How to Grow and 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
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.
Speedy Jenny Baby Bellies 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.
Where to Buy
If you are looking to add this pretty plant to your collection, various Baby Bunny Bellies Tradescantia are readily available online at Etsy. Buy Baby Bunny Bellies Tradescantia (Tradescantia chrysophylla) online from Etsy.
Photo Credit: Garden Tags
Tradescantia chrysophylla Care Indoors
Baby Bunny Bellies Tradescantia (Tradescantia chrysophylla) thrives in bright, indirect light, average warmth and moderately moist, rich, well-drained soil coupled with regular feeding during the growing season.
Tradescantia chrysophylla requires pruning to keep it neat, to control growth and to rejuvenate growth. Repotting is necessary when it becomes extremely pot-bound. Continue reading for more on these growing conditions and how to achieve them.
Light Requirements
Baby Bunny Bellies Tradescantia grows best in bright, indirect light away from direct sunshine as it can lead to scorching of the leaves.
Regularly rotate the pot to ensure that the plant receives light on all sides for uniform growth.
Watering
Water Baby Bunny Bellies Tradescantia thoroughly during the growing season and maintain the soil moderately moist while allowing it to dry slightly between waterings.
Decrease 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.
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 the plant.
Temperature
Average warmth with a minimum 130C is ideal for your Baby Bunny Bellies Tradescantia. Keep it away from draughts as they can cause leaf drop.
Humidity
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 to raise humidity where the temperatures are too high. Check out these techniques on how to raise humidity for houseplants.
Fertilizer (Feeding)
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.
Repotting
Repot Baby Bunny Bellies Tradescantia during the growing season only when the plant has become extremely 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 the plant.
Soil
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. Buy quality Potting Mix for Baby Bunny Bellies Plant online from Etsy.
Pruning
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 at the beginning of the growing season to rejuvenate growth.
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 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 the plant from its pot and carefully divide it into sections. Ensure each sections has adequate roots and at least one set of leaves.
Pot the 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 Baby Bunny Bellies Plant is well established after which you can begin routine care.
How to propagate Baby Bunny Bellies Tradescantia from stem cuttings
The 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 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 cutting. Carefully insert the 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 Plant to be well established before transplanting to individual pots after which you can begin routine care.
Photo Credit: garden.org
Tradescantia chrysophylla Problems Indoors
Baby Bunny Bellies Tradescantia (Tradescantia chrysophylla) problems indoors are leaf drop, leggy growth, loss of leaf color, plant death, pests and diseases among others. Read on for more on these problems, their remedies and solutions.
Dropping leaves
Baby Bunny Bellies Tradescantia will readily drop its leaves if the light is inadequate (too little).
Ensure to place the 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 the natural lighting is not adequate.
Loss of leaf color
Loss of leaf color in Baby Bunny Bellies Tradescantia is caused by inadequate light (too little light).
Move the Baby Bunny Bellies Plant 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.
Leggy growth (elongated stems)
There are three possible causes of leggy growth in Baby Bunny Bellies Tradescantia. One possible cause of leggy growth is too little light.
Position the Speedy Jenny Baby Bellies 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 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 Baby Bunny Bellies Tradescantia is inadequate feeding (underfeeding).
Feed the plant once a month with a balanced, liquid fertilizer to promote healthy growth.
Plant dying
Baby Bunny Bellies Tradescantia dying is caused by root-rot disease which is brought about by soggy soil due to poor drainage.
Ascertain that the soil is free-draining and that the pot has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy.
In addition, reduce watering during the cold season as growth is minimal at this time and thus the plant does not require a lot of water. Read on how to treat root-rot in houseplants.
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 and never allow the soil to dry out completely.
Diseases
Apart from root-disease, Baby Bunny Bellies Tradescantia is also prone to leaf spot disease. Isolate the affected plant to prevent spread to the other houseplants and treat the plant appropriately for the leaf spot disease.
Pests
Common pests in Baby Bunny Bellies Tradescantia are Scale Insects, Mealy Bugs and Aphids. Isolate the affected plant and treat appropriately. Mist the leaves regularly to reduce infestation by these pests. Read on how to identify and get rid of pests in houseplants.
Is Baby Bunny Bellies Tradescantia toxic?
Baby Bunny Bellies Tradescantia (Tradescantia chrysophylla) 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 Speedy Jenny Baby Bellies.
