How to Care for Blushing Maid Tradescantia (Tradescantia x andersoniana) Indoors
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Botanical name: Tradescantia x andersoniana
Family: Commelinaceae
Common names: Blushing Maid Tradescantia, Blushing Bride Tradescantia
Blushing Maid Tradescantia Description
Blushing Maid Tradescantia ((Tradescantia x andersoniana)) also called Blushing Bride Tradescantia is a trailing, tender perennial plant which bears pink and white variegated new growth.
When mature the Blushing Maid Tradescantia leaves turn completely green. It is advisable to cut it back regularly to encourage the new growth of pink and white variegated foliage.
The Blushing Maid Tradescantia grows to a height of 6-10 inches and reaches 4-5 feet across. It is perfect for a hanging basket.
The flowers in Blushing Maid Tradescantia are three-petaled, colored white and tinged with lilac pink.
Buy beautiful and healthy Blushing Maid (Bride) Tradescantia (Tradescantia x andersoniana) from Etsy.
Photo Credit: Crocus
Blushing Maid (Bride) Tradescantia (Tradescantia x andersoniana) Care Indoors
Blushing Maid Tradescantia (Tradescantia x andersoniana) grows best under bright, indirect light and consistently moist soil. It thrives in a warm room temperatures and has no need for high humidity.
The best soil for Blushing Maid Tradescantia should be free-draining and rich in organic matter. Continue reading for more on the growing conditions for Blushing Maid Tradescantia.
Blushing Maid (Bride) Tradescantia Light Requirements
Blushing Maid Tradescantia grows best in bright, indirect light. Keep it away from direct sunshine as it can lead to scorching of the leaves. It can also grow under a grow light if you do not have adequate light in your home.
Regularly turn the pot to ensure that the plant receives light on all sides for uniform growth. Check out this guide on understanding light for houseplants.
How to water Blushing Maid (Bride) Tradescantia
Water Blushing Maid (Bride) Tradescantia thoroughly during the growing season and maintain the soil moist at all times.
Reduce watering during the cold weather to keep the soil slightly moist as growth is minimal. Read more on how to water houseplants.
Ensure that the pot has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy as it can lead in root-rot disease and eventual death of your plant.
Blushing Maid (Bride) Tradescantia Temperature
Average warmth with a minimum 130C is ideal for Blushing Maid Tradescantia. Blushing Maid Tradescantia is known to be quite cold tolerant.
Protect your Blushing Maid Tradescantia from draughts as they can cause leaf drop. Read more on understanding temperature for houseplants.
Humidity for Blushing Maid Tradescantia
Blushing Maid (Bride) Tradescantia has no need for high humidity. Moderate (average) air humidity is ideal for this Plant.
However, set the pot on a wet pebble tray or use a cool mist humidifier where the temperatures are too high to raise humidity for the plant. Check out these techniques on how to raise humidity for houseplants.
Fertilizer (Feeding) for Blushing Maid (Bride) Tradescantia
Feed Blushing Maid Tradescantia with a balanced, liquid fertilizer once a month during the growing period.
Withhold feeding during the cold season as the growth is minimal and feeding at this time may lead to fertilizer burn. Read more on how to feed houseplants.
How to repot Blushing Maid Tradescantia
Repot Blushing Maid Tradescantia during the growing season only when the plant has become pot-bound.
Use a a pot one size larger than the current one and free-draining soil that is rich in organic matter.
Ensure the pot has a drainage hole to avoid getting soggy soil which can lead to root-rot disease and eventual death of your plant.
Soil for Blushing Maid Tradescantia
The best soil for Blushing Maid Tradescantia should be rich in organic matter and free-draining to prevent it from getting soggy while providing the required nutrients.
Most multi-purpose potting mixes are ideal for Blushing Maid Tradescantia. Buy quality Potting Mix for your Blushing Maid Tradescantia from Etsy.
How to prune Blushing Maid Tradescantia
Pruning Blushing Maid Tradescantia involves regular removal of dead foliage to maintain the plant neat and tidy.
To control the growth of your Blushing Maid Tradescantia and encourage bushyness, pinch the growing tips. Cut back leggy stems of your Blushing Maid Tradescantia at the beginning of the growing season to rejuvenate growth.
Blushing Maid (Bride) Tradescantia (Tradescantia x andersoniana) Propagation
Blushing Maid (Bride) Tradescantia propagation can be done during the growing period by plant divison or from stem-cuttings. We have outlined herebelow these two methods of Blushing Maid (Bride) Tradescantia propagation.
How to propagate Blushing Maid (Bride) Tradescantia by plant division
Water the Blushing Maid (Bride) Tradescantia thoroughly at least 1 day before to make it easier to divide and also hasten establishment. A well hydrated plant suffers less shock and takes a shorter time to take root.
Take out the Blushing Maid Tradescantia from its pot and carefully divide it into sections. Ensure each sections has adequate roots and at least one set of leaves.
Select a 6 or 8 in. pot and ensure that the pot has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy as it can lead to rotting.
Fill the pot with loose, free-draining soil and make a hole in the center of the pot. Ensure that the hole is slightly wider than the root base of the Blushing Maid Tradescantia section.
Place the Blushing Maid Tradescantia 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.
Water the soil thoroughly and place the set up in a well-lit, warm place until the new plant is well established after which you can begin routine care.
How to propagate Blushing Maid (Bride) Tradescantia from stem cuttings
Blushing Maid Tradescantia stem cuttings root easily so there is no need for rooting hormone. Take a stem cutting from a healthy Blushing Maid Tradescantia of about 4-6 in. and ensure it bears at least two sets of leaves.
Allow some time for the formation of a protective callus tissue over the cuts of the Blushing Maid Tradescantia cuttings to prevent rotting.
Fill your rooting container with loose, free-draining soil to a depth of about 4 in. Lightly moisten the soil.
With a pencil or similar object make a hole that is wider than the diameter of the Blushing Maid Tradescantia cutting. Carefully insert the Blushing Maid Tradescantia cutting in the hole made previously to a depth of about 3 in.
Place the set up in a warm, well-lit place and maintain the soil moist through out until new growth emerges.
Allow the new Blushing Maid Tradescantia to be well established before transplanting to individual pots after which you can begin routine care.
Photo Credit: ebay
Blushing Maid (Bride) Tradescantia (Tradescantia x andersoniana) Problems Indoors
Blushing Maid (Bride) Tradescantia (Tradescantia x andersoniana) problems indoors are caused by cultural faults like improper watering, improper feeding and inadequate light. Read on for remedies and solutions to these problems.
Blushing Maid Tradescantia loss of leaf color (variegation)
Loss of leaf color or variegation in Blushing Maid (Bride) Tradescantia is caused by inadequate light (too little light).
Move Blushing Maid Tradescantia to a brighter spot, as it grows best in bright indirect light but away from direct sunshine or instal a grow light if you do not have adequate light in your home. Check out this guide on understanding light for houseplants.
Blushing Maid Tradescantia dropping leaves
Blushing Maid Tradescantia will readily drop its leaves if the light is inadequate (too little).
Ensure to place your Blushing Maid Tradescantia in a brightly lit place while protecting it from direct hot sunshine to avoid scorching of the leaves or instal a grow light if you do not have adequate light in your home.
Blushing Maid (Bride) Tradescantia leggy growth (elongated stems)
There are three possible causes of leggy growth in Blushing Maid Tradescantia. One possible cause of leggy growth in your Blushing Maid Tradescantia is too little light.
Move your Blushing Maid Tradescantia to a brighter spot as it needs bright, indirect light to thrive or instal a grow light if you do not have adequate light in your home.
The second cause of leggy growth in your Blushing Maid Tradescantia is underwatering resulting too little moisture in the soil and thus the plant does not get enough water and nutrients necessary for growth.
Maintain the soil moist at all times for your Blushing Maid Tradescantia and never allow the soil to dry out completely.
The third cause of leggy growth in your Blushing Maid Tradescantia is inadequate feeding (underfeeding). Feed your Blushing Maid Tradescantia once a month with a balanced, liquid fertilizer to promote healthy growth.
Blushing Maid Tradescantia limp stems, yellow and spotted leaves
Limp stems, yellow and spotted leaves in Blushing Maid (Bride) Tradescantia are due to underwatering. Maintain the soil moist at all times for your Blushing Maid Tradescantia and never allow the soil to dry out completely.
Blushing Maid (Bride) Tradescantia diseases
Common diseases in Blushing Maid Tradescantia are root-rot disease and leaf spot. Isolate the affected plant to prevent spread to the other houseplants and treat the plant appropriately for the disease.
Blushing Maid (Bride) Tradescantia pests
Common pests in Blushing Maid Tradescantia are Mealy Bugs, Aphids and Scale Insects. Isolate the affected plant and treat appropriately. Mist the leaves regularly to reduce infestation by these pests.
Is Blushing Maid Tradescantia (Tradescantia x andersoniana) toxic?
Blushing Maid (Bride) Tradescantia (Tradescantia x andersoniana) is mildly toxic to humans and pets.
If Blushing Maid Tradescantia is 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 Blushing Maid Tradescantia.
