When keeping houseplants, its important to start with a healthy specimen. However, if you consult the third edition of Small Animal Toxicology, available on Amazon, youll find a different take on these species. Purple heart plants grow in loose, airy, moist, and well-draining soil. Aphids are tiny sap-sucking insects that tend to set up camp on the undersides of foliage. Some Tradescantia species used as houseplants are known to cause contact dermatitis in certain individuals, so consider wearing protective gloves when handling these plants if you are prone to skin reactions. Scale can appear on either leaves or stems and can cause leaves to turn yellow. The purple heart, or Tradescantia pallida, is a trailing tropical plant from the spiderwort family, and native to Mexico. After several weeks, water your plants according to the weather. Purple hearts are very easy to propagate with a stem cutting taken from any part of the plant. 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. Its all a bit of clever camouflage. The 'Purple Heart' (Tradescantia pallida) is a hardy plant with a stunning color payoff. Small holes may appear on the foliage if a pest infestation occurs, but soapy water or an insecticide can help if the issue persists. Tradescantia Pallida (Moses In The Basket, Purple Heart, Purple Queen, Purple Spiderwort) Synonyms: Setcreasea pallida, S. pallida, and S. purpurea. Tradescantia pallida "Purpurea" also known as Purple Queen, Purple Heart, Setcresea Purpurea, Purple Spiderwort, or Wandering Jew "Purpurea" is a popular evergreen perennial. 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. If you dont have much natural light available, either because of the orientation of your home or because you live in a climate where you frequently experience cloudy weather, such as the Pacific Northwest, you may want to consider supplementing with a grow light. However, the conditions in your home may be different, so check your plants, and adjust your watering routine accordingly. The other common name is purple queen due to the color that makes up the stems, leaves, and flowers. Move the entire container into indirect sunlight for one to two weeks and keep the cutting moist. In this post, Ill show you all you need to know in order to keep them thriving. Place the cuttings in a bright place, but not under direct sunlight as this may prevent them from rooting. When it starts drying out too quickly between waterings, you may want to repot. The cultivar T. pallida 'Purpurea' is commonly called purple secretia, purple-heart, [2] or purple queen. Find more information on controlling scale insects here. By clicking the button you are agreeing to receive our email newsletter. Spiderwort is a common name that refers to many species in the genus Tradescantia, pronounced trad-es-KAN-tee-uh or trad-es-KAN-shuh.. Purple Heart Plant Care & Growing Instructions, Troubleshooting Purple Queen Care Problems. In the winter theyll need much less. Uncredited photos: Shutterstock. Be inspired with our Gardener's Idea Book and Winner's Circle newsletter, Proven Accents 'Purple Queen' - Purple Spiderwort - Tradescantia pallida. Asking for a friend). Use these Tradescantia pallida care tips to enjoy it for many years to come. Its a spreading plant that will fill up any space its given, but rarely grows taller than 1.5. It will thrive in an indoor environment. They will not usually respond too poorly if you overwater them once in a blue moon, and they also have some built-in resistance to being underwatered, thanks to their fleshy leaves. Plants need more water when establishing, but after a few years are relatively drought-tolerant. As the host plant for the Gulf Fritillary butterfly, . If you want to be successful maintaining any indoor plant that you want, then you need a copy of my Winter Houseplant Care eBook. Let me know below in the comments section below! What you need when planting purple queen plants; The first step is to prepare your garden. Queen's Spiderwort is a tropical perennial plant native to wet, tropical regions of Columbia and Peru with showy purple flowers that bloom from summer into fall and dark green evergreen leaves. Because of his taunting, the story goes, this man was doomed to wander the earth until the second coming of Jesus. Every plant has its suggested way of spacingthat information you can find that information on the label of your plant pack. The spreading nature of purple queen plants makes pruning a necessary part of their care, both indoors and outdoors. You can either take cuttings and let them root in a glass of water, or simply place your new, unrooted cuttings directly into a pot of prepared houseplant soil. Mature Spread 12 - 24 Inches. If your plant is getting a normal amount of water, and your plant shows healthy growth, theres no need to worry. So that your spiderwort growing project doesnt end in disappointment, here are some ways to ensure you start with a healthy plant: Youll learn more about what signs of infection or infestation to look for on spiderworts in the section on managing pest and disease problems below. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Luckily, each plant produces many buds throughout spring and into early summer. However, if given a choice in the matter, these tropicals would choose bright, indirect sunlight. Plant them in spring about 4 to 6 inches (10-15 cm.) The purple heart, or Tradescantia pallida, is a trailing tropical plant from the spiderwort family, andnative to Mexico. In keeping with their laid-back demeanors, wandering dudes arent particularly prone to either diseases or insect infestations. Water when the top one to two inches of soil are dry. Foliage will die back to ground level once temperatures begin falling below freezing. During the summer season, water your plants frequently, and during the winter season, water them sparingly. Leggy or sparse growth with long stems can be a sign of lack of sunlight, or simply age. Indoors, a good quality general potting soil will work. COPYRIGHT 2023 ASK THE EXPERTS LLC. It is native to the Gulf Coast region of eastern Mexico. It is also excellent in containers and ideal for gardening beginners. 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. If you have let spiderwort into your heart, you should now be prepared to also let it into your home, and to keep it happy there. Too much fertilization can cause leaf burn, so reduce feedings to once a month during the winter. The genus Tradescantia was named by the father of taxonomy, Carl Linnaeus, to honor John Tradescant the Elder and his son, John Tradescant the Younger. The blossoms have no scent, appear at the end of a stem, and are small, rarely exceeding more than 1.5 wide. You can make your own insecticidal spray with 1 teaspoon of gentle liquid soap and 1 liter of water. Also known as T. pallida Purpurea, it is sometimes taxonomically classified as Setcreasea purpurea. The Tradescantia genus is made up of 75 species, many of which have a wandering or vining growth habit. apart. You dont need to water the plant because the plastic will keep all the moisture in. The best location to grow purple queen plants is somewhere that will provide lots of sun. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); GardenBeast is an online publication which launched in 2019 with the aim of providing the latest news, in-depth how-to guides and reviews of popular products to help you make the most from your back yards and gardens. Contact miruna@gardenbeast.com. Like aphids, they can sicken your spiderwort by stealing its nutrients and a serious infestation can kill your houseplant. When well-intentioned plant parents give their houseplants a little too much love (i.e. But the University of Wisconsin notes that sap from cut or broken stems can occasionally cause skin irritation for people or pets. 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. Dip the cutting in a rooting hormone and place it directly into a container filled with potting soil or water. Growing Zones 8 - 11. These species grow to about one to one and a half feet tall and wide. What do you love the most about this plant how easy it is to care for, how fast it puts out new foliage, or how supremely simple it is to propagate? All content found on this website is copyrighted materials and any form of reproduction is strictly prohibited. Keep on reading to know more. Weekly waterings should suffice for established plants, but more during the blooming season or periods of extreme heat. Is the purple heart plant indoor or outdoor? For this reason, Purpleheart plants are considered invasive in Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands. During watering, you should only water the roots, not the whole plant. Lets have a look at how to grow it. This can prevent the germination and establishment of other native plants. Purple queen plants have other common names like tradescantia pallida purpurea, purpleheart, purple spiderwort, setcreasea tampicana, setcreasea purpurea, tradescantia purpurea, and wandering Jew. 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. Know which pests might affect your spiderworts so that you can nip them in their pesky little buds. Prolonged exposure to freezing weather will eventually kill the plant however, roots and all. Seeds can be sown outdoors in either fall or early spring and should be lightly covered. I know how it feels because I have been in your shoes before. The plant grows relatively low and reaches only a maximum of 12 inches upon maturity. Love this plant as ground cover that thrives in sun or shade. 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. 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. Your Tradescantia will not need to be repotted very often. Fertilizing your purple queen plant will incredibly boost its growth. Purple heart plants have foliage that turns brown when it lacks moisture or humidity. 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. Tradescantia pallida Purpurea is a tender and attractive plant of outstanding colors. Avoid purchasing specimens with signs of disease or pests. It can tolerate drought conditions once established, but will also thrive when grown with regular moisture. As they feed, they excrete honeydew, a sticky substance that can provide a foothold for sooty mold. Moreover, during the summer months, it produces small purple flowers. Only give them a drink when the top few inches of soil are dry. Tradescantia Purpurea pallida can be propagated easily by rooting cuttings in water or directly in the soil. Purple heart plants (aka purple queen) are easy to care for, and can grow both indoors or outside. Theyll do their best with 8+ hours every day. On the other hand, growing a purple heart in full sun will help it develop a bright purple color. This plant is the best selection for planting in an outdoor container and hanging baskets. Now that you know how easy it is to grow the striking purple heart plant, it can be a beautiful addition to your home or garden. 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