Want a bushy Tradescantia that cascades beautifully from its container? Learn How to Grow Spilling Wandering Jew Plants Indoors!
Wandering Dude, also known as the inch plant, is known for its creeping form. But the best way to enjoy its silver, green, and purple foliage is to let it cascade and flow down from a pot or basket from height.
How to Grow Spilling Wandering Jew Plants Indoors
1. Right Variety for the Right Effect
Wandering Dude is a collective name given to the members of the Tradescantia genus. However, not all varieties are naturally designed to spill over. To have its vines flow over the edge, choose a variety that supports that.
Tradescantia zebrina, known for its striped green, white, and gray leaves with purple undersides, is a perfect cascading specimen. Apart from that, you can also try Tradescantia fluminensis and Tradescantia pallida, which is also known as purple heart.
The amount of light the plant receives, as well as factors like the spot where you’re growing it, temperature, and humidity, also affect its dangling ability, so take of that according to the type you’ve planting.
2. Plant Several Together
An expert tip to get your tradescantias to spill over is to plant multiple cuttings in a single container! By planting cuttings around the circumference of the container, the vines will eventually drop individually across the edge and produce a lush, wholesome look.
Think of this as a quick fix. You could either wait patiently for your one wandering Jew plant to emerge bushy and full. Or just plant several cuttings and create the illusion of a cascading inch plant in no time!
3. Pot Size Matters
A common mistake in getting your wandering Jew plant to spill indoors is miscalculating the container size. Pick a pot or basket that is one or two sizes bigger than the plant’s root ball and has a smaller diameter from the top. However, it can be wider from the bottom—a vase-shaped container will be fine.
The pot’s narrow structure will allow your wandering Dude vines to flow over soon without having too much area to cover. With a wide top pot, the vines have more work to traverse and cover the surface area before reaching the edge and cascading down. Also, plant at the correct depth and in well-draining soil.
You can also hang it using ropes or macrame and convert it into a hanging basket! Another best way to showcase a spilling Wandering Jew is by placing the pot at height or using a plant stand; this creates a great cascading effect.
4. Let those Vines Grow!
Since we aim to produce vines that spill long, cutting them short would be counterintuitive! Allow the plant to mature and resist the temptation to give it frequent trims; the vines will undoubtedly cascade beautifully.
However, this doesn’t mean your tradescantia needs no pruning. If you spot dead and decaying leaves, infestations, or infections, or if the vines are growing too big, leggy, and scanty, it’s time to pick up a pair of shears! Here’s how to fix a leggy wandering dude.
Tip: Prune the plant in spring as required and allow it to heal and adapt comfortably.
5. Train it Your Way
If you can’t seem to get your wandering dude to cascade naturally, then you can coax it to, by training it to grow in your preferred direction to create controlled spill effect. This method is called training a plant to follow a specific growth pattern.
Bind your vines from the edge of the pot or guide them downward using soft zip ties or garden wire, and your plant will have one way to grow—your way!
Don’t tie them too tight, and ensure there’s room for natural growth and slight movement to prevent pressure and stress on the stems.
After-Care
Although the wandering dude is highly adaptive and flexible, it is finicky about a few things. Native to Mexico and Guatemala, it prefers conditions that mimic its natural habitat. For example, it thrives in bright, filtered sunshine, which enhances its brightly colored leaves.
Direct sun, however, may fade the colors, while too little sunlight will cause leggy growth. It is also sensitive to extremities and sudden fluctuations like strong winds and cold drafts, so keep it in a stable and warm spot.
Choose a well-draining potting mix that can retain some moisture, but it should never be waterlogged. Feed it regularly with a water-soluble nitrogen fertilizer diluted to half of its strength once every three weeks in spring, summer, and fall, but reduce or stop fertilization from late fall.
