I Stopped Killing My Tradescantia Once I Learned This 

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Metalhead here; I’d just like to say that the pit is much less terrifying than the state of my tradescantias 😅

Finally, i know why they hate me! Mine always looked like the girl from the Ring crawling out of the well.

I have struggled so much to keep this plant alive. Imagine my pain when it turns out this plant grows out of control elsewhere

Wow, i was doing literally everything wrong! Im excited to fix my mistakes

I made the mistake/learning experience by taking a couple of stems of this plant from a friend's yard and planting them in a small bare spot on the side of my house, and within 2-3 years both sides of my house and nearly all of the backyard was covered by it! At first I was fascinated by the fact that I could take a pile of the trimmings and just toss them wherever I liked and it would just take off! What started as ignorant bliss quickly turned into an overwhelming nuisance. A very resilient plant that I still find traces of around my house after several years of digging up ,spraying, and regretting the day I brought those couple of stems home!

Every article I read always said to keep the soil moist, and I could never understand why I could never get it to grow well or why I had so many problems on top of the problems the species itself already had. Eventually I just started neglecting it because I was so fed up and lo and behold, it's starting to do great now and I actually enjoy looking at it!

You've convinced me. I'm going to give it one more go.

I had a friend that grew a Tradescantia Zebrina. She placed it in front of the south facing patio door in a hanging basket - it grew so profusely that she had to cut the stems when they were laying on the floor. She did this every couple of weeks or so!! It was thick (even the stems growing to the floor). It was absolutely beautiful!!

Found one that was mostly dead at a garden center, I mainly just wanted the plastic hanging pot to use for a different plant that I had. Since the plant was dying they let me just buy it for $1. I did take some cuttings to propagate before throwing out a majority of the plant and got it to root easily, but have no idea how to care for it so glad I found this video.

Successfully grew my tradescantia zebrina from a tiny nothing cutting to a three thriving established pots that have flowered! The biggest thing was once I introduced grow lights; it went from zero to one hundred. I've got stems happily growing in water that have flowered too. I bottom water once the soil has dried out. They've all got huge leaves and strong stems. I also try to feed stems back into the pot to strengthen it. I've had no brown leaves or issues for months. Hope that helps anyone else! Thanks for the video!

Thank you. I felt sad for my tradescantias. In theyr little plantpots. Searching for earth to root in. Poor plants. It's so good to know how to take better care of them. 🥰🌳

Best Tradescantia-video on youtube! ❤🎉

In my experience this is a plant that loves in attention. I have a five year old one that I stick into a low light area in my bedroom, and basically ignore it over the winter months, only throwing a bit of water in it once in a while. It’s not too bad looking just literally hanging out. When it gets warmer I will cut it back repot it etc, then put it non my balcony with its other friends, and it will hopefully be okay for years to come. By the way his name is Tony…all my plants have names these days lol.

I was out on a walk today on a trail and discovered I don't need to BUY a tradescantia zebrina! I found it growing along the ground and up at least one tree. Another free source for this plant. I'll just forage a little and see if I can grow a pot of it myself.

Thank you soo much! Now I can reset my tradescantia pink panther! Its been looking so sad and now I know why

This is definitely one of my love/hate houseplants. Your help is truly appreciated!

That plant was so hot in 2022. I love the colors.

I have the "purple" one living in my yard. I just squirt it with the hose when I'm outside watering. Have never had a problem getting it to grow. The Nanouk one I killed many of them. When I bought my last one (a huge hanging basket) I told the seller I have killed so many of these. Her question to me was "are you watering it" ? My answer, well of course, she said stop it !!! I guess I was just giving it too much Love. I do think that Nanouk is the one of those plants that absolutely do not like chlorinated water. I try and water that one with rain water. The purple one I grow for give-a-way plants. Donation for a Nursery that goes to help mentally challenged people.

Crazy… this morning I saw a video that you posted saying to avoid this plant lol I’m glad to see you figured it out! Thank you friend.

Very funny introduction Mr Sheffield 😂. I learnt a lot about how to care for my tradescantia. Thanks for all the tips

Thank you! You nailed all my problems with Tradescantia. Good content!

Omg! I love this video made me laugh and was informative. You made caring for my plant that much more enjoyable!!! Much appreciate your time creating this content. Stay being funny😂

My neighbour gave me this plant last year and I had no idea what it was (I’m not very good with houseplants, but am successful somehow with orchids and have yet to kill off my spider plant). Fortunately, it handled my neglectful watering (now I know why) and seeing as it was spilling out of the tallish pot I have it in, I gave it a haircut a couple of days ago, mainly to see if I could propagate it. Now I can be confident that this wasn’t wrong! Thank you for the info regarding the crispy leaves, it did have a few and now I know it was probably due to top watering x

I've grown all of mine from 1 leaf I picked up off the floor of Lowes. When they're standing upright they're happy.

This video was so helpful! Thanks so much. I love this plant and did not know what was happening. I learned and laughed with you videos, Thanks a lot!

my beautiful tradescadia died last month due to cold. Don't ask me why I didn't bring it inside. I live in Greece and don't take cold seriously. However, I bought two new types of it two days ago and then I saw your video! Couldn't get better! Thank you! Keep on making my days, please

Oh wow, this is exactly the video I needed today! I wasn't sure of the best way to propagate zebrina cuttings (new plant-parent here) but now I know to just pop them back in the soil and trim or pin any leggy stems in future. Awesome, thank you!

2 Summers ago I got a tradescantia zebrinia. I couldn't get it to thrive. The stems hanging over the pot edge kept dying off. I got a cheap dollar store pot with a round edge and it helped the vines not to die. I put pieces back in the soil with floral pins and it's looking better. With your tips I should be able to succeed!

The beginning of the video summarized my horrible experience with this plant 😢 and ended up in the garbage. I purchased it online and received it frozen cold in our extremely hot weather and found out the stems and roots were rotten and eventually died. I won’t think about purchasing it again. However, your tip of cutting third of the roots saved the syngonium that was delivered cold, too. Thank you so much💐

this is what i’m struggling with!! thank goodness!

Thank you so much Richard, I’ve got one tradescantia and I enjoyed listening and watching you talk about this stunning plant. Mine is a very red coloured one and this video has helped me enormously, and I shall remember your vital information you’ve given us all. Please stay safe and well too xxxx Mags ❤❤❤❤

Ohhhhh thank you so much for this video!!! Now I know what I need to do to try to save my plant that is looking soooo bad

Yes!!! Mine grew down and through the dog door! Aiming for my sunroom

Thank goodness for the algorithm!I received a plant as a Christmas gift and I *think* it is a purple one of these. Its mother plant is gorgeous and I've been told the one I have is good for air purification, but it's been looking miserable for a month or more. Thank you for the tips!

Thank you so much for this video. Someone gave me some cuttings. I didn't even know what it was called. Mine has just sat there. The stems elongated a little bit, but pretty much it's done nothing for several months. I will try to mend my ways. Thanks again.

I'm a new tradescantia parent thankyou for this information it's invaluable

i rarely ever get brown leaves, or sparse leaf growth. my biggest concern is the way the root system of the plant absolutely permeate every grain of soil in the pot. long ago i learned to use a large pot, i went with a 20" round hanging pot. my first time using it, i filled the entire pot with promix , which was super dumb. since then i have learned to fill the bottom 2/3 of the pot with drainage substrate like tree bark, stones, sticks, etc. really anything that is light weight & will stop the soil from plugging the drainage holes. what i eventually end up with is a 2 inch thick bed of soil, which is more root than soil.

This video came out at the perfect time! Mine was looking far too long and scraggly, have trimmed it all down and gave it a reset in a new pot.. looks like its gonna love it! Thanks for this

thank you the great video, i now have hope of having beautiful tradescantia !

I have mine in a large flat 40cm diameter clay pot, and have no issue with the leaves turning brown... only the old ones on top, but then i cut those shoots off and replant them as cuttings in the same pot again.

Thankyou so much-i just learned so much about my plants and why they are unhappy. My plants and I thank you for this info! ♥♥♥

Thanks for these tips. My coworkers kept commenting on how sad and pitiful my tradescantia looks at work. I'll definitely apply these tips and hopefully get a better looking plant.

I did exactly that. My beautiful plant gave up and I took the remnants of it and threw it onto another plant. A week later its looking good in another pot! Thank you for the explanation!

I needed to watch this video, hope it's not to late for my Nanouk, thank you!

Absolutely brilliant video!

Thank you, I'm having so many problems with mine, I now know what to do 😊

Love these plants! Puts me to mind of the purple passion plant (Gynura Aurantiaca), that's equally, if not more beautiful, and is also considered a weed in Africa.

thank you thank you THANK YOU! i’ve had success with this plant in the past but now i’m struggling so much and i didn’t know why! finally some new strategies that sound great!

Excellent info! I really didn't want to give up one of my earliest faves! Now I don't have to

Great information in this video. I have a couple of cuttings that I potted up a few months ago. It looks healthy, and now I think I will be taking some cuttings to create a bushier plant. Thanks for the useful information.

I have had several since 1981, I have taken cuttings and repotted ever since. They change colour depending on where I put them. I just cut off stems remove bottom leaves, stick it back in the pot and off they go. I have nearly lost them a few times, but I just snip off and stick back in. Good luck everyone🍀

My favorite of my houseplants 😊 grows so quickly, such a beautiful plant. I’ve been propagating mine like crazy and it’s doing much better because of it. I found that I had to be much more cautious of overwatering before I propagated and developed multiple root systems in one pot, but the more I fit into the pot, the more they can all collectively manage it if I’m a little heavy handed one day

4/22/24 I just purchased my 1st Tradescantia. Hoping for the best; thanks for the tips!

i noticed they liked to be feed a ton then they get bushy, they need a room around dont crowd them i put mine on small round table in shallow bowl and they grow out and up like in nature i love it how full they look

I bought my first plant at yesterday. A long research and i got the name of the plant "tradescantia green hill". After watching a lot of your videos today i feel less stressed about being a plant mom. You are very funny and comfortable. Your videos are on point! Keep it and grow!

A giant thank you. I spent the day yesterday trying to figure out what I was doing wrong!

Here in Malta it is grown outdoors and can be invasive especially in shaded moist areas of the garden.

Thank you so much for the video. I have had issues with these boogers here & there. So glad to find out about the bottom watering and chop & prop. Loved the tips & your Russell B jokes gave me the goggles. Take care 😊🪴💚🌿🌱🌵🍀🍃

Perfect! Thank you so very much for your expertise.

I just received a superb specimen of tradescantia in the post yesterday, but unfortunately it got rattled around a bit during transit, and since the soil was quite dry, the leaves got covered in dirt! So I had to thoroughly rinse the entire plant, of course wetting the leaves. I've attempted to get them as dry as possible as it goes into quarantine, but we'll see. Other than that, though, it's a great plant. I own another tradescantia (with tiny green leaves) and have re-potted and propagated the growing tips many times now. It's a very easy plant to deal with, as I don't mind the yearly cutting back and re-propagating. I'm hoping this new one (one with the large purple striped leaves) will 'take' to my home as well. Thanks for your fantastic videos. Yours are the only plant videos I watch now, as you never lead us wrong. (And I'm in the UK as well, so a lot of what you tell us applies to me.) And yes, I got myself a moisture meter some time ago. Very handy.

Thanks for sharing. That's exactly what I did this winter to save my plant, it grows so leggy and leaves were falling off, what an ugly sight. Now it's doing well.

Hey! Super useful video, thanks for your tips. It just made me realise again how important it is to understand how a plant grows in nature to be able to grow it indoors... Just one thing on bottom watering: while I also think bottom watering can be really useful, I would avoid doing bottom watering by only filling up the saucer. The soil will not be able to so get fully saturated, only the bottom part of the pot will. While it is not really a problem because in most cases, the roots are deep at the bottom of the pot, sometimes it can cause trouble that the upper half of the pot remains always dry

Thank you so much, I'm planning to buy one of those beauties, so this vid came out really handy 💖

Wow!!! I have this plant. It's a tricolor. I'm looking forward in taking care of this plant.. Great video!!! Thank you.

Thank you for increadible tips for plants. Love your videos and your type of humor!

Thank you ! I've admitted defeat with mine because I had no idea how to fix it will be attempting to revive it now

I just LOVE this video!!! Simple, good, distinct advice presented and explained well and in a manner making it interesting to listen to! 👌 I've had several different tradescantias over the years, they've all grown bushy and beautiful and I've really loved having them! Especially my Nanouk and my Zebrinas, the latter I placed on my balcony in the summers and she grew exponentially every time! 😍🤯 However, when taking them indoors again in the fall they always struggled, I always propagated my Zebrina into multiple pots as to not put all my eggs in one basket (we should really make "put all your tradescantias in one pot" the new saying!) and some of them always died - it was always quite easy to wake it up again by just putting any part of the plant that looked at least partially alive on top of the soil, but that also means starting over from scratch again 🫤. And at any minor inconvenience or infestation they were vulnerable 😞 And with my latest thrips infestation the last ones finally perished 🥹 But now I think I have the tools to start over again, thanks to you! I really hope I can someday have even half the size of the Nanouk I had! She was almost climbing the window and looked like a big head of Medusa! 😍💚💚💚

Thanks for this; it helps explain why my T. Pink Panther self-destructed. It did leave me with 1,490 tiny cuttings (number may not be accurate); I managed to give away about 2/3 of the extras, but now I have two pots full. 😆😯

As a teacher, I love all of your similes!

Man those are some great tips I am struggling with one Zebrina,,. But you provided me with the tips I needed which is to wrap the long growing stems back into the pot so that I can get that bushiness. Thanks so much!

OMG just dealing with this at the moment, thank you!

Thank you for sharing because I love the colors of those plant I just bought one the spider plant thanks for your video it learn a lot of plants need help

✨✨✨Wow...I have learnt so much... thank you. Such a brilliantly informative video. I have subscribed!!!

Thank you for your valuable knowledge.

I grew up seeing my mom have amazing luck with these plants. Hers are lush and just picture perfect really… I can’t keep one alive!! So yeah, thanks for this!!!

very well explained

In my experience, these plants LOVE humidity even though native to hot spots. Since I increased the humidity, I NEVER get these brown leaves unless I interrupt its moisture schedule or I forget to prune the stems when they become leggy.

Great content. Really happy I’ve found your channel! I’ll now try to save my tradescantia 😅

so glad i watched this. mine was displaying the same characteristics you said so i have now followed your tips and hopefully will have a better plant.

This was so, so helpful, THANK YOU! Now I am off to 1. clip my wandering dude like Jason Voorhees clips naughty teenagers 2. put my wandering dude in a second pot for bottom watering 3. stop worrying so much about brown leaves, thanks again!

@Sheffieldmadeplants, you’ve cracked the code!

I’m a moderate deuton colorblind & the pink & purple hues w/ the green just don’t look good to me. So now I have another reason to pass these by. Love your videos! 😊

I love this video! Absolutely my favorite plant and you describe the issues and solutions so clearly. Thank you

Thank you SO, SO SO much for this video. I didn't know how the tradescantia grows in the wild, and your explanation really makes sense! Thanks again! I subscribed!

Superb, thanks a lot for this, lots of great nuggets of info here. My wandering dude Tradescantia was doing ok, not had it long but now I have a plan for it thanks to ur vid, will be bottom watering and taking cuttings to make the pot more dense and less straggly

thanks - very much needed help with this species - thorough explanation with a few laughs along the way

I worked in a commercial greenhouse and we would grab a bunch of stems and pull down against the pot rim and rip the off. That encouraged growth from the center and got rid of the leggy growth. (Did this for a few different plants in production.)

This is amazing advice, thank you!

Thank you - so much - for saving my sanity. I adore you from afar (Tasmania Australia) cheers!

I had an ugly purple one pop up in my yard all over. Now I have pretty ones indoors. Thanks for your video.

This is a wonderful video! Thanks for all the knowledge.

Now I know why mine always ended up dead ! Thanks for enlightening tips ! Very useful ! Cheers from TUSCANY 🇮🇹

Thanks, that was useful. I just picked up a few cuttings of one at a neighborhood plant exchange the other day.

I had already given up on mine. But then I placed it closer to a bright window and cut some of the longer stems. It seems to be doing better now!

thank you for this tip! I think I might try having Tradescantia again 😀

Thank you 😂I’m so struggling with mine it was so beautiful when I purchased it now not so much I never thought of bottom watering it but totally makes sense ❤

My favorite plant RU-vidr, thank you for this video 🌿🌱

Hi, thank you so much. One of my co worker give me this plant . It started looking hot mess...lol Everything you mention on your video ..weak stem, brown leaves etc. I thought it was lack of sunlight. Am going to try do your suggestion to see it will become fuller instead of one long, skinny stem .

Hugely helpful video! Thanks for the info!