Tradescantia Hub
Tradescantias are semi-succulents, which means they’re much more tolerant of drought than a lot of plants. It also means that they’re a lot less obvious about it when they eventually do get thirsty. Growing tradescantias as houseplants is very different from having “drama queens” like coleus, nerve plants, and polka dot plants.
Learn about lighting, watering, and soil needs, as well as how to handle pests, and how to propagate tradescantias.
Some people have suggested the plant has symptoms of a viral infection. Some have even gone as far as to claim that the plant should be quarantined or banned from sale for fear that it’s contagious. Others have grown the plant for years and report no evidence of the symptoms spreading to nearby plants.
Recently there’s been increasing media attention on peat, how it’s used in growing plants, and its effect on the environment. There’s often some misunderstanding about what exactly peat is and where it comes from, and lots of people don’t realise how much it’s used or what the implications are. This article should clear some things up!