Tradescantia pallida
Tradescantia pallida · Commelinaceae
📷 PapiPijuan · CC BY-SA 4.0
The gardener's calendar
In autumn, ease off feeding and take the chance to clean up around tradescantia pallida and prepare for winter.
ID card
- Foliage
- Evergreen, purple-violet
- Blooming
- Spring to fall, small pink or violet flowers
- Adult size
- 12 to 24 inches tall, trailing or upright habit
- Growth
- Fast
- Hardiness
- Non-hardy, freezes below 50°F
- Origin
- Central and South America
- Plant type
- Indoor or greenhouse herbaceous perennial
Expert tips
The key tip
Arrosez quand le substrat est sec en surface, pas avant. Tradescantia pallida tolère bien la sécheresse mais pourrit rapidement si le pot stagne dans l'humidité. Un substrat drainant (terreau classique + 20% perlite) fait la différence entre une plante vigoureuse et un désastre racinaire.
The common mistake
La plupart des jardiniers la noient. Ils croient que parce qu'elle aime la lumière elle aime aussi beaucoup d'eau, et boum : feuilles molles, tiges noircies, racines mortes en deux semaines.
The pro's trick
Pincez régulièrement les tiges (chaque mois en saison de croissance) pour obtenir une plante touffue au lieu d'une tige dégingandée. Un simple pincement aux doigts à 2-3 feuilles du sommet la ramifie naturellement et elle se densifie bien plus vite qu'en la laissant s'étirer.
Seasonal watch
En automne-hiver, ralentissez drastiquement l'arrosage car la croissance stagne et l'excès d'eau devient mortel. Beaucoup de jardiniers continuent le rythme estival et c'est la zone où elle meurt le plus souvent.
Care
Watering
Keep the substrate lightly moist without standing water. Reduce watering in winter. Regular but moderate watering prevents root rot. Make sure your pot has good drainage.
Light Exposure
Place your plant in bright light, ideally indirect light. The more light it receives, the more intensely the purple foliage will color. A north or east-facing window works particularly well indoors.
Substrate and Soil
Use a rich, well-draining mix made of general-purpose potting soil lightened with sand or perlite. Soil that's too compact suffocates roots and limits growth.
Fertilizing
Apply diluted fertilizer every 15 to 20 days during the growing season (spring-summer). Stop fertilizing in winter. Too much fertilizer can burn the delicate roots.
Pruning and Maintenance
Regularly pinch back stem tips to encourage a bushier habit. Remove dead or weak stems. This plant tolerates pruning well and quickly regenerates new branches.
Pests and Diseases
Watch for spider mites and mealybugs, which are common in dry air. Too much moisture on the foliage can promote rot. Good air circulation and watering at the base (without wetting the leaves) reduce these risks.
Did you know?
Tradescantia pallida, also called 'purple spiderwort' or 'mouche-mouche' in some regions, became popular as indoor decoration in the 20th century thanks to its spectacular color and ease of growth. Its name 'pallida' means 'pale' in Latin, yet its leaves are remarkably deep purple under good light.
Where to buy it
Plant in spring or early autumn, avoiding spells of intense heat. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, April, May, September.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
- Wooly SpiderwortTradescantia sillamontana
- Asiatic dayflowerCommelina communis
- SpiderwortTradescantia fluminensis
- Commelina diffusaCommelina diffusa
- Ohio spiderwortTradescantia ohiensis
- Commelina cyaneaCommelina cyanea
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.