Brighten your home with a vibrant inch plant! This guide makes Tradescantia care simple, from light needs to propagation tips.

The inch plant, also known as Tradescantia or wandering dude, is a popular houseplant known for its vibrant foliage and cascading growth habit. It’s incredibly easy to care for, making it perfect for beginners.

If you’re looking to add a touch of color and life to your home, this trailing plant is a fantastic choice! I’ve had my inch plant for over a year now, and it’s thrived so much that I recently had to repot it to give it more space. Inspired by its resilient, easy-going nature, I decided to put together this guide to help you grow your own thriving Tradescantia.

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A vibrant green and purple Tradescantia plant in a decorative ceramic pot with a floral pattern sits on a wooden surface near a window, with soft, natural light illuminating the leaves.

Light Requirements for Tradescantia

Tradescantia loves bright, indirect light. A spot near a window, but not in direct sunlight, is perfect. If your plant isn’t getting enough light, its growth may become leggy and the leaves might lose their vibrancy. However, too much direct sunlight can scorch the leaves. Variegated varieties, with their striking patterns of white, cream, or pink, generally need more light to maintain their coloration.

Soil

Well-draining soil is crucial for happy Tradescantia. A standard potting mix with added perlite or vermiculite will do the trick. These amendments improve drainage and prevent the roots from becoming waterlogged.

Temperature

Tradescantia prefers average room temperatures between 65-75°F (18-24°C). Avoid placing your plant in drafty areas or near air conditioners or heaters, as sudden temperature fluctuations can stress the plant. Also, make sure to keep it away from cold windows during the winter months, as temperatures below 50°F (10°C) can damage the leaves.

Humidity for the Inch Plant

While Tradescantia tolerates average household humidity, it will flourish in a more humid environment. If your home is particularly dry, especially during the winter, you can increase humidity around your plant by grouping it with other plants, placing it on a pebble tray filled with water, or using a humidifier.

A small potted plant with variegated green and white leaves, and purple accents, sits on an ornate metal table. The pot is wrapped in a woven material. A brown wall with part of a sign reading 'Mediums' is in the background.
Close-up of a Tradescantia zebrina plant with vibrant green, purple, and silver-striped leaves. The foliage is lush and dense, showcasing the unique patterns and colors of the leaves.

Watering Your Tradescantia

Allow the top inch of soil to dry out between waterings. Overwatering is a common mistake that can lead to root rot, a serious condition that can be fatal to your plant. During the winter months, when growth slows down, reduce watering frequency.

Fertilizing Tradescantia

To encourage healthy growth, fertilize your Tradescantia monthly during the growing season (spring and summer). Use a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted to half strength. Avoid fertilizing during the fall and winter, as the plant doesn’t need as many nutrients during its dormant period.

Common Pests and Diseases

Tradescantia is generally pest-resistant, but it can occasionally be bothered by aphids, spider mites, or mealybugs. Regularly inspect your plant for any signs of pests, such as tiny insects, webbing, or sticky residue. If you do find pests, you can treat them with insecticidal soap or neem oil.

The most common disease affecting Tradescantia is root rot, usually caused by overwatering. To prevent root rot, ensure your plant is potted in well-draining soil and avoid overwatering.

A potted plant with lush green and purple leaves sits on an ornate white metal table. The pot is made of woven material and the background features horizontal beige siding with part of a sign visible, reading "Mediums." The setting appears to be a patio or porch.

Propagating Tradescantia Plants

Tradescantia is incredibly easy to propagate, which means you can easily create new plants from cuttings. Here are the most common methods:

Water Propagation

  1. Take stem cuttings about 4-6 inches long, cutting just below a node (the point where leaves grow from the stem).
  2. Remove the leaves from the bottom inch or two of the cutting.
  3. Place the cuttings in a jar or glass of water, making sure the nodes are submerged.
  4. Place the jar in a bright location, but out of direct sunlight.
  5. Change the water every few days to prevent bacteria buildup.
  6. Once roots have developed (usually within a week or two), you can plant the cuttings in soil.

Soil Propagation

  1. Take cuttings as described above.
  2. Fill a small pot with well-draining potting mix.
  3. Dip the cut end of the stems in rooting hormone (optional, but it can speed up the process).
  4. Make a small hole in the soil with a pencil or your finger and insert the cutting.
  5. Gently firm the soil around the cutting.
  6. Water the soil and place the pot in a bright location, out of direct sunlight.
  7. Keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy.
A vibrant potted plant with variegated green and purple leaves sits on a wooden stand by a sunlit window. Other plants are partially visible nearby. Outside, autumn trees can be seen through the glass.

Direct Planting

  1. This method works well with longer, trailing stems.
  2. Choose a healthy stem and, without detaching it from the mother plant, bury a section of it in a nearby pot of soil.
  3. Secure the stem with a bobby pin or a small rock to keep it in place.
  4. Keep the soil moist.
  5. Once the buried section has rooted, you can cut the stem from the mother plant.

Varieties of Tradescantia

There are many beautiful varieties of Tradescantia to choose from, each with its own unique foliage. Some popular options include:

  • Tradescantia zebrina: This variety is known for its striking purple and silver striped leaves.
  • Tradescantia fluminensis: This variety has green and white variegated leaves. This is the variety I am growing from Proven Winners Leafjoy called Feelin’ Flirty.
  • Tradescantia pallida: This variety has deep purple leaves.
  • Tradescantia ‘Nanouk’: This variety boasts beautiful pink, purple, and green variegated leaves.
A close-up of green and purple variegated Tradescantia zebrina leaves. The leaves have distinctive stripes, alternating between deep green and bright purple with silver edges. They are set against a textured, cream-colored background.

Final Thoughts About Growing Inch Plant (Tradescantia)

Tradescantia is a rewarding houseplant that’s easy to care for and propagate. With its vibrant foliage and cascading growth, it adds a touch of nature and color to any space. By following these simple tips, you can ensure your Wandering Dude thrives and brings you joy for years to come. Happy growing!

To learn more about growing tradescantia, please see this article from the University of Wisconsin Cooperative Extension.

To drill down on houseplant care basics and growing an indoor garden that thrives, please read my articles:

Thank you for visiting the blog today!

Enjoy your day! xo

Stacy Ling bricksnblooms logo
Collage image with three photos of a Tradescantia plant in a decorative pot. The plant has green, pink, and purple foliage. Text reads: "Tradescantia Care: A Beginner's Guide to Growing Inch Plant.
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Stacy Ling

Stacy Ling is author of the best selling book, The Bricks 'n Blooms Guide to a Beautiful and Easy-Care Flower Garden, and writes the blog Bricks ’n Blooms from her 1850 farmhouse located in zone 6b northern New Jersey. She is a master gardener who’s been gardening for over 25 years and enjoys sharing her passion to help beginners find their inner green thumb, as well as discover a love for all things plants and flowers. Stacy loves to bring the outdoors inside her home and decorates with a comfy, casual, and cottagecore style. Come grow stuff and create beautiful spaces with her.

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2 Comments

  1. Thank you for this, and all of your, informative posts. I’ve learned so much.
    I do have a question in regards to my Inch Plant/Wandering Dude, what would make the stems brittle? They break off so easily I can gently move one of the stems and it breaks. I always put the broken stem in water to root, but I’d rather they stay on the original plant!
    Thanks for any information you might be able to give me.

    Reply

    1. Thank you! I appreciate your feedback!!! I’m glad you find it helpful. That characteristic is what makes it so easy to propagate. Imagine a plant that loves to spread out and cover the ground. That’s what Tradescantia does! Its stems are a bit fragile and break easily, but that’s actually a good thing for this plant. Think of it like this: when a stem breaks, it’s like a little cutting. This cutting can then land on the soil and grow roots, creating a whole new plant! This is why Tradescantia is so easy to grow. You can snip a piece, stick it in water or soil, and it will happily grow into a new plant. Where it natively grows, in some areas, it can be invasive due to this habit.

      Reply