Spiderwort Tradescantia zebrina - Hanging plant

Plant your Tradescantia zebrina as soon as possible after receiving it, in a hanging pot, or a tall flower pot that allows the branches to hang. Choose a pot with holes in the base and a matching saucer, this allows excess water to drain well. You could also use a larger ornamental planter to stand the pot with the plant in, to collect the drainage water. Sprinkle a layer of clay pellets underneath the flower pot for just this purpose. When potting up, use fresh potting compost and plant your Tradescantia zebrina at the correct depth. Fill up with more potting compost and press the whole plant carefully in. Keep the top of the soil slightly below the edge of the pot, to give space for watering.
Water generously immediately after planting and stand the whole thing in a nice warm spot – part shade (no full sun) and preferably not above a radiator. Avoid draughts too if possible.

Tradescantia zebrina needs regular watering – the pot should never be allowed to dry out. Rain water is preferable – regularly add some plant food for flowering plants to the water in the growing season. Although they can tolerate low humidity levels, Tradescantia zebrina may get some brown edges on the foliage, so you will then know that it is in an environment where the humidity is too low. Spray the plant with (rain)water to up the humidity level. You could also stand the plant, in its pot in a larger pot with a layer of clay pellets in the bottom. The excess flow of water can then increase the humidity levels around the plant.
This plant flowers regularly in the summer with either pink or white flowers.

Colourful foliage in dark green, purple and grey. The flower colour is either white or purple-pink.
Tradescantia zebrina (Wandering Jew) originated in the tropical rainforests of Asia.
While the more popular name of Tradescantia pendula (Wandering Jew) is better known, this plant was recently renamed as Tradescantia zebrina and is classified under Commelinaceae.