The Pink Wandering Jew, a captivating plant, brings vibrant color and a delightful trailing habit to any indoor or outdoor setting. Its foliage, displaying shades of pink, purple, and green, makes it a popular choice for adding visual interest. It cascades gracefully from hanging baskets or spreads as ground cover.
Understanding Your Pink Wandering Jew
The plant commonly referred to as Pink Wandering Jew is typically Tradescantia pallida, often the cultivar ‘Purpurea’ or ‘Purple Heart’. While Tradescantia zebrina also features pink or purple hues, Tradescantia pallida is recognized for its deep purple foliage. The common name “Wandering Jew” has problematic origins and is now widely considered insensitive due to its historical and cultural connotations. Many prefer using alternative names such as Inch Plant, Spiderwort, or Purple Heart to refer to plants in the Tradescantia genus.
Tradescantia pallida is characterized by its long, lance-shaped leaves, typically 2-5 inches long, which are a striking royal purple on the upper side and a brighter violet underneath. The leaves grow alternately along thick, somewhat fragile, purple stems. This plant exhibits a creeping and trailing growth habit.
Essential Care for Pink Wandering Jew
Light
Bright, indirect light is essential for maintaining the Pink Wandering Jew’s vibrant coloration, promoting the deepest purple and pink hues. Placing the plant near a window with filtered sunlight, especially from an east or west-facing direction, can provide adequate light exposure. While it can tolerate some direct morning sun, excessive direct sunlight, particularly in the afternoon, can scorch the leaves and cause color fading or browning. Insufficient light can lead to the leaves becoming more green than purple and cause the plant to become leggy.
Watering
Proper watering is important to prevent issues like root rot. Allow the top inch or two of the soil to dry out before watering again. Water the plant thoroughly until water drains from the bottom of the pot, ensuring the roots receive adequate moisture. Adjust watering frequency based on the season, reducing it in winter when the plant’s growth slows down.
Soil and Potting
A well-draining general potting mix is important for the Pink Wandering Jew to thrive. To enhance drainage and aeration, amendments like perlite, sand, or peat moss can be added. When potting, ensure the container has drainage holes to prevent waterlogging. Repotting is typically needed every one to two years or when the plant outgrows its current container, usually in spring.
Temperature and Humidity
The Pink Wandering Jew prefers moderate room temperatures, ideally between 65°F and 75°F (18°C and 24°C). It can tolerate slightly warmer temperatures up to 90°F (32°C), but extreme cold, especially below 50°F (10°C), can damage the plant. This plant generally adapts to average household humidity levels, but it appreciates moderate to high humidity. In drier environments, increasing humidity through misting, using a humidifier, or placing the pot on a pebble tray filled with water can be beneficial.
Fertilizing
During its active growing season, from spring through summer, the Pink Wandering Jew benefits from regular fertilization. Applying a balanced, water-soluble liquid fertilizer once a month is generally sufficient. Following the instructions on the fertilizer packaging for the correct dilution ratio is important to avoid over-fertilization, which can lead to leaf burn or leggy growth. Fertilization should be reduced or stopped completely during the dormant winter period.
Propagation and Pruning
The Pink Wandering Jew is easy to propagate, primarily through stem cuttings. To propagate, select a healthy stem about 4-6 inches long and make a cut just below a leaf node. Remove the lower leaves from the cutting, ensuring no leaves will be submerged in water or buried in soil, as this can lead to rot. Cuttings can be rooted in water by placing the cut end in a glass of water, changing the water every few days to keep it fresh. Alternatively, cuttings can be planted directly into moist potting mix, where roots typically develop within a few weeks.
Regular pruning helps maintain the plant’s bushy and compact form, preventing it from becoming leggy or straggly. Trimming back overgrown or spindly stems encourages new growth and branching, leading to a fuller appearance. Pinching off the tips of the plant can also promote bushier growth.
Common Issues and Solutions
Loss of vibrant pink or purple coloration, often fading to green, indicates insufficient light. Move the plant to a brighter location with indirect sunlight.
Leggy growth, with long spaces between leaves, signals inadequate light. Increase light exposure and prune regularly for a bushier habit.
Overwatering causes yellowing leaves, wilting, and root rot. Underwatering results in brown, crispy leaf tips or droopiness. Adjust watering practices as described in the ‘Watering’ section.
While generally resistant to pests, the Pink Wandering Jew can occasionally be affected by common houseplant pests such as spider mites, mealybugs, and aphids. Regularly inspecting the plant for signs of pests and treating them promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil can manage infestations.