How to Care for Baby Bunny Bellies Tradescantia (Tradescantia chrysophylla) Indoors
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Botanical name: Tradescantia chrysophylla
Family: Commelinaceae
Common names: Baby Bunny Bellies Tradescantia, Speedy Jenny Baby Bellies, Baby Bunny Bellies Plant
Baby Bunny Bellies Tradescantia Description
Baby Bunny Bellies Tradescantia (Tradescantia chrysophylla) is a climbing or trailing plant which bears fuzzy foliage which feels like the under belly of a baby bunny. The velvety green leaves have soft purply undersides.
Baby Bunny Bellies Tradescantia is easy to grow indoors when given sufficient light and is perfect for a hanging basket. It grows to a height of 6-8 inches and can trail upto 60cm wide.
Buy beautiful and healthy Baby Bunny Bellies Tradescantia (Tradescantia chrysophylla) from Etsy.
Photo Credit: Garden Tags
Baby Bunny Bellies Tradescantia (Tradescantia chrysophylla) Care Indoors
Baby Bunny Bellies Tradescantia (Tradescantia chrysophylla) grows best under bright, indirect light and moderately moist soil. It thrives in average warmth and has no need for high humidity.
The best soil for growing Baby Bunny Bellies Tradescantia should be free-draining and rich in organic matter. Read on for more on the best growing conditions for Baby Bunny Bellies Tradescantia.
Baby Bunny Bellies Tradescantia Light Requirements
Baby Bunny Bellies Tradescantia grows best in bright, indirect light. It can also grow under a grow light if you do not have adequate light in your home.
Keep the plant away from direct sunshine as it can lead to scorching of the leaves. 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 Baby Bunny Bellies Tradescantia
Water Baby Bunny Bellies Tradescantia thoroughly during the growing season and maintain the soil moderately moist while allowing it to dry slightly between waterings.
Reduce watering during the cold weather to keep the soil barely moist as growth is minimal at this time but do not allow the soil to dry out completely. Read more on how to water houseplants.
Ensure that the pot has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy soil as it can lead to root-rot disease and eventual death of your plant.
Temperature for Baby Bunny Bellies Tradescantia
Average warmth with a minimum 130C is ideal for your Baby Bunny Bellies Tradescantia.
Protect the plant from draughts as they can cause leaf drop. Read more on understanding temperature for houseplants.
Humidity for Baby Bunny Bellies Tradescantia
Baby Bunny Bellies 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 Baby Bunny Bellies Tradescantia
Feed your Baby Bunny Bellies Tradescantia with a balanced, liquid fertilizer every 4 weeks 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 Baby Bunny Bellies Tradescantia
Repot Baby Bunny Bellies Tradescantia during the growing season only when the plant has become pot-bound.
Use a pot one size larger than the current one and ensure that the pot has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy as it can lead to root-rot disease and eventual death of your plant.
Soil for Baby Bunny Bellies Tradescantia
The best soil for Baby Bunny Bellies 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 Baby Bunny Bellies Tradescantia. Buy quality Potting Mix for your Baby Bunny Bellies Tradescantia from Etsy.
How to Prune Baby Bunny Bellies Tradescantia
Pruning Baby Bunny Bellies Tradescantia involves regular removal of dead foliage to maintain the plant neat and tidy.
To control the growth of the plant and encourage bushyness, pinch the growing tips. Cut back leggy stems of your Baby Bunny Bellies Plant at the beginning of the growing season to rejuvenate growth.
Baby Bunny Bellies Tradescantia (Tradescantia chrysophylla) Propagation
Baby Bunny Bellies Tradescantia (Tradescantia chrysophylla) propagation can be done during the growing period by plant divison or from stem-cuttings.
How to propagate Baby Bunny Bellies Tradescantia (Tradescantia chrysophylla) by plant division
Water the Baby Bunny Bellies 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 your Baby Bunny Bellies (Tradescantia chrysophylla) from its pot and carefully divide it into sections. Ensure each sections has adequate roots and at least one set of leaves.
Pot the Baby Bunny Bellies Tradescantia sections in individual pots in loose, free-draining soil and ensure the rooting container has adequate drainage to prevent the soil from getting soggy as it can lead to rotting.
Take 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 Baby Bunny Bellies Tradescantia (Tradescantia chrysophylla) from stem cuttings
Baby Bunny Bellies Tradescantia stem cuttings root easily so there is no need for rooting hormone. Take a stem cutting from a healthy Baby Bunny Bellies 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 Baby Bunny Bellies 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 Baby Bunny Bellies Tradescantia cutting. Carefully insert the Baby Bunny Bellies 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 Baby Bunny Bellies Tradescantia to be well established before transplanting to individual pots after which you can begin routine care.
Photo Credit: garden.org
Baby Bunny Bellies Tradescantia (Tradescantia chrysophylla) Problems Indoors
Baby Bunny Bellies Tradescantia (Tradescantia chrysophylla) problems indoors are caused by cultural faults like improper watering, improper feeding and inadequate light. Read on for remedies and solutions to these problems.
Baby Bunny Bellies Tradescantia loss of leaf color
Loss of leaf color in Baby Bunny Bellies Tradescantia is caused by inadequate light (too little light).
Move Baby Bunny Bellies 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.
Baby Bunny Bellies Tradescantia dropping leaves
Baby Bunny Bellies Tradescantia will readily drop its leaves if the light is inadequate (too little).
Ensure to place your Baby Bunny Bellies 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.
Baby Bunny Bellies Tradescantia leggy growth (elongated stems)
There are three possible causes of leggy growth in Baby Bunny Bellies Tradescantia. One possible cause of leggy growth in your Baby Bunny Bellies Tradescantia is too little light.
Move your Baby Bunny Bellies 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 Baby Bunny Bellies 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 moderately moist during the growing season. Reduce watering during the cold season but do not allow the soil to dry out completely.
The third cause of leggy growth in your Baby Bunny Bellies Tradescantia is inadequate feeding (underfeeding). Feed your Baby Bunny Bellies Tradescantia once a month with a balanced, liquid fertilizer to promote healthy growth.
Baby Bunny Bellies Tradescantia limp stems, yellow leaves
Limp stems and yellow leaves in Baby Bunny Bellies Tradescantia are due to underwatering. Maintain the soil moist at all times for your Baby Bunny Bellies Tradescantia and never allow the soil to dry out completely.
Baby Bunny Bellies Tradescantia dying
Baby Bunny Bellies Tradescantia dying is caused by root-rot disease which is brought about by soggy soil.
Ensure that the soil is free-draining and that the pot has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy. Also, reduce watering during the cold season as growth is minimal at this time and thus the plant does not require a lot of water.
Baby Bunny Bellies Tradescantia diseases
Common diseases in Baby Bunny Bellies 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.
Baby Bunny Bellies Tradescantia pests
Common pests in Baby Bunny Bellies 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 Baby Bunny Bellies Tradescantia (Tradescantia chrysophylla) toxic?
Baby Bunny Bellies Tradescantia (Tradescantia chrysophylla) is mildly toxic to humans and pets.
If Baby Bunny Bellies 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 Baby Bunny Bellies Tradescantia.
