Tradescantia or “man’s love”: a beautiful plant and very easy to care for

Also known as “man’s love”, the tradescantia It is native to the tropical regions of North and South America.. The plant, with its oval, pointed leaves in green, silver, and purple, grows quite fast in these regions, so it is often used as a ground cover.

Actually, the tradescantia plant is a family composed of more than 70 species, among which is the Tradescantia zebrina, which is properly known as the love of man. Why is it called man’s love? Mystery, it is not known.

As an indoor ornamental plant, the tradescantia has minimal needs that we can easily satisfy. It likes to be in a place with a lot of indirect sunlight. Make sure the soil dries out before watering the plant again.

tradescantia watering

It is best to water the tradescantia once a week. Make sure the soil dries out briefly between waterings.

Check the soil regularly by sticking your finger knuckle-deep into the soil. If the soil is already dry after two days, give the plant a little more water. If the soil is still very wet after five days, you should water less.

If the plant is dry for a long time, the leaves will begin to fall off. and they will become opaque. If this happens once it won’t be a problem, but if it happens more than once, parts of the stem will dry out.

This it causes the rest of the stem to lose its watering and fall off the plant. If the plant receives too much water, the stems or roots will rot.

In a bright place, the plant needs more water than in a dark place. The size of the plant also influences when watering it

Other care of the plant love of man

In addition to regular watering with short breaks, the tradescantia appreciates regular spraying of the leaves and other care.

spray the leaves

Tradescantia is an indoor plant that prefers humidity. Regular spraying benefits you. Also it is a good solution against lice and mites and, in addition, dust is removed from the leaves.

The dust removal It has two advantages, first that the plant looks prettier. In second place, a dust-free leaf receives more light, giving the plant more color.

light and heat

Tradescantia prefers a location with plenty of light, but not too much direct sunlight. The ideal location is between sun and partial shade.

Tradescantia species with lighter leaves can be placed in a sunnier location than those with darker leaves.

Take care not to put the plant in a sunny spot immediately after purchase. First let the plant acclimate for a few days in a semi-shaded place.

If the leaves change color, the plant may be in a place that is too bright. if a plant it does not produce many new leaves in spring and summer, it is better to move it a little closer to the window.

Transplanting the Tradescantia

It is best to transplant a tradescantia immediately after purchase or in spring. In spring, the plant is in the growth phase and any damage to the roots will recover faster.

When transplanting, use a pot that is at least 15% larger than the original pot. Transplant the climbing plant into regular potting soil, trying to do as little root damage as possible.

If the plant is growing quickly and you want to keep it smaller, You must place it in a pot that is not too large.

when to fertilize the plant

We recommend paying the tradescantia only in spring and summer. In autumn and winter, the plant does not need as many nutrients, so it is easy to overdose.

For this purpose, You can use general fertilizers for indoor plants. You should always read the instructions for use before use to find the correct dosage.

Fertilizing more than necessary will not do the plant any good, because the soil becomes too acidic, so the roots can no longer absorb water and then the plant dies.

Pruning: how and when to do it

You can gradually remove the old leaves from the plant. As it spreads very quickly you can prune it from time to time.

Pruning can also serve to make the plant a little more leafy. The cut branches can be used for cuttings.

Flowers

Although the tradescantia may flower, this does not happen quickly or very often. Some species flower earlier than others. Once dry, you have to remove the flowers, since they consume energy that the plant is better off investing in the leaves and roots.

Most common Tradescantia species

Tradescantia fluminensis alba vittata (pictured) – forms white stripes on bright green leaves. The color of the flower is white.Tradescantia fluminensis aurea: It forms white flowers and almost entirely yellow leaves.Tradescantia fluminensis tricolor: it has leaves with white and light green stripes. Flowering is rare in this species.