Small-leaf Spiderwort (Tradescantia fluminensis) Care Indoors; Watering, Soil, Propagation, Problems

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Tradescantia fluminensis commonly called Small-leaf Spiderwort, Wandering Trad, Inch Plant, River Spiderwort or Wandering Willie is among fast-growing Tradescantia varieties, and easily adapts to indoor growing conditions.

The leaves, about 2-4 inches long, tightly clasp the creeping or trailing stems. The undersides of leaves are pale purple (mauve) and it produces pale purple sap.

Tradescantia fluminensis and Tradescantia chrysophylla (Baby Bunny Bellies Plant) are perfect for a hanging basket, pedestal, table-top, desktop or shelf where the stems can beautifully cascade downwards.

Botanical name: Tradescantia fluminensis
Synonmy name: Tradescantia albiflora
Family: Commelinaceae
Common names: Small-leaf Spiderwort, Wandering Trad, Inch Plant, River Spiderwort, Wandering Willie

Origin

Tradescantia fluminensis houseplant is native to the New World from southern Canada to northern Argentina, including West Indies where it occurs individually or in clumps in wooded areas or open fields.

Flower

Small-leaf Spiderwort flowers are white with three petals. It may occasionally flower indoors but the blooms are generally insignificant.

Varieties

Tradescantia fluminensis has many varieties like variegata with cream striped leaves, Quicksilver with white striped leaves and tricolor whose leaves are striped with cream and purple, among others.

Is Small-leaf Spiderwort poisonous?

Yes. Small-leaf Spiderwort is mildly toxic to humans, cats and dogs as indicated by Leaf and Paw. 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

Invasiveness as a weed

Small-leaf Spiderworts are fast-growing plants which are invasive and noxious weeds in many places. They successfully grow anywhere and will smoother ground level plants and prevent the natural regeneration of taller species.

Avoid planting River Spiderworts in the ground and dispose only after complete destruction as even an inch of these plants will sprout if not completely destroyed.

Where to Buy

Are you looking to add Small-leaf Spiderwort varieties to your collection? You may obtain these plants from Amazon (Link to Amazon) or from Etsy (Link to Etsy).

How to care for Small-leaf Spiderwort indoors

To care for Small-leaf Spiderwort indoors, provide bright indirect light, warmth of 16-27⁰C, humidity of 50-55% and consistently moist, fertile, well-drained soil coupled with fortnightly feeding during the growing season.

Tradescantia fluminensis requires pruning to keep it neat, to reduce pest and disease infestations, 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.

Watering

How often should I water Small-leaf Spiderwort?

Water Small-leaf Spiderwort thoroughly in spring and summer while allowing the top 1-2 inches of soil to dry out between waterings. Maintain the soil consistently moist but not soggy to prevent rotting, drooping, yellowing and leaf drop.

Cut down on watering in fall and winter to keep the soil slightly moist as growth is minimal at this time. Do not allow the soil to dry out completely for too long to avoid wilting, drooping, yellowing, browning and leaf fall.

Use water that is at room temperature to avoid shocking the roots which can result in reduced growth and leaf loss. Use chlorine-free water like rain water or filtered water to prevent brown leaf tips.

Ensure that the pot has a drainage hole and the soil is well-draining to prevent waterlogging which can lead to root-rot and eventual plant death. Avoid wetting the foliage to discourage fungal diseases.

Light Requirements

How much light does Small-leaf Spiderwort need?

Small-leaf Spiderwort grows best in bright indirect light; place it near a large, brightly-lit, sunless window. Keep it away from direct sunshine as it can lead to scorching of the leaves.

If the lighting is too low, the plant may respond with leggy growth and yellow leaves. Therefore, use a grow light if the natural lighting is not sufficient.

Regularly rotate the pot to ensure that the plant receives light on all sides for even growth and prevent leggy growth.

Temperature & Humidity

Small-leaf Spiderwort flourishes in a warmth of 16-27⁰C; a room temperature that is comfortable for you is ideal for this plant. Keep it away from drafts emanating from windy doors, drafty windows, heaters, AC vents and others, to prevent temperature flactuations which can lead in reduced growth, wilting, drooping, yellowing, browning and leaf loss.

Tradescantia fluminensis has no need for high humidity; a humidity of 50-55% is ideal for this plant. However, where the humidity is too low, the plant will respond with dry, brown leaf tips. Therefore, to increase humidity, group the plants together, set the pot on a wet pebble tray or use a humidifier. Maintain proper air circulation to reduce fungal diseases.

Fertilizer

Feed Tradescantia fluminensis with a balanced, liquid fertilizer every 2 weeks in spring and summer to promote a lush growth.

Withhold feeding in fall and winter as the growth is minimal and feeding at this time may lead to fertilizer burn which is indicated by yellow leaves followed by plant death.

Every 1-2 months, flush out accumulated salts by running a stream of water through the soil until it comes out through the drainage holes.

Potting Soil

Small-leaf Spiderwort soil should be a rich, loose, well-draining potting mix to prevent it from getting soggy while providing the required nutrients. A blend of 2 parts potting soil and 1 part perlite is great for this plant.

Repotting

Repot Small-leaf Spiderwort in the beginning of the growing season (spring to early summer), only when the plant has become extremely pot-bound; it grows best when root-bound.

Use 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 prevent the soil from getting soggy as it can lead to root-rot and yellowing leaves.

Tradescantia fluminensis is magnificent in a hanging basket where the the stems can cascade downwards beautifully. Check out these hanging planters with macrame plant hangers on Amazon.

Pruning & Grooming

Pruning Small-leaf Spiderwort involves:

• Regular removal of dead foliage to maintain the plant neat as well as discourage pest and disease infestations.


• Pinching off the growing tips to control the growth and make it more bushy.


• Cutting back leggy stems at the beginning of the growing season to rejuvenate growth.

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

Tradescantia fluminensis Propagation

Small-leaf Spiderwort propagation is done by plants divison or from stem-cuttings, during the growing period when in active growth, for faster establishment.

1. Tradescantia fluminensis propagation by plant division

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


2. Take 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 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. 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.

2. Tradescantia fluminensis propagation from stem cuttings in soil

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

1. Take a stem cutting from a healthy plant of about 4-6 inches 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 a 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 and maintain the soil moist through out until new growth emerges.


7. Allow the new plant to be well established before transplanting to individual pots after which you can begin routine care.

Tradescantia fluminensis Problems & Solutions

Small-leaf Spiderwort problems are yellow leaves, brown leaf tips, plant dying, wilting leaves, leggy growth, loss of leaf color, pests and diseases among others. Keep reading for more on these problems and their remedies.

Yellow leaves

Why are the leaves on my Small-leaf Spiderwort turning yellow?

Some of the causes of yellow leaves on your Small-leaf Spiderwort are too little light, inconsistent watering, soggy soil, temperature stress, low humidity, nutrients deficiency among others.

How to fix it

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

Inconsistent watering: Do not water on a schedule. Water when the top 2-3 inches dry out. Never allow the soil to dry out completely.

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

Temperature stress: Keep the plant away from drafts coming from AC units, drafty windows, heat sources, windy doors and others.

Low humidity: Use a wet pebble tray or a humidifier to elevate humidity.

Nutrients deficiency: Feed the plant with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer every 3-4 weeks in spring and summer.

Brown leaf tips

Why are the tips of my Small-leaf Spiderwort leaves turning brown?

The tips of your Small-leaf Spiderwort leaves are turning brown due to low humidity, salts buildup or use of hard water.

How to fix it

Low humidity: To increase humidity, set the pot on a wet pebble tray, use a humidifier or grow the plant in a well-lit bathroom, kitchen, laundry area and other moist areas in the home.

Salts buildup: Regularly flush out excess salts by running a stream of water through the soil until it drains through the drainage hole.

Use of hard water: Use chlorine-free water like rain water or filtered water.

Plant dying

Why is my Small-leaf Spiderwort plant dying?

Your Small-leaf Spiderwort plant is dying due to 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 do you revive Small-leaf Spiderwort?

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 and 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; keep the soil slightly moist.

Wilting leaves

Why is my Small-leaf Spiderwort wilting?

Your Small-leaf Spiderwort is wilting due to underwatering, drafts or pests infestation.

How to fix it

Underwatering: Water when the top 2-3 inches of soil dry out but never allow the soil to dry out completely.

Drafts: Keep the plant away from drafts emanating from hot air vents, AC units, hot stoves, windy doors among others.

Pest infestations: Regularly inspect the plant for these pests and take timely control measures.

Leggy growth

Leggy growth on Small-leaf Spiderwort is caused by too little light, overwatering or excessive feeding.

How to fix it

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

Overwatering: Water when the top 2-3 inches of soil dry but do not allow the soil to dry out completely.

Excessive feeding: Feed the plant with a balanced, liquid fertilizer once a month in spring and summer. Do not feed in fall and winter.

Loss of leaf color

Loss of leaf color on Small-leaf Spiderwort is caused by too little light. Move the plant to a brighter spot with bright indirect light or instal a grow light if you do not have adequate light in your home.

Pests

Common pests of Small-leaf Spiderwort are scales, mealybugs and aphids which are prevalent in dry conditions.

How to fix it

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


2. Treat the infested plant with neem oil or insecticidal soap as per the manufacturers' recommendations.


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


4. Keep the plant properly pruned and upscale humidity to discourage pest infestations.

Diseases

Small-leaf Spiderwort is prone to leaf spot which presents as brown leaf patches surrounded by a yellow halo.

How to fix it

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


2. Spray the affected plant with a systemic fungicide and ensure to cover all the parts with the fungicidal solution.


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 well-draining soil.

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