Tradescantia

The Tradescantia plant is one of the most famous indoor flowers. Belongs to the Kommelinov family. In the natural environment, such plants can be found in the tropical and temperate zones of the American continent.

One of the unusual folk names for Tradescantia, "woman's gossip", is associated with the bizarre interweaving of the foliage and shoots of Tradescantia, as well as their rapid growth. Its scientific name comes from the surname of the English travelers Tradescants, father and son, who were fond of natural science and botany and collected unusual plant species from the countries visited.

Tradescantia has a number of useful properties. In addition to purifying the air in the apartment, this plant is able to fight the effects of electromagnetic radiation. Tradescantia is also used in traditional medicine in many Latin American countries as well as in China. At the same time, caring for such a flower is practically no worries.

Sometimes cats can "encroach" on Tradescantia. To prevent the pet from gnawing the foliage of the plant, it should be removed to higher and inaccessible places for the animal.

Description of tradescantia

Tradescantia is a medium-sized herbaceous perennial plant. Knotted stems can be straight or creeping. They cannot stand under the weight of the leaves, therefore they hang, which allows the bush to be used as an ampelous one. The foliage is arranged on the stems alternately. The shape of the leaf plates depends on the specific type. They can be flat or slightly fleshy or curling around the stem. Some representatives of Tradescantia are succulents.

In most of the species, in the region of the base, the leaves are slightly widened and have a weak short pubescence. The color of the leaf plates can also vary. Her palette includes the familiar green, as well as white, yellow, pink and burgundy colors. There are a number of variegated variegated forms. In the leaf axils at the top of the shoot, inflorescences are formed, composed of small white, pinkish or lilac flowers. They are usually small and rather inconspicuous, but garden species are usually distinguished by the presence of fairly large blue or purple flowers. Such flowers have an unusual property - they open only in the mornings and evenings, as well as on cloudy days.

Pinching the shoots allows you to form a more lush and effective bush. Hanging branches of Tradescantia look very elegant, so most often the pot with the plant is placed in hanging pots or on elevations - shelves or high mounts. Sometimes aquariums are decorated with tradescantia. In this case, the stems of the plant are partially lowered into the water. Tradescantia can exist in water even without roots. If you put cut branches in it, they are able to maintain an attractive appearance for a long time, from a couple of months to a whole year. But in this case, you will sometimes have to add fertilizers to the water.

Brief rules for growing Tradescantia

The table shows brief rules for caring for Tradescantia at home.

Important! Some types of tradescantia (especially pale tradescantia) can cause skin irritation.

Home care for tradescantia

Proper care of Tradescantia will ensure full development and abundant flowering. With all its appearance, the plant will delight you, giving a positive charge of energy and excellent mood.

Lighting

For a flower, an east or west direction is optimal. The light should be diffused. Tradescantia can grow on the northern side, but the southern one will be too hot for it and will require shading in the afternoon. Direct rays can burn foliage.

Variegated types of Tradescantia are more demanding on the lighting regime. Lack of light can lead to the fact that the color of their leaves will change to an ordinary solid color. If there is too much light, the leaf blades may fade. When the bush is moved to a more suitable place, the color of the foliage should be restored.

Green-leaved varieties thrive best in partial shade. But even such species should not be placed in a place that is too dark and shady. The shoots of the plant from this begin to stretch out and lose their attractive appearance. Of all the varieties of Tradescantia, the white-flowered one is considered the most unpretentious and relatively shade-tolerant.

Temperature

In summer, Tradescantia develops well at temperatures around 24-26 degrees. In winter, a cooler place is preferable, where it keeps no more than 12 degrees. If necessary, the bush can overwinter in a warm place, but caring for it in this case will be slightly different.

In the summer, you can take out the pot with the plant to the fresh air: to the garden or to the balcony, trying to allocate a moderately bright corner for the flower, closed from the cold wind and draft. Some species are transplanted into open ground for the summer. There, Tradescantia turns into a real garden decoration. If the plant is left at home, the movement of air and regular ventilation will help it withstand the heat.

Watering mode

In warm weather, Tradescantia is watered very abundantly, using settled or filtered water. But liquid stagnation in the soil should not be allowed. To prevent this from happening, for the next watering you need to wait for the topsoil to dry out. As a rule, such watering is carried out every 2 or 3 days. Timely pouring out excess water from the pan will help to avoid stagnant moisture. The pot and the tray are wiped dry at the same time.

In winter, you can water the flower a few days after the ground begins to dry out. If Tradescantia spends the winter in a cool room, it should be watered only after the soil in the pot is completely dry. Overflow combined with coolness can lead to root rot. The plant tolerates periods of drought quite firmly, weakens, but does not die.

Humidity level

It is not necessary to spray Tradescantia, it perceives ordinary household humidity quite well, although during periods of hot weather or severe dry air, you can periodically moisten its foliage. Sometimes you can clean the tradescantia foliage under the shower using lukewarm water. But Tradescantia with fluff on the foliage cannot be washed and sprayed.

Top dressing

From spring to the end of summer, Tradescantia is fed every 2 weeks or a little less often. You can combine the procedure with watering. For ordinary green-leaved forms, organic fertilizers can be alternated with mineral ones. For variegated species, it is better not to use organics. Their high nitrogen content can give their foliage their usual green color. In addition, excess fertilizer can deform the leaf blades. In the cold season, the plants are not fed.

Pruning

Indoor tradescantia quickly lose their spectacular appearance and expose the shoots. So that the bushes do not age, it is necessary to regularly pinch their stems and carry out annual pruning, removing overgrown shoots. This procedure is usually combined with transplanting the plant into fresh soil. Any tool can be used for trimming. The shoots remaining after pruning can be used for propagation.

Transfer

You can transplant Tradescantia into a new container literally immediately after pruning. This allows the plant not to waste energy on maintaining old stems and to root better. Small specimens need annual transplants. For older adults, they are carried out several times less often.

For planting Tradescantia, not very deep, but rather wide containers are ideal. It is in these that the root system of the bush is best placed. The new pot should be slightly larger, but you should not create too much volume. A mixture of turf, humus, double leaf soil and half of sand is also suitable as a substrate. Sometimes a specialized soil is used for planting, designed specifically for tradescantia. A drainage layer must be laid at the bottom of the planting tank.

Tradescantia is transferred to a new container along with a clod of earth, and the resulting voids are filled with fresh earth.

Virulence

Tradescantia pallidum juice can cause irritation, therefore it is recommended to work with the flower with gloves, and then wash your hands thoroughly.

Breeding methods for Tradescantia

Growing from seeds

Tradescantia seeds are sown in early spring. For planting, a peat-sand mixture is used. The optimum temperature for the emergence of seedlings is +20. You can additionally cover the container with a bag. Periodically, it will need to be ventilated and monitored for soil moisture. With the appearance of sprouts, the shelter is removed.When the seedlings grow up a little, they dive into their own pots. Tradescantia obtained in this way, with proper care, begin to bloom in the third year.

Propagation by cuttings

Cuttings from tradescantia can be cut all year round, but most often they try to complete it during the warm season - during this period, reproduction is faster. To do this, the stem is divided into segments about 12-15 cm long with several nodes. A mixture of sand, compost and humus is used as a soil. Cuttings are planted, burying only the very tip of their stem into the ground. To form a more lush bush, you can plant up to 8 cuttings per pot, distributing them around the circumference. Sometimes the stalk is planted with the mother plant.

At a temperature of about 15-20 degrees, cuttings take root the fastest - in just a few days. For a week, such segments turn into full-fledged small bushes. Before rooting, the soil should be moistened every few days, and after that, such tradescantia can be watered in the same way as adult bushes.

You can pre-soak the cuttings in water until the roots appear. To do this, they must be immersed in the liquid no deeper than a third. But more often the method of rooting in the ground is still used.

Reproduction by dividing the bush

This method is usually used when transplanting a large bush. Its rhizome is divided into parts and seated in separate pots. But it is worth remembering that too small divisions take root worse than large ones.

Possible growing difficulties

• Slow growth rates and shoot elongation, together with a reduction in the number of leaf blades, are signs of insufficient watering or lack of nutrients. Low light conditions may also be the reason. If an old Tradescantia has begun to grow slowly, it can be pruned or pinched to stimulate the development of fresh shoots.
• Pulling of shoots is usually observed in winter. The foliage at this time begins to dry and fly around. You can rejuvenate plantings by rooting cuttings.
• The loss of variegated color in such species is usually associated with a lack of light. In such conditions, their foliage takes on an ordinary green tint. Incorrect cropping can also be the cause.
• Stains on foliage can appear due to lack of moisture. Usually the shoots themselves in such conditions also become lethargic.
• The yellowing of the leaves can be caused by the appearance of pests.
• The tips of the leaf plates dry and turn brown due to too low humidity levels.

Pests and diseases

Most often, rot can develop on the tradescantia due to overflow. The reason may be not only abundant watering during a cool winter, but also regular waterlogging and too heavy, poorly drained soil. Such a plant will need an urgent transplant. Tradescantia is taken out of the pot and its roots are carefully examined, removing the affected areas. If the root system has suffered too much, you can save the bush at the expense of its aboveground part. Cuttings are cut from healthy stems. After transplanting the plant into fresh light soil, it is necessary to adjust the watering regime.

If the plant is taken outside in summer, slugs or aphids can settle on the bush, often affecting young foliage. Slugs can be collected by hand. Aphids can be treated with soapy water. If thrips or spider mites have settled on Tradescantia, treatment with an appropriate insecticide will be required. As a preventive measure against the appearance of a tick, you should monitor the humidity of the air, and also regularly ventilate the room. Scabbards can be dealt with with garlic infusion.

Types and varieties of tradescantia with photos and names

Tradescantia Anderson (Tradescantia x andersoniana)

Hybrid form obtained from crossing with Virginia Tradescantia. Designed for growing in the garden. The varieties are distinguished by straight shoots with a large number of branches. The foliage is lanceolate, green with a purple tint. Flat flowers form umbrella-shaped inflorescences.Their color palette includes white, blue, purple or pink. Main varieties:

• Weguelin - has very large blue flowers.
• Iris - numerous flowers are painted in a deep blue color.
• Leonora - with purple-bluish inflorescences.
• Osprey - white flowers.
• Purewell Giant - with pink-red inflorescences.

White-flowered Tradescantia (Tradescantia albiflora)

Or tricolor, uridis. One of the most common tradescantia. The native land of the species is the South American tropics. It has creeping stems covered with glossy elongated leaves. Their width reaches 2.5 cm, and their length is up to 6 cm.The color can be green, or have silvery blotches. Inflorescences usually appear in the upper part of the shoots, less often in the leaf axils. Popular varieties include:

• Albovittata - with white stripes on the leaves.
• Aurea - yellowish leaf blades with green stripes.
• Aureovittata is a green foliage with longitudinal golden stripes.
• Tricolor - the leaves are decorated with white and pinkish stripes.

Tradescantia blossfeldiana

Argentine variety. Has creeping stems of reddish-green color. Large foliage of lanceolate or elliptical shape has a pointed tip and tightly bends around the stem. The width of the leaf plates reaches 3 cm, and the length is up to 8 cm. From the inside they are purple, and from the outside they are green with a slight reddish tint. On the leaves and partly on the shoots themselves, there is a weak white pubescence. Pedicels have a thicker fluff. They are formed both at the tops of the shoots and in the axils. Sepals are also covered with fluff. The flowers themselves have 3 petals.

Virginia Tradescantia (Tradescantia virginiana)

Inhabits the southeastern regions of the North American continent. Forms straight shoots up to 60 cm long. Its foliage is quite long - up to 20 cm - and has a lanceolate shape. The flowers are collected in umbrella-shaped inflorescences located at the tops of the stems. The size of each one reaches 4 cm. The flower forms a pair of bracts and 3 petals. You can admire the flowering of such a tradescantia in the second half of summer. After the flowers wither, the fruit is formed in the form of a box. It is this type of Tradescantia that is most often grown outdoors. Main varieties:

• Atrorubra - with burgundy-red inflorescences.
• Coerulea - with blue flowers.
• Rosea - with pink buds.
• Rubra - with scarlet flowers.

Tradescantia pilosa

The shoots of such a tradescantia are decorated with rather large foliage, densely covered with long white hairs. Has pink and lilac flowers.

Tradescantia zebrina

Has bare red stems. They can both creep along the ground and hang. Differs in ovoid foliage. The width of the plates reaches 5 cm, and the length is up to 10 cm. The reverse side of each sheet is painted in burgundy color. At the same time, the outer side has a greenish-burgundy color with a pair of wide white stripes. The flowers of this species are small, bright pink or purple.

Tradescantia navicularis

A succulent native to Peru and also found in Mexico. The stems of this species are creeping. They are densely covered with small thick leaves rolled up in the shape of a boat. Their width is only 1 cm, and their length reaches 4 cm. There is a sharp point at the top of each leaf. A row of cilia is located at the bottom along its edge. The leaf color is green, with small lilac specks. Inflorescences of small pink flowers are formed at the top of the shoot.

Tradescantia multicolor

It has shoots covered with striped foliage, combining shades of green, pink and white. Thanks to this, the plant is highly decorative.

Riverine Tradescantia (Tradescantia fluminensis)

Or myrtle. Brazilian variety. Creeping shoots, colored purple. The foliage has short petioles and a smooth surface. Below the leaves are painted in shades of purple, the outside can be green or motley.The width of each plate reaches 2 cm, and the length - up to 2.5 cm. Known varieties:

• Quicksilver - with white stripes on the leaves.
• Variegata - with cream stripes.

The healing properties of Tradescantia

Observing the simple rules for caring for Tradescantia, you can not only admire the beautiful plant, but also use its medicinal properties. A scientifically proven set of pharmacological qualities of the plant can come to the rescue with a cold, sore throat and other diseases.