Blushing Maid Tradescantia (Tradescantia x andersoniana) Indoor Care and Propagation

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Blushing Maid Tradescantia (Tradescantia x andersoniana) flourishes in bright indirect light, warm and humid conditions and consistently moist, rich, well-drained soil coupled with monthly feeding in spring and summer.

Tradescantia x andersoniana also called Blushing Bride Tradescantia is one of the trailing Tradescantia varieties and bears pink and white variegated new growth.

When mature the Blushing Bride Tradescantia leaves turn completely green. It is advisable to cut it back regularly to encourage the new growth of pink and white variegated foliage.

Botanical name: Tradescantia x andersoniana
Family: Commelinaceae
Common names: Blushing Maid Tradescantia, Blushing Bride Tradescantia

Size

Blushing Bride Tradescantia grows to a height of 6-10 inches and the stems can be 4-5 feet long. Unlike Tradescantia virginiana, Blushing Maid Tradescantia is beautiful in a hanging basket, tabletop, office desk and plant shelf.

Flowers

Blushing Maid Tradescantia flowers are three-petaled, colored white and tinged with lilac pink.

Is Blushing Maid Tradescantia toxic?

Yes. Blushing Maid Tradescantia is mildly toxic to humans and pets. If ingested, the plant sap can cause burning in the mouth, tongue and throat. The sap may also cause skin irritation in sensitive skin; always wear gloves when handling the plant.

How to care for Blushing Maid Tradescantia indoors

To care for Blushing Maid Tradescantia indoors, provide bright indirect light (dappled light), average warmth of of 16-27⁰C, humidity of 50-55% and consistently moist, fertile, well-drained soil coupled with monthly feeding during the growing season.

Tradescantia x andersoniana care requires pruning to keep it neat, to control growth and to rejuvenate growth. Repotting is necessary when it becomes extremely pot-bound. Keep reading for more on these growing conditions and how to achieve them.

Light Requirements

Blushing Maid Tradescantia thrives in bright indirect light (filtered light). Keep it away or shield it from direct sunshine to prevent scorching of the leaves.

If the light is too low, the plant will become leggy and may lose the vibrant leaf colors. Therefore, if you do not have adequate light in your home, use a full spectrum grow light to supplement it.

Rotate the pot regularly to ensure that the plant receives light on all sides for uniform growth and prevent leggy growth.

Outdoors, Blushing Maid Tradescantia can be grown in a shaded place like under the trees where it is protected from hot direct sunlight.

Watering

In spring and summer, water Blushing Bride Tradescantia liberally until water drips through the drainage hole to wet the soilball completely. Allow the top 1-2 inches of soil to dry out before watering again. Maintain the soil evenly moist but avoid overwatering to prevent rotting, yellowing and leaf loss.

Cut down on watering in fall and winter to keep the soil slightly moist as growth is minimal at this time. However, do not allow the soil to dry out completely to avoid wilting, drooping and leaf drop.

Use room temperature to avoid shocking the plant which can lead to stunted growth and leaf fall. Make sure to water with chlorine-free water like rain water to avoid getting brown leaf tips.

Ensure that the pot has a drainage hole and the soil is well-draining to prevent waterlogging which can result in root-rot and death of the plant.

Take care not to wet the foliage during water to minimize fungal diseases like leaf spot; water from the bottom instead.

Temperature and Humidity

Blushing Maid Tradescantia prefers an average warmth of 16-27⁰C. It is known to be quite cold tolerant but very low temperatures may lead to reduced growth and death of the plant.

Keep the plant away from sorces of drafts as they can cause temperature flactuations which can lead to stunted growth, yellowing and leaf drop.

Blushing Bride Tradescantia will do well in a humidity of 55-65% . However, if the air is too dry, set the pot on a wet pebble tray or use a humidifier to prevent brown, shrivelled leaf edges and tips.

Avoid misting the plant as it can promote fungal diseases. In addition, maintain proper air circulation to discourage fungal diseases.

Fertilizer

Feed Blushing Bride Tradescantia with a balanced, liquid fertilizer once monthly in spring and summer to encourage a lush, healthy growth.

Withhold feeding in fall and winter as the growth is reduced, therefore, feeding at this time can lead to fertilizer burn which is indicated by brown leaf tips and edges.

Occasionally, leach out excess salts by drenching the soil until the water drains through the drainage hole. Repeat the process several times to clear as much salt as possible.

Potting Mix

The best potting mix for Blushing Maid Tradescantia should be rich in organic matter and free-draining to avoid waterlogging while providing the required nutrients. A blend of 2 parts all purpose potting mix and 1 part perlite (for drainage) is perfect for this plant.

Repotting

Repot Blushing Maid Tradescantia during the growing season, only when the plant has become extremely pot-bound. Look out for the roots growing through the drainage hole.

Select a a pot one size larger than the current one and free-draining soil that is rich in organic matter. Make sure that the pot has a drainage hole to avoid getting soggy soil which can lead to root-rot. Check out these ceramic pots on Amazon.

Pruning & Grooming

Pruning Blushing Maid Tradescantia involves regular removal of dead foliage to maintain the plant neat as well as reduce pest and disease infestations.

To control the growth and encourage bushyness, pinch the growing tips. Cutback leggy stems at the beginning of the growing season to rejuvenate growth.

Clean the leaves regularly by damp-wiping with a soft cloth to keep them clean as well as discourage pest and disease infestations.

Blushing Maid Tradescantia Propagation

Blushing Maid Tradescantia propagation can be done by plant divison or from stem cuttings during the growing period when it is in active growth. We have outlined herebelow these two methods of propagation.

Propagating Blushing Maid Tradescantia by plant division

1. Water the plant thoroughly at least 1 day before to make it easier to divide and also hasten establishment.


2. Slip the plant out of its pot and carefully divide it into sections. Ensure each sections has adequate roots and at least one set of leaves.


3. Select a 6 or 8 inches pot and ensure that the pot has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy as it can lead to rotting.


4. Fill the pot with loose, free-draining soil, moistens it slightly and make a hole in the center of the pot. Ensure that the hole is slightly wider than the root base of the section.


5. Place the section in the previously made hole and lightly firm the soil around the base while taking care not to bury it too deep; maintain the section at the same soil level it was in the previous pot.


6. Position the set up in a warm, well-lit place away from direct sunlight to prevent scorching.


7. Wet the soil thoroughly and keep it moist until the new plant is well established after which you can begin routine care.

Propagating Blushing Maid Tradescantia from stem cuttings

The stem cuttings root easily so there is no need for rooting hormone.

1. Take a stem cutting of about 4-6 inches from a healthy plant and ensure it bears at least two sets of leaves.


2. Allow some time for the formation of a protective callus tissue over the cuts of the cuttings to prevent rotting.


3. Fill your rooting container with loose, free-draining soil to a depth of about 4 inches. Lightly moisten the soil.


4. With a pencil or similar object make a hole that is wider than the diameter of the cutting.


5. Carefully insert the cutting in the hole made previously to a depth of about 3 inches.


6. Place the set up in a warm, well-lit place away from direct sunlight to avoid scorching.


7. Maintain the soil moist through out until new growth emerges and the plant is well established.


8. Once well established, transplant the new plant into a pot one size larger and begin routine care.

Blushing Maid Tradescantia Problems & Solutions

Blushing Maid Tradescantia problems are yellow leaves, leaf drop, leggy growth, loss of leaf color, pests and diseases. Keep reading for more on these problems and how to fix them.

Yellow leaves

Some of the causes of yellow leaves on Blushing Maid Tradescantia are overwatering, soggy soil, nutrient deficiency or temperature stress.

How to fix it

Overwatering: Do not water on a schedule. Water only when the top 1-2 inches of soil dry.

Soggy soil: Use a well-draining soil and a pot that has a drainage hole.

Nutrients deficiency: Apply a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer every 4 weeks in spring and summer.

Temperature stress: Keep the plant away from drafts emanating from hot surfaces, hot air vents, AC units, windy doors among others.

Leaf drop

Leaf drop on Blushing Maid Tradescantia is caused by too little light, drafts or inconsistent watering.

How to fix it

Too little light: Move the plant to a brighter spot or use a grow light if the natural light is not enough.

Drafts: Keep it away from sources of drafts like AC units, drafty windows, hot air vents, windy doors and others.

Inconsistent watering: Water when the top 1-2 inches of soil feel dry but do not allow the soil to dry out completely. Do not water on a schedule.

Leggy growth

Leggy growth on Blushing Maid Tradescantia is caused by too little light, nutrients deficiency or undewatering.

How t fix it

Too little light: Position the plant in a brighter spot or instal a grow light if the natural lighting is not adequate.

Nutrients deficiency: Feed the plant with a balanced, liquid fertilizer every 4 weeks in spring and summer.

Underwatering: Maintain the soil moist in spring and summer and slightly moist in fall and winter. Never allow the soil to dry out completely.

Loss of leaf color

Loss of leaf color or variegation on Blushing Maid Tradescantia is caused by too little light. Move the plant to a brighter spot or instal grow lights if you do not have adequate light in your home.

Pests

Common pests on Blushing Maid Tradescantia are mealybugs, aphids and scale insects.

How to fix it

1. Isolate the affected plant to prevent spread to the other plants.


2. Treat the affected plant with neem oil or insecticidal soap as per the manufacturers instructions.


3. Regularly check underneath and between the leaves for these pests and carry out timely control measures.


4. Keep the plant well pruned and raise humidity to discourage the pests.

Diseases

Blushing Maid Tradescantia is prone to the following diseases:

1. Root-rot disease which is prevalent in soggy soil. It is characterized by yellowing and wilting leaves, rapidly followed by browning and plant collapse.

How to fix it

1. Carefully slip the plant out of its pot and inspect the roots.


2. Trim the brown-black, mushy roots and treat the healthy roots with a copper-based fungicidal solution as recommended by the manufacturer.


3. Disinfect the pot with the fungicidal solution or use a fresh pot to repot the plant in fresh, well-draining soil.


4. Do not water the plant immediately; keep it dry for 5-7 days before you can resume watering.


5. Use a pot with a drainage hole and well-draining soil to prevent the soil from getting soggy.


6. Lessen watering in fall and winter as growth is slowed at this time to keep the soil slightly moist.

2. Leaf spot disease which presents as brown patches surrounded by a yellow halo. It is prevalent in overwet conditions coupled with poor air circulation.

How to fix it

1. Remove and burn the affected parts to minimize spread to the rest of the plants.


2. Spray the affected plant with a systemic fungicide and ensure to to follow the manaufacturer's instructions.


3. Keep the plant on the dry side, do not mist it and ensure good air flow.


4. Use a pot with a drainage hole and a well-draining soil to prevent waterlogging.

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