Wandering Jew Care Guide

Family: Commelinaceae

Genus: Tradescantia

Botanical Name: Tradescantia Zebrina

Difficulty: Easy to keep alive

Light

Keep your Wandering Jew in bright indirect light. If they are kept in direct sunlight for too long their stripes will begin to fade.

Water

They will not need to be watered until the top 50-75% of soil is dry. Give them a good soak and water until you notice the tray filling. Be sure to empty it so the roots aren’t getting any excess water.

Climate

These guys love humidity! Keep them in the more humid parts of your home like your kitchen or bathroom and they will be happy. They like to be kept in warmer temperatures between 55°-80°F. They love to be misted frequently for added humidity.

Soil

Use a standard houseplant potting mix when potting them. They benefit from soil that has organic matter even more! You can feed them with a fertilizer once a month during the growing season (spring and summer).

Pests and Diseases

For indoor Wandering Jews, spider mites, aphids, and fungus gnats can be a problem.

Tips

• Put the pot on top of a tray filled with pebbles and water to increase humidity levels.

• To make your Wandering Jew bushier, take a cutting and push it down into the soil where you want it to grow!

• When you get the urge to water them and they don’t need it, mist them!

Signs your plant is inching for something more

• Yellow leaves: too much water

• Browning leaves: low humidity

• Stem rot: over watering

How to Propagate

Choose a cutting that is at least 4 inches long and has several leaves on it. You should cut below a node at a 45-degree angle. Prune off some of the lower leaves, and then place the bottom of your cutting in water. Place it in an area that gets medium indirect sunlight. Once the roots have grown 2 inches, you can pot them directly into a regular potting mix!

Fun Facts

• Their hardiness makes the the perfect plant for beginners!

• Their leaves have silvery sheen to them in the sunlight!

• Wandering Jews start growing new shoots after 1-1.5 months!

Before you move your plant outside, be sure to check the hardiness zone to save yourself some grief and the loss of a beloved plant.

The hardiness zones for Wandering Jews are : 8-12

If you live in Tennessee, here’s a hardiness map to help you decide if your plant can survive outside!