Cultivation methods and precautions of Tradescantia

How to grow Tradescantia

soil

Tradescantia has low soil requirements and can grow normally in sandy soil and loam, but it grows more vigorously in loose and fertile sandy loam.

temperature

Temperature is very important for the flowering of Tradescantia. Its suitable growth temperature is 18℃ ~ 30℃. It should avoid cold and frost. The wintering temperature needs to be kept above 10℃. When the temperature is below 0℃, Tradescantia will die due to frostbite.

illumination

Tradescantia loves light. Insufficient light will cause the plant to grow too tall and the leaves to turn yellow. However, Tradescantia is afraid of direct sunlight, so it needs to be shaded and kept in semi-shade. If it is indoors, try to place it in a brightly lit place. Note: Get more exposure to sunlight in winter and avoid excessive sunlight in summer.

humidity

Tradescantia prefers a humid climate and requires a relative humidity of 60-75% in its growing environment. Just keep it around 70%.

Water and fertilizer management

Tradescantia requires the soil to be slightly moist. Too wet will cause root rot. Generally, it should be watered at least once a month. When watering, pay attention to alternating between dry and wet seasons. Water less in winter. When it is hot and dry, spray water on the leaves frequently.

Tradescantia does not have very high requirements for fertilizer, but if you want it to bloom beautiful flowers, you can apply a thin layer of fertilizer appropriately. Generally, liquid fertilizer is applied every 10-15 days in the early growth stage. In terms of seasons, fertilizer should be applied once every half a month in spring and autumn, while no fertilizer is needed in summer and winter.

Things to note when growing Tradescantia

Reproduction method

Tradescantia is basically propagated by cuttings. The best time to breed is in autumn.

Repotting

Repot once a year. When repotting in spring, you can cut off the old stems and allow the axillary buds to germinate and grow after repotting. Use equal amounts of leaf mold, garden soil, and river sand as the substrate.