Chances are you’ve come across a Tradescantia at some point in your life whether you knew it or not! Sometimes called Inchplants or Spiderwort, Tradescantia belong to a huge genus of prolific flowering plants found both indoors and outdoors! At Moonfire we always stock both tropical Tradescantia and perennial Spiderwort, as they’re favorites among both beginners and seasoned plant parents.

The most popular Trads to keep as houseplants are the Zebrina Purple and Nanouk. Zebrina Purple Tradescantias develop purple stems that grow in loose, organic vines. Nodes are found every inch along the delicate stems, sometimes branching off at interesting angles. Each of these nodes are indicators of where roots can sprout from when cut and placed in water! The leaves of the Zebrina are the most striking part of the plant. Fantastic swathes of plum and silver stripe the leaves in a painterly fashion, literally sparkling in the sun!

They can climb up a trellis, trail, or stay bushy if trimmed short. To encourage fullness at the base of the plant, make a habit of adding stem cuttings into the soil to fill any bare spots. Zebrinas like bright light to enhance their gorgeous coloring and promote flowering, but direct sun will cause bleaching. North and East windows yield the best light for these vines. Watering when a shallow finger poke reveals dry soil. Typically putting you on a once-a-week schedule, keeping them moist and green!

Nanouk Tradescantias have sturdier stems, bigger leaves and a more compact growth habit. As for coloring, they share the same charming striations minus the metallic notes, but sport hot magenta and mint-colored stripes! They tend to grow naturally bushy without any fussy re-planting of stem cuttings. A common issue with Tradescantia in general is lack of humidity. If ambient moisture is too low, browning on the tips of the leaves will occur. If you’re not a big mister, consider putting it above your kitchen sink or in a bathroom window to reap all the benefits of running water!

Another fun variety of Tradescantia is the Tahitian Bridal Veil that you can read about in the next article. All in all, Tradescantias add a much needed splash of color to the sea of green that most houseplants provide!