shield and false shield | Sticky droplets on the leaves, yellow small spots on the surface of the leaf blades. With a large spread of scale insects, they contribute to the drying and falling of leaves. Flowers slow down | Folk methods fight. Spraying with soapy-alcohol solution. Scale insect larvae do not like garlic infusion, they also use pyrethrum-based products. Chemicals. Fitoverm, Aktellik, Fufanon. |
3.6. Flowering time
Flowering may come in any season, however, it will be most abundant in summer. Since the plant is kept in the overwhelming majority of cases as an ornamental leaf, the buds that appear can be pinched so that the bush does not waste energy on the formation of flowers.
3.7. Watering
The substrate must be evenly moist spring and summer, when the plants are actively developing. Immerse the Tradescantia pot for a few minutes in a large container of water and allow excess moisture to drain.
After each watering, drain excess moisture from the pan under the pot.
In autumn and winter, the frequency of watering is reduced slightly, drying the ground to a depth 1 - 2 cm. before each subsequent watering.
If the plant is given a dormant period in a cool room, then watering should become so rare as to simply prevent the earthen clod from completely drying out.
Especially often small, young Tradescantia need regular watering, adults will endure short-term drying out more easily.
For irrigation use only well maintained for at least a day room temperature water. You can also water the flower with filtered or bottled drinking water.
3.8.Features of cultivation - fertilizer
From spring to autumn feed complex fertilizers every 2 weeks.
In autumn and winter, the frequency of top dressing is reduced to 1 time per month or stopped altogether until spring. Resume fertilization only in the spring, with the appearance of the first signs of new growth.
Green-leaved species respond positively to both mineral, so on organic fertilizers, variegated varieties are best fed with mineral ones.For green Tradescantia, the most successful will be alternation organic and mineral fertilizers.
Excess organic matter in the soil in which the variegated plant is grown will lead to a loss in the brightness of the leaf plates.
Top dressing with a high nitrogen content enhances the growth of green mass, but the leaves lose turgor and become soft.
Make a nutrient solution only in moist soil, after abundant watering. The ingress of fertilizers in dry soil on the root system of the plant can cause a burn.
3.9 Content temperature
Tradescantia plants thermophilic and kept at a temperature 20 - 24 °C during the whole year. In the winter months, the temperature of the content should be slightly lowered, as there is not enough lighting and the shoots will become elongated.
If you use artificial lighting, then a dormant period when growing a flower is not necessary.
Plants do not tolerate temperatures as low as 10°C.
3.10. How to spray tradescantia
When the central heating is turned on or the temperature is elevated, the air in the room becomes too dry and the plants will need high humidity.
Place Tradescantia on a tray of damp pebbles or use a room humidifier. When growing on a tray, make sure the water level is always below the bottom of the pot.
Spray you can in the morning with water at room temperature, not forgetting good air movement. Spraying is carried out in the morning, so that moisture droplets have time to evaporate from the surface of the leaf plates before dusk and do not cause decay.
Also, to increase the humidity of the air, you can use a room humidifier or any vessel filled with water and placed next to the plants.
You can also increase the humidity of the air simply by grouping several plants in a limited space.
Do not spray tradescantia such as cyanotis or tradescation sillamontana- fluffy pubescence on the leaves can retain moisture droplets, which will cause rot.
Spraying is also undesirable for tradescantia navicular- it belongs to succulent plants and will be content with the usual dry atmosphere of living quarters.
Place the plants in a room that will ventilate regularly, but do not expose tradescantia to cold drafts.
In the warm season, plants can bathe under the shower with water temperature 35 - 40 degrees Celsius. For the duration of the procedure, do not forget to cover the soil in the pot with plastic wrap - this will save the earthen ball from erosion.
After taking a shower, the plant is still on 20 - 30 minutes leave in the humid atmosphere of the bathroom.
Such procedures help not only to clean the leaf blades from dust, but also help prevent the invasion of harmful insects, such as spider mites.
3.11 Lighting
green-leaved species of this indoor flower can grow in shading, but variegated varieties require several hours of direct sunlight daily - in the morning or evening.
In spring and summer, from 11-00 to 16-00, the plants should be in shading from direct sunlight.
In autumn and winter, when the activity of the sun subsides and the weather is often overcast, you can put tradescantia on south window.
In the shade, with a lack of sunlight, the bright color of variegated plants turns pale. green leaf tradescantia contains a large amount of chlorophyll in the leaves, so growing in partial shade is preferable for her.
Plants grown successfully artificial lighting, which is organized using fluorescent or phytolamps.
The most successful for placement are window sills facing the eastern or western side.
Prolonged exposure to direct sunlight on the leaves can cause burns.Tradescantia - valuable ornamental plant, undemanding to care. It looks spectacular at any time of the year.
Plants are often grown as ampelous in hanging baskets or in flowerpots, when the hanging stems protrude in a beautiful cascade over the edges of the pots.
Tradescantia is often used as ground cover plants, planting it at the foot of large-sized plants.
3.13 Note
Tradescantia remains attractive for about 2 years, after which it stretches, loses the lower leaves and should be replaced with a fresh plant.
Plant able purify the air indoors from harmful impurities.
White tradescantia juice can cause irritation and redness of the skin - use protective gloves when working with the plant and wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after working with the flower.
Interestingly, some varieties of Tradescantia have not irritating, but wound healing juice.
One of interesting facts about the plant is also that its leaves like to taste cats, hamsters and parrots, as well as other domestic animals - for them, the leaves of this flower are sources of vitamins and trace elements.
Tradescantia zebrina has medicinal properties - its juice is able to lower blood sugar.
3.14 Hydroponics
Tradescantia grow well in hydroponics.
4. Types of tradescantia:
4.1. Tradescantia violet or netcreasia - Setcreasea
A small genus of perennial evergreens - tradescantia with purple leaves. Stems decumbent, creeping. The leaves are green or purple, 10-15 cm long, on short petioles or sessile, arranged alternately. There are varieties with longitudinal pink stripes. Leaf blades have velvet pubescence. The flowers are pink, with 3 triangular petals, up to 2 cm in diameter.
4.2. Tradescantia virginiana - Tradescantia virginiana
One of the subspecies Tradescantia Anderson, is a herbaceous perennial plant up to 90 cm high. The leaves are arcuately curved, linear, slightly bent along the central vein. Flowers with three petals, white, violet-blue, pink or purple, relatively large - up to 4 cm in diameter, with bright yellow stamens, collected in small inflorescences - umbrellas. The flowering period is long, falls on the end of May - beginning of July. Flowering is profuse and attractive.
zebrina - Tradescantia zebrina
Herbaceous, evergreen, perennial, bush plant. Zebrina variegated grows rapidly, its stems can reach 180 cm in length. The leaves are sessile, oval or spear-shaped, 5 - 10 cm long, with sharp tips, very variable in color, but all have stripes. Young leaves and undersides of adult leaves are purple. Pink, white or purple small flowers with 3 petals appear in spring and summer, but are not of particular value.
Reo or veiled - Rhoeo
Reo is a monotypic genus, consisting of only 1 species - an ornamental evergreen herbaceous plant. Long - up to 30 cm, xiphoid, hard reo leaves are located on a strong, low trunk. The lower surface of the leaf blade is colored red or purple. The flowers are small, white, inconspicuous, axillary. Variegated varieties have longitudinal light stripes - white or pink.
4.5. Tradescantia white or white-flowered - Tradescantia albiflora
Plants that have probably gained the most popularity among Tradescantia at the present time. They are a very beautiful, often miniature species with bright striped, very light - almost white leaves and very delicate white flowers. Unfortunately, this plant needs a lot of sunlight; when grown in partial shade, the leaves may turn green.
4.6. Tradescantia small-leaved or riverine - Tradescantia fluminensis
perennial, evergreen, herbaceous plant with hanging long and stems. It forms such a magnificent shape that when grown in hanging pots it resembles a wig from a distance. The leaves are oval, fleshy, green, up to 5 cm long. The underside of the leaf plates is often colored in a contrasting purple hue. The flowers are tiny, three-petaled, white and can appear at any time of the year. Indoor Tradescantia rarely pamper flower growers with the appearance of buds.
Small-leaved tradescantia is sometimes used as a dense groundcover.
4.7. Tradescantia sillamontana or cyanotis - Tradescantia sillamontana
Perennial, evergreen, herbaceous, "shaggy", succulent plant with branched, rather thick, creeping shoots. The leaves of this variety are lanceolate or linear, glossy, fleshy, covered with a delicate white fluff, arranged alternately. The flowers are axillary, blue or purple, of little interest. Outwardly, the plant resembles a related tradescantia. In some varieties, the underside of the leaf blade has a burgundy hue.
4.8. Tradescantia blossfeldiana - Tradescantia blossfeldiana
This variety of tradescantia is a very unpretentious, ground cover perennial plant with creeping, thick, profusely branching stems and dark green, narrow leaves. The lower surface of the leaf blades has a rich attractive pubescence. At any time of the year, pink, blue, purple or white flowers with three petals can appear on the plant.
4.9. Tradescantia Lodges - Tradescantia loddgiesii
Bright ornamental plant with long leaves. The upper part of the leaf blade often has three-petalled, inconspicuous, small, white or pink flowers.
Despite the unpretentiousness, with improper care, tradescantia is prone to the appearance of diseases that adversely affect the general appearance of the bush. Signs of diseases and errors in caring for a flower:
- Drying of the tips of the leaves - indicates insufficient humidity.
- Yellowing leaves - the plant has little moisture.
- Shoots grow, leaves do not grow and fall off, they lose their characteristic stripes - lack of light.
- Blackening of the leaves indicates rot damage.
- Blooming does not occur for a long time or is completely absent - excess.
A diseased plant can become a source of disease for indoor and outdoor tradescantia. In addition to being affected by rot, it is susceptible to attack, spider mites, and thrips. To prevent the appearance of rot, it is enough to drain the remaining water from the pan and follow the rules of agricultural technology.
Tip: to rejuvenate tradescantia before the winter cold and improve the aesthetic appearance, transplant the flower.
Insects infect the lower parts of the plant, changing appearance and hitting other flowers. For pest control, a soapy solution, an infusion of garlic are used, and with a large affected area (for example, in the garden), spraying is indispensable. A pronounced positive effect in the fight against insects and slugs is noted after treatment with Actellik, Decis, Karate and preparations based on permethrin.
Maintaining comfortable conditions and proper care at home, tradescantia will be able to fully develop and delight with lush flowering. A well-groomed plant will always delight and decorate the house at any time of the year.
More information can be found in the video:
Tradescantia is an ampelous plant with many various kinds differing in leaf size and color. When growing at home, you must follow the rules for care. It blooms in various colors depending on the variety:
- White
- Pink
- purple
In order for Tradescantia to grow well and the stripes to be clearly visible, it needs to find the right place and provide appropriate care.
Where to place the flower
flower necessary diffused lighting, but bright enough so that the multi-colored stripes on the sheet plates do not fade.
The brighter the color of the leaf plates, the more diffused light is needed for this variety. Solid green varieties can grow in relative shade, but they can also stretch due to lack of light.
The sun's rays can burn tender leaves.
Humidity and watering
In the summer, when the flower actively and quickly increases its green mass, it needs regular abundant watering. In winter, let the soil dry out between waterings.
With a strong decrease in the temperature in the room below 10 degrees Celsius, watering is stopped or watered, not much at all, so as not to damage the root system of the plant.
Temperature and lighting
The air temperature fluctuates between 20-25 degrees Celsius in summer, in winter it should not fall below 11 degrees Celsius. If the temperature in the room is higher in winter, then you need to provide the flower with stronger lighting.
So that the lashes of the bush do not stretch out, it is necessary to give sufficient winter lighting.
Soil and fertilizer
Fertilize in the summer once every two weeks, fertilizer for decorative and deciduous plants. You can fertilize every watering, but in this case, the dose of fertilizer must be halved so as not to damage the roots of the plant.
All top dressing should be carried out on moist soil, so as not to burn the root system of the plant.
How and when to prune
Pruning is carried out in the spring, when the lighting increases and it is necessary to remove the plants that have stretched out over the winter period.
When circumcised one third of the lash is removed or some other unwanted part. The resulting cuttings can be used for propagation.
Diseases and pests
Diseases visit this plant rarely. All diseases associated with improper care. Of the pests, only aphids can be seen, this is a small 2 mm. an insect that sucks the sap of a plant. To get rid of it, you need to water the plant with Aktellik's solution.
It is important to notice the pest in time and start fighting it.
Reproduction and transplant
The plant can be propagated in two ways:
- cutting
- Division of the mother bush
propagate by cuttings possible throughout the year. To do this, cuttings of at least 5 cm are cut, the leaf is cut off at the lower internode, and placed in water.
A week later in summer and two weeks later in winter, a new root system appears for each individual cutting. They are planted in 5 pcs. into one container. The soil should be loose and nutritious, but without an extra proportion of nitrogen. The container must have drainage and holes for draining water.
The second method is suitable for spring time, when the flower needs annual transplant. They take out the whole clod of earth and divide it in such a way that in each divided part there are both roots and green mass of the plant. After division, all parts of the plant are planted in separate containers with nutrient soil.
After transplanting, it is necessary to shed the plants well.
Useful properties of the plant
It is a medicinal plant often used in the treatment of such diseases:
- Treatment of minor skin lesions;
- Getting rid of boils;
- treatment of diarrhea;
- Treatment of angina;
- Cold treatment.
Whatever treatment is chosen, you should consult with your doctor.
Possible difficulties in growing
Sometimes it happens that the tradescantia bush has a luxurious look, but does not throw out its flowers. This happens when the plant was overfed with nitrogen fertilizers. Too large internodes, the plant is severely lacking in lighting.
Help the flower
Sometimes a flower needs help so that it does not throw off its beautiful foliage.
Why leaves turn yellow
It is necessary to adjust the watering of the plant by increasing the dose of watering. Also, you need to take care of it carefully, and the leaves will stop turning yellow.
Rotting roots
Why does it start to rot? This testifies about over watering. In this case, Tradescantia is cut into cuttings and grown again using cuttings.
This colorful and beautiful plant is very easy to cultivate at home or in the garden. With the help of a variety of varieties, you can create magnificent miniature flower beds in hanging planters.
Types of tradescantia
It has more than 100 different species, and almost all of them are grown indoors. Since it is a heat-loving plant that is not able to survive the winter time in Russia.
room
Separately does not exist, since anyone can grow outdoors in the summer, and in cold weather she needs room conditions.
White-flowered
One of the popular types that can often be seen in our apartments. Herbaceous ampelous, oval-shaped leaf plates and painted in various shades:
- white stripes
- lettuce stripes
- pink stripes
All these stripes run along the sheet. It also has its own varieties, which differ from each other in shades of stripes:
- White-striped form - white stripes;
- Laekenensis - has pink stripes;
- Tricolor - pink and white stripes on a light green background;
- Alba - light green background has green and white stripes;
- Aurea - yellow leaf plates with green stripes.
Flowers are located at the ends of the shoots, and they are white.
It has long shoots of dark purple color, leaf plates grow up to 5 cm long and are slightly covered with hairs. The flowers are not large pink.
Small-leaved is the smallest variety Tradescantia. Leaf plates no more than 6 mm., Green in color, having small spots on the upper part of the sheet. Flowers are white.
It has large leaf plates with green and pink stripes located along the leaf plate in no particular order. And back side The leaf looks solid dark green. The leaves are oval, growing up to 8 cm long. It blooms with small delicate pinkish flowers.
This type of Tradescantia slightly poisonous and therefore, after working with it, you should wash your hands well. It has long branches with grayish leaf plates. The flowers are small pink located at the ends of the shoots.
If there are children in the house, then this species is better not to grow at home.
striped
This species of Tradescantia also has its middle name Zebrina. A very common species of Tradescantia.
This is a plant that often seen in institutions. The leaf plates are oval, dark green in color, silver and purple stripes are located along the sheet. The length of the striped leaf is 5 cm. It blooms with small flowers in pink-red or white.
This species is easily distinguished by leaf plates, which are simply wrapped in white cotton. Green leaf plates grow up to 7 cm in length. The plant is actively branching and growing rapidly. At the same time, watering of this species should be limited, since moisture slowly evaporates from the surface of the sheet. Flowering occurs in bright pink flowers.
In order for the hairline to be saturated, the plant should be cultivated on the southern windowsill.
This Tradescantia can be found growing along rivers and lakes. Green leaves up to 3 cm long. The stem is painted burgundy. White flowers are located at the ends of long shoots.
With good care and sufficient moisture, the species forms a dense green carpet.
This is a garden tradescantia with an erect stem with elongated leaf blades up to 15 cm long. The flowers are large blue and purple. They bloom in the early morning, before the onset of heat, and during these hours the plant looks very impressive among other flowers in the flower bed.
This species is considered unique because all twigs and leaf plates are densely covered with hairs. The branches are erect and the foliage is green. Blooming flowers are bright pink.
The species differs from other species of Tradescantia, as it grows among stones and has short, fleshy stems capable of absorbing moisture. Therefore, some botanists used to classify the species as a succulent. Leaf plates resemble small boats no more than 2 cm long. They are green in color, but you can see a pink tint from the inside of the sheet.
When cultivating this species, it should be watered very rarely so as not to cause rotting of the root system.
View has second name of Reo. It has olive-colored leaf plates, painted dark purple underneath. The leaf plates are large, up to 40 cm long. The width is 5 cm. It can be planted outside only in the summer. Flowers are white.
Anderson
Can be grown in the garden as it safely winters in central Russia. Named after the scientist who developed this species.
Many varieties of this species can be seen in the flower beds; they differ in various shades of flowers:
- Blue Stone - has blue colors
- Hutchinsonii - has blue flowers
- Coccinea - blooms with red flowers
- Carnea - blooms with beautiful pink flowers
Home and garden views
Home views:
- White-flowered
garden views:
- Anderson
Tradescantia does not have a clear division into home and street, regardless of the type in the summer, it can be planted in open ground.