06/27/2022
Happy Summer Monday! Meet your very purple and regal Plant of the Week- the Tradescantia Silver Plus. If you’re looking for a quick growing, low maintenance super easy propagator, look no further! Tradescantias look especially beautiful as hanging plants or on a shelf where their length can be showcased. The leaves of this plant are a vibrant green and purple with shimmery silver markings.
Native to North and South America, Tradescantias are named after John Tradescant the Elder, an English naturalist, gardener, collector and traveler who did extensive work with elite families and royalty during the 15th century. The royal purple color makes a lot of sense in this! The ability in which this plant was easily propagated led to its popularity and quick saturation of European households.
The foliage of a Tradescantia is easy to maintain and can be made to be made fuller by potting cuttings at its base. Since the leaves and stems retain ample water, it is a more forgiving plant when you forget to water it. Nonetheless, the soil of a Tradescantia should be kept moist and should not be left to dry out more than 50%. Tradescantias will grow best in bright indirect light and can be transitioned outdoors so long as it is not in direct sunlight for too many hours. If the leaves of your tradescantia start looking limp, it might not be getting enough sunlight. Fertilizer during the growing season will go a long way with Tradescantias. Along with the gorgeous foliage, Tradescantias will bloom white, blue, yellow or pink flowers during its growing season. After flowering, trimming the plant can bring forth more blooms and create a bushier plant.
Share your Tradescantias with us so we can showcase them in our stories! If you don’t already have one come on by and check out our selection.
