Tradescantia diseases. Tradescantia: home care, cultivation and reproduction. How and when to prune

Tradescantia is one of the most commonly grown indoor plants, which has gained high popularity due to the huge variety of foliage shades and simple agricultural techniques. It is cultivated not only as an independent “green fountain”, decoratively descending from hanging flowerpots, but also “attached” to floor tubs with upright growing tapeworms to create unusual floral compositions.

There is hardly any other ornamental foliage plant that requires less attention than Tradescantia. All Tradescantia feel great even in a glass of water. There are many variants of this hanging plant in different colors. The most famous of them are the following. White-flowered Tradescantia albiflora ‘Albovittata’ with white stripes on the leaves, Tradescantia albiflora ‘Aurea’ with almost yellow leaves.

On this page you will learn how to care for different types of Tradescantia at home.

Growing and caring for Tradescantia Blossfeld

Tradescantia Blossfelda ( Tradescantia blossfeldiana) has , red on the underside.

As you can see in the photo, the Variegata form of this type of Tradescantia has creamy green leaves that turn pink in the light:

• • Family: Commelinaceae (Commelineaceae).
  • Homeland: South America.
  • Location: As light as possible, but protected from direct sun.

• Temperature: Room; in winter and cooler, not lower than 10 ° C.
• Air humidity: Tolerates dry air.
• Substrate: Flower soil mixture.
• Watering: Maintain humidity.
• Feeding: When caring for this homemade Tradescantia, fertilizers need to be applied every 4 weeks; no feeding is required in winter.
• Transfer: It is better to grow new plants every year.
• Trimming: Trim the tops regularly so it grows thicker.
• Reproduction: Cuttings.
• Pests, diseases: Rarely.

How to care for pale tradescantia

U tradescantia pallidum ( Tradescantia pallida, previously: Setcreasea) leaves and shoots are dark purple and covered with delicate fluff. With a lack of light they turn dark green. In summer, small lavender-colored flowers often appear in the leaf axils. The plant looks best as a hanging plant.

• Family:
• Homeland: Mexico.
• Location: Light, but not direct sun. In summer it is best to be outside in partial shade.
• Temperature: Room.
• Air humidity: Tolerates dry air.
• Substrate: Flower soil mixture.
• Watering: The substrate must be constantly moist, use softened water at room temperature.
• Feeding: Every 4 weeks.
• Transfer: When caring for this Tradescantia at home, you need to replant the plant every six months into a larger pot.
• Trimming: Trim off spent shoots.
• Reproduction: Apical cuttings.
• Pests, diseases: Rarely.

Important! Do not spray. Mold may appear. "Red Leaf" goes well with white and green Tradescantia.

Caring for Tradescantia Reo

Reo or Tradescantia capillata ( Tradescantia spathacea, previously : Rhoeo discolor)

It has lanceolate leaves up to 30 cm long and 5-7 cm wide with green upper side and red lower side. The leaves grow in a sparse rosette.

Look at the photo - the Vittata variety of this type of indoor Tradescantia has yellow longitudinal stripes on the leaves, which turn pink in very intense light:

• Family: Commelinaceae (Commelinaceae).
• Homeland: Tropical Central America.
• Location: Light, in a dark place they fade. Protect from the sun.
• Temperature: Room, not lower than 18 °C. Keep roots warm.
• Air humidity: 50%, provide artificially.
• Substrate: Flower soil mixture.
• Watering: When growing this tradescantia, you only need to maintain humidity and avoid stagnant waterlogging.
• Feeding: Every week in summer, once every 4 weeks in winter.
• Transfer: Every year.
• Reproduction: Side shoots, seeds.
• Pests, diseases: Rarely.

Important! The drainage of the pot should be good. The plant does not tolerate waterlogging. For hydroponics use warm water!

Rod Tradescantia ( Tradescantia) has about 70 species of plants from the family Commelineaceae ( Commelinaceae). These are perennial evergreen herbaceous plants. The natural range of Tradescantia is located in the tropical and temperate zones of America and stretches from the north of Argentina to the south of Canada. The name “Tradescantia” appeared in the 18th century and comes from the name of the gardener of the English King Charles I, John Tradescant (the elder), who described this plant. Tradescantia is popularly known as “woman's gossip” (as is saxifrage). Perfectly purifies 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 are elliptic, ovate, lanceolate, alternate. The inflorescences are axillary, located in the axils of the upper leaves and apical.

Tradescantias are one of the most common and easy-to-care indoor hanging plants. The dense greenery of the plant's shoots is quite easy to obtain by pinching, which enhances branching.

Tradescantia should be placed in rooms so that its long, creeping shoots can hang freely. They are placed in hanging vases, flowerpots or placed on shelves or high furniture. Tradescantia blooms well indoors. Bluish or blue-violet flowers appear at the ends of long stems. Tradescantia varieties Anderson and Virginskaya are used for open ground in central Russia.

Tradescantia contains a complex of nutrients and medicinal substances. Aquarists place a pot of young Tradescantia on glass lying on the sides of the aquarium, and the growing stems of the plant soon sink into the water and form a beautiful green mat on its surface.

Tradescantia purifies and humidifies the air in the room, neutralizes electromagnetic radiation.

Features of growing Tradescantia

Bloom: depending on the species - from spring to autumn.

Light: bright diffused. Can also tolerate direct sunlight (in limited quantities). Green-leaved forms tolerate shade.

Temperature: in the spring-summer period around 18-25 °C. In autumn and winter it prefers cool conditions (12-16 °C), however, it can tolerate warmer conditions.

Watering: abundant, as the top layer of the substrate dries, in spring and summer. In autumn and winter, watering is moderate.

Air humidity: does not play a significant role. In 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 - without fertilizing.

Trimming: Tradescantia stems are prone to bareness, so timely pruning and pinching them helps to form the desired shape of the plant.

Rest period: not expressed. Tradescantia virginiana 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 the spring, combined with pruning long shoots.

Reproduction: seeds, cuttings or dividing the bush.

Tradescantia care

Tradescantia develops better in places with bright, diffused light (although it can withstand direct sunlight), but can also tolerate partial shade. The best places for growing are near windows facing west or east; they can grow near a north window; shading is required near a south window in the summer. Variegated forms need more light. In low light, variegated forms lose color and often become green, and vice versa - they are colored very intensely and variegated on a sunny window. If there is too much direct sunlight, Tradescantia leaves may fade. The most shade-tolerant Tradescantia is white-flowered.

In 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 must remember that Tradescantia is very fond of slugs, and aphids can attack it).

Tradescantia grows well in both warm (with an average temperature of 25 ° C) and cool rooms (where in winter the temperature can fluctuate between 12-16 ° C). The plant tolerates warmer wintering well.

Tradescantia needs abundant watering in the spring and summer, and the water should not stagnate in the pot. Water a day or two after the top layer of soil dries. In winter, the substrate is kept moderately moist. Water two to three days after the top layer of the substrate has dried. It is necessary to ensure that water does not accumulate in the pan all year round. Half an hour after watering, the unabsorbed water from the tray must be drained and the tray 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, as this may cause the original color of the leaves to be lost. In autumn and winter they do not feed.

A feature of indoor 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 shoots and replanting the plant in fresh soil are practiced.

Plants are replanted in the spring, young ones once a year, adults after 2-3 years, combined with pruning long shoots. The substrate is suitable humus, closer to neutral (pH 5.5-6.5). The plant grows well in a mixture of 2 parts deciduous soil, 1 part each turf and humus soil with a small addition of sand. Ready-made soil for Tradescantia is available for sale. The bottom of the pot needs good drainage.

Tradescantia propagation

Tradescantia easily reproduces vegetatively - the bush can be divided from spring to mid-August. It should be taken into account that when digging up its powerful root system will inevitably be damaged. When planting, the long roots of the divisions are cut to 15 cm. At the same time, the above-ground part of the division 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 its root system and quickly takes root. In July–August, especially in hot weather, the cuttings for rooting should be shaded and even covered for two weeks - with a microgreenhouse or a piece of covering material.

Tradescantia also reproduces well from stem cuttings with two or three internodes. Covered with film, they take root well in 2–3 weeks and overwinter in the ground. If there are no severe frosts in autumn and winter, cuttings rooted even at the end of August will overwinter.

In the conditions of central Russia, Tradescantia seeds have time to ripen, and they often self-sow. And although the varietal characteristics of plants are not preserved during seed propagation, seedlings with beautiful, variedly colored flowers can be obtained.

Types of Tradescantia

Anderson's Tradescantia (Tradescantia x andersoniana)

Under this name, complex garden hybrids involving Tradescantia virginiana are combined. This should also include most of the hybrid forms and varieties cultivated under this name.

The plant is 30-80 cm tall with erect, branched, angular stems, leafy along the entire length. The leaves are linear-lanceolate, violet-green. The flowers are flat, purple, blue, pink or white, collected in an umbellate inflorescence. They 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 - violet-blue flowers.
• Osprey - white flowers.

Tradescantia virginiana ( Tradescantia virginiana)

The plant's homeland is the southeastern regions of North America. A perennial plant with erect, 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-petalled, pink-violet, up to 4 cm in diameter, numerous, collected in umbrella-shaped 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 that opens with longitudinal flaps. Can be used as a hardy ground perennial.

Has varieties:

• Coerulea - blue flowers.
• Rubra - red flowers.
• Atrorubra - blood red flowers.
• Rosea - pink flowers.

Most forms and varieties indicated in catalogs under the name Tradescantia virginiana are correctly classified as Tradescantia Anderson ( Tradescantia x andersoniana).

White-flowered Tradescantia ( Tradescantia albiflora)

Synonyms: in literature referred to as Tradescantia tricolor ( Tradescantia tricolor C.B.Clarke), Tradescantia uridis ( Tradescantia uiridis hort.).

The plant's homeland is 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, bare on both sides, green or silvery-variegated, glossy. Inflorescences are apical, sometimes axillary. The flowers are small, white; bracts are white.

There are several varieties and varieties in the culture:

• 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 Blossfelda ( Tradescantia blossfeldiana)

The plant is native to Argentina. A perennial herbaceous semi-succulent plant with creeping and erect greenish-red stems. The leaves are alternate, sessile, with tubular sheaths, oblong or elliptic, with an acute or pointed apex, 4-8 cm long, 1-3 cm wide, dark green above with a slight reddish tint, purple below. The leaves below, leaf sheaths and stems under the nodes are densely pubescent with long white erect hairs.

Flowers are on long, densely pubescent pedicels in paired curls at the ends of the shoots and in the axils of the upper leaves. The inflorescences are surrounded below by two leaf-shaped bracts of unequal size. There are 3 sepals, they are free, purple, densely pubescent. Petals 3, free, white in the lower half, bright pink at the top. The filaments in the lower third are covered with long white hairs.

If the leaves have wide, few stripes of yellow color, and the two adjacent right leaves have similar patterns (the neighboring left ones have the same pattern, although they differ in pattern from the right ones), then this is the Variegata form. With insufficient lighting, inept cuttings or pruning, the beautiful stripes on the leaves may disappear.

Tradescantia hairy ( Tradescantia pilosa)

Tradescantia hairy - distinguished by erect stems and elongated leaves with thick white pubescence. The flowers are lilac-pink.

Tradescantia zebra-shaped ( Tradescantia zebrina)

Synonym: Tradescantia hanging ( Tradescantia pendulum a), Zebrina hanging ( Zebrina pendula). The shoots are creeping or hanging, 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 lower part of the leaf is red. The flowers are small, purple or violet.

Tradescantia navicularis ( Tradescantia navicularis)

The homeland of the plant is Mexico, 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, ciliated at the edges. The inflorescence is apical. Flowers with pink petals. Highly decorative ampelous plant.

Tradescantia variegated ( Tradescantia multicolor)

Tradescantia variegated has dense, small, green leaves with white and pink stripes. A very decorative, densely growing species.

Tradescantia riverine, or myrtle-leaved ( Tradescantia fluminensis)

The homeland of the plant is Brazil. The shoots are creeping, purple-red, with green spots. The leaves are ovate, 2-2.5 cm long and 1.5-2 cm wide, dark green above, lilac-red below, smooth on both sides; petiole short.

Commonly grown forms are Variegata (i.e. variegated) with frequent cream stripes and Quicksilver with white stripes.

Precautionary measures: whole Tradescantia pallidum plant ( 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 living conditions are too dry. The leaves wither and eventually fall off, and cobwebs are visible on the stem. The plant must be treated with soapy water and rinsed with warm water. Spray regularly.

The scale insect or false scale insect sucks the cell sap from the plant, the leaves turn pale, dry out, and fall off. Dark gray or dark brown plaques are visible on the leaves and trunks. First, it is necessary to mechanically clean off the pests using a soap solution, then treat them with an insecticide such as Actellik or Fitoverm.

If the plant's leaves are small, pale and elongated, it may be time to rejuvenate the plant, or the plant may be too dark. Move it closer to the light.

If the tips of the leaves are brown and dry, this means that the air in the room is too dry. Regular spraying should be carried out and the plant should be kept 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 the Tradescantia to a brighter place.

If the shoots at the base have softened and darkened, then perhaps water is stagnating in the pot and the stem has begun to rot. Cut it and root it.

Tradescantia can surprise anyone with its unpretentiousness and beauty!

No introduction needed for indoor plant lovers. Easy care for Tradescantia at home, decorative foliage and frequent flowering are the three main reasons why these herbaceous perennials have become regulars both indoors and in gardens for many decades.

Small plants with predominantly creeping stems are found in nature on the American continent, where they inhabit regions from temperate latitudes to the tropics. Tradescantia have adapted well to their living conditions. In arid areas, you can see plants with dense leaves, the hair on which prevents precious moisture from evaporating. In humid places there are species with succulent stems and bright glossy foliage.

The undemanding nature of indoor Tradescantia and the variety of decorative species and varieties attract the attention of both beginners and experienced gardeners. And recently, garden tradescantia has appeared in Russian gardens, which does not differ from its domestic relatives either in attractiveness or responsiveness to care.

Caring for Tradescantia at home

Requirements for the conditions of keeping Tradescantia vary depending on their natural habitat. Hairy plants with dense and thickened foliage are more hardy. They tolerate direct sunlight better and are less dependent on the frequency of watering.

Indoor tradescantia with smooth thin leaves love partial shade and grow best in moderately moist soil. At the same time, variegated varieties are more demanding. Under the bright sun they turn pale, and in the shade they risk losing their pattern and becoming completely green.

It is best to find a place for indoor Tradescantia, as in the photo, on an east or west window. On the south side the plant will need shading, but on the north there is danger:

• excessive stretching of shoots;
• reduction of leaves;
• lack of flowering;
• rapid loss of decorativeness.

Most species are heat-loving, but in the summer months it is useful to take Tradescantia out to the balcony, garden or loggia, having first protected the pot from the scorching sun and drafts.

Comfortable temperatures for Tradescantia range from 20 to 25 °C in summer, and a few degrees lower in winter. Although cool wintering is preferable, in many cases indoor Tradescantia grows well without seasonal changes in conditions. The air becomes critically cold for plants at a temperature of 10–12 °C.

Many Tradescantia, in addition to the indigenous inhabitants of semi-deserts, are excellent at keeping them in moist soil and in the warm season require frequent irrigation of foliage and showering. The earthen ball should be evenly moist after watering. Since only the top layer usually dries out before the next procedure, indoor Tradescantias are watered at least every other day in the summer.

The culture is characterized by rapid growth, so caring for indoor Tradescantia at home must include fertilizing. They are carried out in the summer months and spring with an interval of 10–14 days. Ready-made ones are quite suitable for the plant, but you will have to take a special approach to variegated forms. Due to the abundance of organic matter, such indoor Tradescantia actively grows foliage, although it may lose the decorative variegated color of the greenery.

Pruning, propagation and replanting of indoor tradescantia

Rapid growth and the formation of beautiful ampelous shoots are an important advantage of Tradescantia. But in order for indoor Tradescantia, as in the photo, to retain its shape and attractiveness, the stems and central part of the plant do not look bare, the plant must be often pinched and renewed, forcing it to bush as actively as possible.

You can prune growing stems throughout the warm season. The apical cuttings used for vegetative propagation of Tradescantia take root well in ordinary water, after which several are planted in their own pots or used to rejuvenate the mother plant. If it is decided to use stem sections as seedlings, their length should be at least 5 cm.

With proper care at home, Tradescantia, as in the photo, recovers very quickly after pruning, and the seedlings turn into adult fluffy specimens that bloom in the second or third year.

To plant new and replant existing Tradescantia, you should not take overly nutritious, organic-rich soil, in which the plants quickly “get fat” and refuse to bloom.

It is best for the hanging “American” to purchase a ready-made substrate for indoor plants or mix leaf and turf soil in equal parts, adding sand and a little for looseness. A thick drainage layer is made at the bottom of the pot. Transplantation of Tradescantia when caring at home is carried out in the spring as the bush ages and the root system grows.

Growing and caring for garden tradescantia

In indoor conditions, ampelous species are the most popular among flower growers. And garden tradescantia are actively flowering perennials, forming dense caps of greenery due to upright shoots ranging from 20 to 50 cm in length that lie down as they grow.

The most common garden Tradescantia, as in the photo, are considered to be hybrid plants united into a single species, “Tradescantia virginiana.” They:

• grow quickly in moderately warm European summers;
• bloom profusely, producing masses of white, purple, blue and bright blue flowers;
• stand out from other plants due to their varied foliage colors, from rich green and bluish to purple and even yellow.

Due to different growing conditions, caring for garden tradescantia differs from the care that plants receive at home.

Flowers planted in flower beds and borders cannot be moved or moved to another place if their delicate leaves end up in deep shade or in the July sun. Therefore, the site for garden Tradescantia is chosen very carefully.

It is optimal if the plant finds a place in partial shade, where the ground will retain moisture for a long time, but at the same time be ventilated. All Tradescantia are extremely drought tolerant. It is important to take this into account not only when planting garden tradescantia, in the photo, but also when caring for it.

Before planting the plant in the ground, the soil is fertilized by adding a full dose of a complex mineral product. Then fertilizing is carried out with a liquid composition every 10 days. The soil under the flowers is moistened in the morning or evening hours, when there is no danger of sunburn for the leaves of the plant.

In the middle zone, garden tradescantia survive even harsh winters, for which they are either covered or simply cut off the entire above-ground part of the plant. This is a fundamental difference in growing garden varieties compared to caring for Tradescantia at home. With the onset of spring and the awakening of dormant buds, new fresh shoots appear above the ground.

Spring is a very good time for propagating garden Tradescantia. This is done by dividing an adult bush. During spring and the first half of summer, young plants can be obtained using cuttings. The apical parts of the shoots with 2–3 internodes are carefully cut off and rooted in the greenhouse. Roots form within 15–20 days, and young Tradescantia can be planted in a permanent place.

Video about caring for Tradescantia

Tradescantia is a favorite indoor plant among gardeners, valued for its shade tolerance, originality of stems and leaves, and extreme ease of propagation. The stems are thin, branched, capable of growing up to several meters in length. All types of tradescantia grow well, caring for them at home is extremely simple.

This exotic originates from the tropical forests of South America, where, thanks to the ability of its shoots to quickly take root, it has become a weed that forms entire thickets. All types of Tradescantia are suitable for indoor floriculture.

They differ mainly in the color and shape of the leaves, which can be light green, dark, double, or violet-green. The leaves of variegated varieties of Tradescantia are decorated with numerous white stripes. With good lighting, the contrast between them and the green parts increases, which makes the flower even more decorative.

Types of Tradescantia:

• More common white-flowered tradescantia with bright green leaves decorated with two silvery longitudinal stripes. The underside of the leaf has a purple tint.
• Myrtle-leaved tradescantia has bright silver flats against a background of dark green leaf, the lower part of which is deep purple.
• Tradescantia zebrina, as you might guess, is also loved for its decorative stripes on the leaves. A distinctive feature is lilac stripes on a light green background.
• Tradescantia violet distinguished by the monotonous purple color of the leaves. The bush itself is slightly larger and fleshier than other species.
• Tradescantia virginiana does not stand out with striped patterns, but has high cold resistance. In the southern regions of Russia it can even be grown in open ground. The leaves are green, thin, elongated, the flowers are white, blue, pink, purple. From June to late autumn it can bloom in a favorable climate.

Home care

The indoor Tradescantia flower is very unpretentious compared to other plants. Compliance with some nuances allows you to grow a beautiful branched bush.

Temperature features, lighting, humidity

The optimal temperature for the development of Tradescantia is 20-24 degrees. In winter, it does not require a cold hibernation, but if you can provide it with coolness around 16-18 degrees, it will reward you with a powerful wave of growth in early March.

Tradescantia grows well in any lighting conditions: from direct sunlight to diffused light on northern windows. But specimens that receive more light look more decorative, especially terry and striped varieties. You shouldn't, perhaps, place pots in the back of rooms, where there is catastrophically little light for any plants.

Additional air humidification has a positive effect on the growth of Tradescantia. Many people prefer to spray green pets with a spray bottle, but this measure has a weak effect, since the moisture quickly evaporates. Other gardeners place containers of water around the plants, but in order for the evaporation to have any effect on the growth of the flower, they need to fill most of the window sill. The best solution is to place Tradescantia among other plants: green leaves release a lot of water during the growing season. Additionally, you can sow moss in shallow bowls, the spores of which are available in any flower shop, but you must not forget to water it abundantly.

Soil requirements

Tradescantia can adapt to any substrate, except for too heavy and waterproof soil. It grows best in a mixture made up of 2 parts humus soil, 2 parts leaf soil and 1 part coarse sand. Purchased universal soils for indoor plants are also suitable, which should be diluted with ordinary soil from the garden, garden or forest. If the substrate does not seem airy enough, you can pour a small amount of vermiculite, perlite, river sand or sawdust into it.

Watering and fertilizing

The plant loves abundant watering. Flower growers often get the impression that it is insatiable for water. To be on the safe side, it should be planted in pots with a drainage hole and a layer of pebbles, stones or broken pottery at the bottom. It is convenient to use the pots by hanging them on the window. You can slightly reduce watering in winter, but the top layer of soil should not dry out in any case.

They respond positively to feeding during the period of active growth. Applying fertilizers significantly accelerates the growth of green mass and increases the chances of flowering. You can water with solutions of universal fertilizers for indoor plants or tinctures of bird droppings. A response is also observed when applying mineral fertilizers, which are diluted according to the instructions on the packaging. The ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium when preparing the solution should be approximately the same. In the spring you can add a little more nitrogen.

Important! Do not overwater the plant, as it has an increased tendency to rot!

Bloom

With good care, the plant almost always blooms in open ground and in half the cases - at home. Flowers can be white, purple, blue, pink. For a plant to produce buds, it needs enough light and fertilizing once every 1-2 months.

Replanting and pruning

Transplanting Tradescantia is advisable only if the roots are tightly entwined with an earthen ball, causing it to dry out quickly. The new pot should be several centimeters in diameter larger than the previous one.

Old, overgrown Tradescantia often sheds its leaves along most of the length of the shoot. As a result, only the ends of the branches remain leafy. In such cases, they are cut off by 70-90%, and the resulting cuttings are cut into fragments 5-10 cm long and placed for rooting. The pruned bush produces young shoots from the remaining stumps. If the result does not suit the grower, then new specimens can be grown from rooted cuttings.

Flower propagation

The easiest way to propagate is to root cuttings in water. If desired, rooting can be done in sand, vermiculite, perlite and even light soil. To increase the chances of success, the container with the cuttings can be covered with a bag or a transparent plastic cup, but even without this, the proportion of rooted cuttings usually reaches 95-100%. It is better to plant 2-3 plants together in a pot.

It is much less commonly propagated by seeds. Those who like to experiment can sow the seeds in shallow containers with sandy soil, lightly sprinkle them, spray them with a spray bottle and cover them with a plastic bag. Shoots can be seen after 3-4 weeks. What follows is the standard procedure for acclimating the seedlings to dry room air: small holes are made in the polyethylene every day or existing ones are expanded. After 1-2 weeks, the film can be completely removed.

Pests and diseases - how to treat them?

Pests usually have little interest in Tradescantia. Sometimes red spider mites, aphids, and occasionally scale insects settle on it.

When growing a plant you may encounter some problems:

• If the tips of the leaves turn brown and dry out, the most likely cause is low air humidity.
• Sluggish stems for no apparent reason and brownish-yellowish spots on the leaves indicate either insufficient watering or hypothermia of the roots from too cold water. To prevent this from happening, water collected from the tap is left to stand at room temperature.
• With a lack of light, the stems become excessively elongated and the internodes become long. It is important to remember that in the depths of the rooms the lighting is so insignificant that it is unacceptable for plants. Flowers should be placed on windowsills.
• Softening and rotting of the trunk at the root collar indicates a flood. Such a plant is difficult to save, since by the time symptoms appear the root system is already in a deplorable state. But you can take a cutting, root it and grow a new specimen. If you still want to try to remove the affected plant, then you need to change the soil and cut off the rotten roots.

In general, Tradescantia is easy to grow and does not cause any difficulties. This is probably the secret of her popularity.

The perennial ampelous Tradescantia comes from America. The most common indoor plant is unpretentious. In total there are more than 100 types of culture. A member of the Hammelinaceae family, it has long, drooping stems. The graceful leaves are of particular value to gardeners. Vegetative organs are located on straight shoots. Tradescantia indoors grows in the form of a lush bush. Different types of Tradescantia form their own delightful shade of leaves. There are crops with a silver, green and purple tint. On some varieties you can see unusual patterns in the form of stripes. The inflorescences produced are small and of various colors. The plant looks especially impressive if it is lushly covered with small flowers. The bush resembles a small bouquet.

Tradescantia is one of the most unpretentious crops.

Location and proper lighting

How to care for Tradescantia? The plant is quite unpretentious. Adapts perfectly to the microclimatic conditions of the room. Able to maintain decorative properties at any room temperature.

Particularly lush flowering forms in brightly lit areas. The leaves change significantly and become glossy.

Short daylight hours can cause fading of vegetative organs. Variegated Tradescantia will lose its ornamentation. All leaves will turn a uniform green color.

It is also important to avoid exposure to direct sunlight. Severe burns may occur on delicate leaves. On particularly hot days, it is better to shade the window with curtains or roller shutters.

White-flowered Tradescantia tolerates heat and constant sunlight well. The plant can be safely kept on the windowsill.

Air temperature

For comfortable maintenance of the flower, it is necessary to create optimal climatic conditions during the vegetative growth stage ranging from + 24 to + 26 degrees. In the winter season, you need to gradually accustom the plant to a temperature of +10-+12 degrees.

You can restore the decorative appearance of Tradescantia by removing elongated shoots.

Cold air can cause shoots to stretch. The plant significantly loses its decorative effect. To restore, you will need to trim the apical areas. Cuttings can be used for vegetative propagation.

Watering and humidity

Tradescantia is often called a swamp crop. The plant loves plenty of moisture. Therefore, in the spring and summer, you should regularly water the flower. It is important not to allow the substrate to dry out completely. In winter, the frequency of watering can be reduced to twice a week. Only if the soil moisture regime is observed, can Tradescantia form a huge number of buds.

The plant develops well in conditions of high air humidity. For culture propagation, it is advisable to maintain the psychrometer mark at a level of at least 60%.

To prevent rotting of the root system, you need to regularly loosen the soil mixture in the planting pot. Fertilizing can be done only after the soil is evenly moistened.
For irrigation, it is recommended to use settled, soft water at room temperature.

Features of transplantation

At the initial stage of the growing season, the plant should be replanted. During winter dormancy, the flower's decorative properties are significantly reduced. The stems may dry out, and the shade of the leaves will also change. Tradescantia will completely lose its original appearance.

Experienced gardeners use the plant as an annual. In the spring, cuttings of a decorative hanging crop are planted in a pot. Tradescantia is characterized by rapid growth. After a few months the flower is unrecognizable. A small shoot turns into long lashes. Tradescantia is pinched (as it grows).

In autumn, the plant sheds its leaves located at the base. Flower growth slows down significantly.

The transplant must be carried out carefully. Tradescantia may suffer.

In the winter season, under favorable conditions, the plant can decorate the house with lush cascades of shoots. In early spring, the apical cuttings are cut for planting young Tradescantia. As a rule, Tradescantia lovers do not save the old plant.

Still, replanting last year’s crop is quite simple. It is necessary to radically prune long stems in early spring. A sudden change of container and substrate without removing excess areas can cause severe damage to leaves and shoots.

How to trim

To form a crown, you need to remove all unnecessary vegetative organs. It is advisable to carry out sanitary cleaning in early spring.

Tradescantia is one of the few indoor crops that prefer complete crown renewal. Radical pruning can significantly improve the condition of the plant. Tradescantia also responds well to pinching. It is advisable not to use sharp objects. Fragile shoots can be easily broken off.

How to cultivate a flower on the site

Most gardeners grow Tradescantia as an indoor crop. Few people know that a decorative flower can decorate a garden, mixborder, gazebo or terrace.

Breeders have developed several special varieties for outdoor cultivation. In a temperate continental climate, Virginia Tradescantia and the hybrid variety "Anderson" can withstand outdoor cultivation. Perennial frost-resistant crops can be left in open ground for the winter.

The plant is used on the site to protect the house from ill-wishers. There is an opinion that the culture of the Sun can get rid of bad energy, words and thoughts.

It is advisable to plant garden Tradescantia in a group with other crops.

The garden form of Tradescantia has blue petals. The size of the flowers does not exceed two centimeters. The straight, standing bush develops long, pointed leaves.

It must be taken into account that the street form will not be able to support the structure on its own. The plant has non-woody, long, succulent shoots. The plant will fall apart. Therefore, it is advisable to use the flower for planting in mixborders.

Tradescantia goes well with hostas. Dense bushes support an unstable flower. The garden representative can often be found near ponds, in group plantings with ferns, astilbes and daylilies.

The size of a decorative bush on the street does not exceed sixty centimeters. The shade of the inflorescences depends on the chosen location. The color is also influenced by the length of daylight hours and the quality of the substrate.

Caring for the plant outdoors is no different from indoor cultivation of representatives of the genus. Frost-resistant, decorative crop does not make high demands.

You need to constantly inspect the plant on the site. Long shoots and leaves attract slugs. Flowering outdoors can last from early June until the first autumn cold snap.

Growing technology

Substrate composition

The plant can be cultivated in almost all types of soil. For a potted plant, a standard soil mixture for flowering indoor crops is suitable.

The soil can be easily prepared at home. To do this, you will need turf soil, leaf soil, clean river sand and humus.

The permeability of the soil can be increased using a drainage layer.

It is necessary to lay out a thin layer of drainage before planting. Expanded clay or pebbles should be used as filler. Sprinkle the top with medium-grain sand.

Top dressing

Tradescantia can be fed twice a month. It is advisable to use complex preparations from garden centers as fertilizers.

How to choose a pot

Ampelous Tradescantia with hanging shoots must be carefully secured. Therefore, you will need to choose the right container for growing. In a shallow container, the plant may tip over. The substrate will fall out of the pot.

Tradescantia has a relatively small root system. Therefore, you can prepare a wide container of medium depth. The flower keeps well in a hanging pot.

For lush formation, you can plant several cuttings around the circumference in a wide pot. Subsequently, the overgrown Tradescantia forms a lush bush.

Tradescantia pests and diseases

The plant is characterized by increased resistance to various pests and diseases. Still, it is necessary to regularly inspect the plant and adhere to the basic rules of care.

Wilting Tradescantia.

If the tips of the leaves turn brown, you need to pay attention to the level of water content in the air. Dry air is often the cause of damage to Tradescantia.

The appearance of wilted flowers, stems and leaves indicates a prolonged lack of watering and excessive drying of the substrate.

Soft areas on vegetative organs with a characteristic brown tint indicate a swampy soil mixture. When there is insufficient light, the plant develops elongated stems with small leaves.

Reaction to plant

There have been no cases of reaction after contact with Tradescantia. Flowering can still cause individual intolerance. Therefore, keeping indoor culture in the bedroom or children's room is not recommended.

How to propagate a flower

Tradescantia can be spread quite easily by vegetative means. To do this, use stem cuttings and divide the bush.

You can also spread the plant using seeds. It should be remembered that the varietal characteristics of the parent Tradescantia are not preserved.

Bush divisions are usually carried out from the beginning of March until the onset of autumn. When digging outside or removing from a container, the root system can easily be damaged. Therefore, within a few hours you need to evenly moisten the substrate.

Seed pod.

For garden crops, it is advisable to prepare a small shovel. The potted plant is quite easy to remove. The roots of the divisions should be cut to fifteen centimeters. At the same time, it is necessary to trim the above-ground parts of the Tradescantia. Otherwise, the plant may not take root.

A crop planted at the beginning of the season will easily restore its roots during the growing season. For successful propagation in mid-July you will need to shade the plant outside. In indoor conditions, it is advisable to build a mini-greenhouse.

For cuttings, you need to choose a healthy, strong culture. You can carefully tear off the stem with three internodes. After uniformly moistening the substrate, cover the container with a plastic cap. The first roots will appear in 3 weeks. The flower can also be moved into open ground. Small Tradescantia planted outside at the end of August can survive severe frost.

Seed propagation is preferably carried out in early spring. For Tradescantia you need to prepare a mixture of sand and peat. The humidity of the environment can be maintained by spraying. The air temperature should not drop to + 20 degrees. The first inflorescences will appear within three years.

Tradescantia can spread by self-seeding.

Outdoors, the flower can reproduce by self-sowing. It must be taken into account that the characteristics of the parent plant are not preserved.

Why doesn't the culture bloom?

The plant does not produce buds in a dark room or shaded area. In some subspecies, for example, white-flowered tradescantia, flowering occurs quite rarely. The life cycle of each inflorescence is only one day.

Planting material

Tradescantia zebrina in a pot with a diameter of 18 cm can be purchased for 1,450 rubles. The total height of the crop is 30 cm.

A mixture of Tradescantia seeds is sold for 15 rubles. There are 5 rudiments in the package.