Humidity is not often an issue outdoors, but if your indoor purple queen plant has limp or brown dried leaves, it may need more. According to Cheryl Long, author of Rodales Successful Organic Gardening: Houseplants and Container Gardens, available on Amazon, some Tradescantia species, such as T. zebrina, prefer cool nights. Purple heart plants grow in loose, airy, moist, and well-draining soil. Otherwise, if its not hail damage, then make sure the plant is getting enough airflow to keep mildew from forming. This may be adventatgeous if you are using 'Purple Queen' in a container recipe as it will allow the plant to mix more easily with the other plants and to trail longer over the edge of patio planters and hanging baskets. Although these plants do well with moist soil, they also require good drainage. Some species are variegated, while others are solid green or solid purple in color. If the plant looks sparse, trimming the plant or pinching off stems tips will encourage branching and a full appearance. Small, tri-colored pink blooms come and go quickly throughout the summer, but you'll want this superb mixer for its distinctive foliage form and color. This will help the roots spread into their new soil. Purple heart plants thrive in humid climates, so if growing as a houseplant, use a humidifier to mimic tropical conditions. When grown as houseplants, that spreading growth habit translates into long, trailing vines. Purple heart plants need rich, moist, well-draining soil to grow. If you have small children or pets, please keep these houseplants out of reach, just to be safe. After about a month, when you see new growth appearing on the stems, you can safely remove the plastic. Fertilize purple heart plants twice a month throughout the growing seasonspring to fallwith a diluted liquid balanced fertilizer. They will eventually fall, leaving the calyces. Make sure its receiving full sun, or intense indoor light for 8+ hours a day. it's a very low maintenance plant and easy to grow.. Tradescantia pallida Purpurea also known as Purple Queen, Purple Heart, Setcresea Purpurea, Purple Spiderwort, or Wandering Jew Purpurea is a popular evergreen perennial. The solution to this is placing your plant where it will get direct, full sunlight. The lance-shaped leaves can reach up to 7 long on delicate, thin stems. Theyll do their best with 8+ hours every day. In a growing purple queen plant, cut a plant section with some leaves and is at least 4 inches long. Indirect or filtered light helps avoid leaf burn or scorch, but too little sunlight will cause foliage to drop. A fast-growing member of the spiderwort family with dark purple leaves and long purple stems is the purple heart plant (Tradescantia pallida), also known as purple secretia or purple queen. Its also easy to care for, making it ideal for beginners wanting to learn how to grow a Tradescantia pallida plant. This striking appearance makes it perfect for everyday use as an ornamental plant in gardens and along borders or driveways. Thanks to its downward trailing stem it stands out the most when used in rock gardens, border fronts, and wall plantings. Tips for planting & caring for Purple Heart Plants, plant within a safe distance from kids and pets, 5 Jew cuttings Purple Heart Wandering Tradescantia Pallida Purpurea 4"-6" Long, 5 Cuttings Purple Heart Wandering Jew - Tradescantia Pallida Purpurea Plant, 5 Cuttings Purple Heart Wandering Jew - Tradescantia Pallida Purpurea. Miruna is an experienced content writer with a passion for gardening. Here is more about what we do. For a fuller-looking specimen, pinching or cutting back vines will help to encourage bushier growth. These are mostly green but highly fringed with the shades of purple or red. Move the entire container into indirect sunlight for one to two weeks and keep the cutting moist. T. zebrina Silvery Inch Plant in 2.5-inch pot. Commonly planted in pots or displayed in hanging baskets, purple hearts are aptly named, as their foliage appears in silvery purple and violet hues. From vegetables, herbs, and flowers to cacti, succulents, tropicals, and houseplants - you name it, I've grown it! Use As A Spiller In Containers. It is a widely commercialized genus, important in the nursery and landscape trade. Use loamy soil because its the best at good drainage and water retention. Moreover, during the summer months, it produces small purple flowers. Growing it in the shade will make it appear more green than purple. which you may know as purple queen or purple heart. What you need when planting purple queen plants; The first step is to prepare your garden. It is native to the Gulf Coast region of eastern Mexico. For more of a full-sized plant, you can root several cuttings and plant them in one pot. Tradescantia species dont require pruning but it is something you might want to consider if you want to have more of a say over the way your spiderwort looks. The stems and upper surfaces of the leaves are a deep royal purple with shades of a faint dusty turquoise-gunmetal that becomes darker as the foliage grows older. Now that you have the ideal place in mind to grow a purple heart plant, lets talk about their care. Thanks for this in depth informative article. Stories of the wandering Jew folk figure span the centuries and while not all of these stories were purely negative, the legend itself is rooted in negative stereotypes. Spiderwort is a very underrated garden flower. Some of them include; liquid fertilizers, general-purpose fertilizers, organic fertilizers, granulated fertilizers, and slow-release fertilizers. It can also be helpful to lift your inch plants pot to check it for dryness. Much like the hairs found on tomato stems, these hairs are able to grow into roots as spiderworts spread. Spiderwort is considered a weed by some and a cheerful wildflower by others. Caring for the purple queen plant is very easy, although it needs careful handling. Give it a hard prune to rejuvenate it. Please remember, however, that although spiderworts may seem indestructible, they dont have quite the water storage capacity of a cactus, so dont think you can get away with total neglect. The color is more vibrant when given plenty of light. It has also been given the nickname Purple Spiderlily, which comes from its plant genus Spiderwort - also known as Tradescantia. When well-intentioned plant parents give their houseplants a little too much love (i.e. Keep the soil moist, but not soggy to prevent the plant from rotting. Contact miruna@gardenbeast.com. And if you choose to ignore this advice just dont say I didnt warn you. But you may also be able to find the much more rare variegated purple heart, which features pink striping along the leaves. There are always projects, opportunities. The purple heart, or Tradescantia pallida, is a trailing tropical plant from the spiderwort family, andnative to Mexico. The optimum amount of sun or shade each plant needs to thrive: Full Sun (6+ hours), Part Sun (4-6 hours), Full Shade (up to 4 hours). Before using them, do thorough research. Extreme heat and direct sun can scorch its leaves. Foliage will die back to ground level once temperatures begin falling below freezing. Rubbing alcohol can also be used to remove aphids, mealybugs, and scale, but it should be tested on a single leaf before trying wider application, as it can burn the leaves on these plants. Full Shade to Full Sun (Can Grow In Most Sunlight Conditions) Mature Height 12 - 18 Inches. The wandering Jew plant is a common name for different species of plants that belong to the Tradescantia genus. To avoid this, you need to prune them once you notice they are overgrown. Tradescantia Purpurea loves to get a little sun but it needs some shade during hot summer days, especially at noon. Its also proven to survive freezes and comes back strong in the Spring! However, as allTradescantiaplants are toxic topeopleandpets, be mindful of where you grow this trailing plantjuice from the leaves or stems can cause skin irritation for some people and even some dogs. During watering, you should only water the roots, not the whole plant. The purple queen plant is most commonly grown for foliage, but it also features pale lavender or pink, three-petaled flowers that bloom in the summer. When tended to indoors, spiderwort plants can be started and grown year-round (though they should be planted in early fall if grown outdoors). It is a long-jointed sprawling ground-cover plant. Make sure to maintain plenty of drainage holes to prevent root rot. This can prevent the germination and establishment of other native plants. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. They usually produce new leaves quite quickly while also shedding the older ones. To repot your spiderwort, choose a pot that is only one to two inches larger than the current pot, and make sure it has drainage holes. Its got some new healthy looking growth. Im sure you will feel so embarrassed and discouraged. I loved being surrounded by all that lush greenery when I was indoors. In warm climates, it is grown as an evergreen perennial that adds a pop of gorgeous purple color to your garden year after year. Purple Queen Purple Heart Purple Secretia. Your Tradescantia will not need to be repotted very often. If you're feeling put off of this plant because of its name- don't worry! Christia Obcordata Guide: How to Grow & Care for Butterfly Plant, ZZ Plants Guide: How to Grow & Care for Zamioculcas zamiifolia, Calamagrostis Guide: How to Grow & Care for Reed Grass, Schefflera Amate Guide: How to Grow & Care for Dwarf Umbrella Tree, Dracaena Reflexa Guide: How to Grow & Care for Song of India, 5 cuttings (stems) that you plant and become a new plant. I honestly cant think of any other houseplant that grows this quickly and is so easy to propagate can you? Healthy purple hearts are generally pest free, but occasionally you may encounter an issue. Look for leaf beetles, scales, mealybugs, aphids, vine weevils, caterpillars, slugs, and snails. When ordering spiderworts online during winter, make sure they are sent with a heat pack (or two) to avoid chill damage during transport. Moving plants to new pots occurs most often during the growing season. Its purple leaves are long and oval-shaped, producing small purple flowers in summer. Inconsistent watering (usually too much), lack of sunlight, or cold temperatures are all common causes. Or if you havent yet added vermicomposting to your skill set, you can purchase ready-made earthworm tea packets from the Earthworm Technologies Store, available via Amazon. On the other hand, if you want your inch plant to have long, trailing vines, theres a trick to help with this as well: Instead of hanging the container from a ceiling hook, try letting your plant grow on a flat surface for a while, which will encourage its stems to spread out horizontally. Thats one of the reasons these plants can so easily become invasive when grown outdoors. When planted outdoors, the purple heart plant grows best with regular watering and a balance of full sun and light shade despite being relatively drought-tolerant. Here is how to propagate the purple heart plant through stem cuttings: If growing the purple heart plant as a houseplant, repotting might be necessary if the roots extend to the edge of its current container. Copyright - Daniel Oren All Rights Reserved. The Proven Accents Purple Queen Spiderwort can flower for weeks on end, but it's the outstanding purple foliage that really steals the show. Tradescantia pallida is not on the ASPCAs toxic plant list of plants that are toxic to cats and dogs. The blooms can be white, purple, pink, and other similar colorsdepending on species and varietyand appear regularly. Wandering Jew plants are great house plants because they are relatively easy to care for. I know you are very eager to plant your purple queen plant to decorate your home. Keep it somewhere warm and bright for 1-2 weeks. Add manure or garden compost to your soil and mix it well until the ground becomes loose. Easygoing inch plant does not often succumb to disease. Its a spreading plant that will fill up any space its given, but rarely grows taller than 1.5. An inexpensive moisture gauge will help you get it just right. Wrap your pot in a clear plastic bag that you can secure with an elastic rubber and place the pot in a bright place, away from direct sunlight. Like most plants, Tradescantia Purpurea needs to be watered more frequently in summer, and less in winter with the growth process is paused. Treat them immediately with rubbing alcohol, neem oil, or an insecticidal soap for best results. Once you have your soil and new pot at the ready, remove the plant from its old pot. The foliage may die back after a light freeze, but can regrow in the spring as long as the ground doesnt freeze. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); .slick-slider#wpsp-83656 {margin-left: 0px; }.slick-slider#wpsp-83656 .wp-show-posts-inner {margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; }#wpsp-83656.wpsp-card .wp-show-posts-single {margin-bottom: 2em; }.slick-slider#wpsp-83656 .wp-show-posts-single {margin-bottom: 0px; }#wpsp-83656 .wp-show-posts-inner {background-color: #ffffff; }#wpsp-83656.wp-show-posts .wp-show-posts-entry-title {font-size: .9em; }.wp-show-posts-columns#wpsp-83656 {margin-left: -2em; }.wp-show-posts-columns#wpsp-83656 .wp-show-posts-inner {margin: 0 0 2em 2em; } If your plants colour changes to brown, it is likely because there isnt enough moisture. Tradescantia plants are considered fast-growing. Tradescantia pallida require little care once theyre established. The plant can grow in the shade or indoors in places with low levels of light, but the foliage will remain green instead of purple. Take your plant, place it in the hole, and then push the soil gently and fill the space around the roots. Also known as tradescantia pallida but commonly known as Purple Heart and Purple Queen. It gets its common name from the delicate heart-shaped blossoms. As an outdoor plant, spiderworts can be used as annuals in your flower beds or as perennials if you live in the right zone. In keeping with their laid-back demeanors, wandering dudes arent particularly prone to either diseases or insect infestations. Imagine when you visit your friend, and she gives you some beautiful purple queen plants to go and plant, but you dont know how to do it. Under a brown shell, theres an insect attached to your plant, greedily sucking away. Though purple heart plants will only grow to a certain height, they do tend to fill a container fairly quickly when given the proper care. Prolonged exposure to freezing weather will eventually kill the plant however, roots and all. Purple Queen Spiderwort is a native herbaceous perennial with blade shaped lily like foliage that emerges dark red and matures to deep purple. Many years later, having returned from my life abroad, Ive finally decided to start cultivating an indoor jungle again. Moreover, the best time to prune is after they have adequately bloomed. Wilted and limp stems that have an unusual and unhealthy aspect can be a sign of root rot. Purple heart is native to the Gulf Coast region of Mexico and can grow to heights of one and a half feet tall and wide. Know which pests might affect your spiderworts so that you can nip them in their pesky little buds. As the host plant for the Gulf Fritillary butterfly, . Deer tend to leave this plant alone due to the sticky sap in its stems. Once you get your package, remove it with great care to avoid breaking its stems. It works well in both sun and shade and can function as a unifying element to give sun and shade plantings a common plant. Be inspired with our Gardener's Idea Book and Winner's Circle newsletter, Proven Accents 'Purple Queen' - Purple Spiderwort - Tradescantia pallida. You may want to relegate them to houseplant status where you can make sure they dont get out of hand. If you ask me does it flower? Tradescantia Zebrina: Spiderwort Inchplant Zebrina pendula Is Wandering Jew Toxic for Cats? The purple queen plant is a famous beautiful evergreen perennial with long trailing stems and pointed purple leaves. But if you run into one of these more common issues, my tips can help you restore them to good health. Required fields are marked *. But heres the thing when growing outdoors, plants have access to a rich diversity of nutrients and minerals in the soil which is constantly being refreshed. According to Richard G. Hawks, Plant Evaluations Manager at the Chicago Botanic Garden, the common name spiderwort was most likely inspired by the web-like threads that form from the plants sap and harden after stems are severed. You can read more about what type of lamps to use for your plants in our dedicated article on grow lights for indoor gardening. Hardiness Zones: 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b, 12a, 12b. - yes, it does; and mostly during summer. Growing and caring for these houseplants is easy, making spiderworts great options for beginning indoor gardeners. Here are a few top picks. I still have this growing in a pot on my kitchen table!! If you buy from one of our links,we may earn a commission. Why Does My Wandering Jew Have Brown Leaves & How To Fix It, How To Care For Heart Leaf Philodendron (Philodendron hederaceum), How To Care For A Philodendron Birkin Plant, How To Care For A Pink Princess Philodendron, The Best Indoor Houseplant Supplies, Tools & Equipment, How To Care For Umbrella Tree Plant (Schefflera arboricola), What To Do With An Amaryllis After It Blooms, Terms Of Use, Disclaimer & Privacy Policy, Allow soil to dry slightly, do not overwater. Feed the newly rooted plant every month, using a water-soluble fertilizer. Once you see roots or new growth, pot them up in your container or choice. Reduce watering somewhat during the winter since they dont need quite as much water during the cooler weather. There are two different stories about how this father and son team became associated with the genus that bears their name. Set them on a pebble tray or run a small humidifier nearby to increase the humidity in your home. Browse reviews from people who have grown this plant. We provide you with the latest breaking news and videos straight from the entertainment industry. (If you can, let me know in the comments! You can apply the soak and dry technique and rewater the plant when you notice that the top 1 inch (2.5cm) of soil is dry. Yellowing of purple heart leaves is most often a sign of overwatering. Lets have a look at how to grow it. Insignificant 3-petaled deep pink flowers last for only a day but bloom continuously on the stiff stems above the foliage for several weeks in spring. COPYRIGHT 2023 ASK THE EXPERTS LLC. Ensure you dont come into direct contact with the plants because they can be toxic when consumed. Find a good watering schedule and stick to it. Where you make your pinch or cut, the stem may branch. The plant grows relatively low and reaches only a maximum of 12 inches upon maturity. Purple Heart Plant Care & Growing Instructions, Troubleshooting Purple Queen Care Problems. Rodales Successful Organic Gardening: Houseplants and Container Gardens. These delicate blooms can be pink, white, blue, or purple, depending on the species or cultivar. Other common names include purple secretia, purple-heart, and purple queen. Whichever the case, the purple is always predominant color, which is why it's called the purple queen. Allow the soil to drain entirely and wait until the top few inches of soil are dry. When grown outdoors, the purple heart plant will die back in the winter when temperatures reach below 40F, but the roots stay alive. Uncredited photos: Shutterstock. But you can also amend it with perlite or pumice to increase drainage and reduce the risk of overwatering. Instructions, Troubleshooting purple queen Spiderwort is considered a weed by some and cheerful. Water-Soluble fertilizer re feeling put off of this plant alone due to the Gulf Coast region eastern... Other houseplant that grows this quickly and is so easy to propagate you! 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