Forum home› Plants
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Tradescantia

widgetwilk annwidgetwilk ann Posts: 361
in Plants
I have just got this Tradescantia Blushing Bride and some of the ends of the leaves appear 'dead' not sure what to do, any advice please.


Posts

  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,546
    The trailing Tradescantias are usually grown a houseplants as far as I''m aware, though there is one upright variety that can be grown in gardens. I think it is suffering from sunburn, plants with pale leaves are particularly susceptible. It is probably safe to leave it out for summer  but it won't survive a winter outside.  I think it would be happier somewhere with partial shade and keep it well watered, but not soggy.
    Personally. I would remove the gravel too. As well as reflecting more sunlight, I think it detracts from the pretty foliage, but that's just my opinion, not gospel :)
  • widgetwilk annwidgetwilk ann Posts: 361
    Thanks, this is for outdoors, thought the grave looked 'nice' B)
  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,546
    The site I checked on said Hardiness 1 to -5C.  Unless your garden is extremely sheltered in a warm area I wouldn't risk it outside. Think of the winter we've just had,
    we had temps like that all through April!
    The gravel on its own does look nice. My whole yard is covered in it! It's just that the white leaves don't show up so well :)

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited June 2021
    I'd treat that as half-hardy and place in dappled shade, make sure it's never in bright sunlight or desiccating winds, and bring it into your house in mid to late September and place somewhere  with filtered light for the winter ... not placing outside again until mid-June. 

    Just because something can survive down to -5C, it doesn't mean it's going to do well and look at its best in those condition. 

    I'd also take lots of stem-tip cuttings as it grows, and root them in water ... it'll keep that plant from getting too straggly and you'll have lots of replacements as it gets older. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • widgetwilk annwidgetwilk ann Posts: 361
    Thanks for advice, good idea about taking cuttings,
  • bertrand-mabelbertrand-mabel Posts: 2,697
    We have 3 different tradescantias in the ground in different places in the garden.
    This year they have been the best ever.
    We don't do anything but let them do what they want to do and each year they come back again.
    Lovely plants and such beautiful flowers.
    They are obviously outdoor ones and we have had very low temps for the whole of April and they have done better this year than ever.
  • widgetwilk annwidgetwilk ann Posts: 361
    This one I have is an outdoor plant, it says on the label height 50cm spread 45cm, so jut hoping it will be OK in this pot,
Sign In or Register to comment.