Wandering jew plants are fun to grow, and there are lots of different varieties. This comprehensive wandering jew plant care guide will show you everything you need to know about how to grow tradescantia indoors or out.
Wandering jew plants are much loved for their unique bright colors, and their vining growth habit. They look gorgeous in hanging baskets, or set atop a pedestal, where the tendrils can cascade down.
I love training mine to grow on the fancy obelisks that adorn my front step outdoors through the summer. Then I bring them indoors to keep them going as houseplants in the winter.
There are tons of different types, and they are fun to collect. The good news is that, no matter which variety you have, tradescantia plant care is the same.
Here’s what you’ll find in this detailed wandering jew care guide…
Table of Contents
Information On Wandering Jews
Wandering jews (Tradescantia) are tropical plants that add wonderful color to mixed containers and shady garden areas.
They’re commonly sold as annual plants in cold climates. But they are actually tropical perennials in their native environment.
They are not tolerant of the cold, and will die at the first hard freeze if left outdoors. But they can easily be brought indoors and grown as a houseplant through the winter.
Purple variegated wandering jew (zebrina)
Different Wandering Jew Varieties
When you think of a wandering jew plant, you might think about the classic variety with purple and silver variegated leaves (Tradescantia zebrina, aka “inch plant”).
But the common name actually refers to a whole family of plants that fall under the scientific name of “Tradescantia”. Tradescantia wandering jew plants all require similar care, and they are all fairly easy to grow.
There are a whole bunch of different types, and they are all equally beautiful. There are plain green ones, variegated, purple, and even fuzzy leaf ones.
Whew, with all those options, how will you ever decide which variety to grow (I guess you could just start a collection like me!).
Related Post: 17 Beautiful Purple Houseplants To Liven Up Your Home
Mixed planter of different wandering jew varieties
Here’s a list of the most common wandering jew varieties (take a look at the pictures throughout this post to see what some of them look like).
- Bolivian (while this is called “wandering jew”, it’s actually a different species)
- Bridal veil
- Red burgundy
- Purple fuzzy leaves
- Green fuzzy leaves
- Tricolor
- White/green variegated
- Purple queen (aka: purple heart)
Green and white variegated wandering jew
Where To Grow Tradescantia Plants
Before we get into the details of wandering jew plant care, it’s important to know a few key things about where to grow them in order to be successful.
Growing Wandering Jew Outdoors
I find it much easier for long term wandering jew plant care to move them outside for the summer, where they thrive and get huge!
As I mentioned above, I grow my wandering jew plants outside on my shady front step every summer. I have two large containers with obelisks in them that are perfect.
As the vines grow longer, I train them to climb the supports. By mid-summer they are absolutely gorgeous, and I get tons of compliments on them every year.
Growing wandering jew plant outdoors
Wandering Jew Plant Care Indoors
Before frost hits in the fall, I bring my wandering jew plants indoors, and keep them growing as houseplants.
Growing them indoors can be a bit difficult, but given the right care, you can keep your plant thriving year after year – which is totally worth it if you ask me.
The most important things to consider when growing wandering jew indoors are proper watering, humidity, and adequate light.
Wandering jew plant outside for the summer growing on an obelisk
Wandering Jew Care & Growing Instructions
Despite their differences, all varieties of wandering jew plants have the same basic care requirements. So you can follow these growing instructions for any type that you have.
How To Water A Wandering Jew Plant
Wandering jews like to be watered regularly, and won’t tolerate their soil drying out for very long.
Keep the soil evenly moist (but never soggy) at all times. Water them thoroughly, and allow the excess to drain from the bottom of the pot.
Wandering jew plants will tolerate being overwatered once in a while, but never allow the soil to stay wet for too long.
If you struggle with giving them the right amount of water, I recommend getting a soil moisture gauge to help you out.
If you don’t want to bring a large wandering jew inside, you could take cuttings and grow them in a vase of water. They won’t live that way forever, but if you keep the water fresh, they’ll be fine for several weeks.
Growing wandering jew plant in water
Wandering Jew Humidity Requirements
Another key part of successful wandering jew plant care is humidity, and lots of it! When the humidity is too low, the leaves will start to turn brown and die.
This is the biggest issue with growing them indoors during the winter months, when the air in our home is super dry. So, it’s very important to keep the humidity as high as possible.
One easy way to increase the humidity level around your wandering jew plant is to run a humidifier next to it. You should also keep an indoor humidity monitor near your plants.
You could put the pot on a pebble tray filled with water (don’t allow it to sit in the water though), or even grow it in a small plant cloche or a mini indoor greenhouse.
Wandering jew purple heart (Tradescantia pallida)
Wandering Jew Light Requirements
Wandering jews are pretty picky about getting the right amount of light. They need a lot of light to maintain their bright color, but direct sun will burn their leaves (except for purple queen, they love growing in full sun!).
The ideal location for growing wandering jew indoors is an east or west facing window. That way it will get plenty of natural light in the morning/evening, and bright indirect sun for the rest of the day.
When they don’t get enough light, their leaf colors will fade and look dull. If you don’t have a spot with lots of natural sun, then add a grow light.
If you choose to move your plant outside for the summer, make sure to keep it in the shade or a partial shade location where it’s protected from the hot afternoon sun.
Wandering jew hanging plant
Best Type Of Potting Soil For Wandering Jew Plants
When it comes to soil, wandering jew plants aren’t picky, they will grow just fine in a general purpose mix.
But if you tend to forget to water (been there, done that!), or the soil drys out too quickly, then mix in some peat moss, coco coir, and/or vermiculite to help it retain moisture.
Fuzzy green and purple wandering jew plant
Fertilizing Wandering Jew Plants
Wandering jew plants don’t really need to be fertilized, but of course they will benefit from being fed once in a while.
They only need it spring through summer, don’t fertilize them in the fall or winter. Winter growth is usually very weak and leggy, so you really don’t want to encourage that.
As part of your wandering jew plant care routine, you can feed it monthly with a liquid fertilizer mixed at half strength.
I recommend using organic plant food, rather than a synthetic one. Wandering jews can be sensitive to chemical fertilizers.
A good organic general purpose fertilizer, or compost tea would work great. You could also add slow-release organic granules to the soil if you prefer doing that.
Fish emulsion and liquid kelp are also great options, but only use these outdoors (they can get a bit stinky when used indoors).
Tricolor wandering jew plant
Wandering Jew Plant Flowers
Fertilizing can also help encourage blooming. Wandering jew flowers are pretty small and insignificant, and not all varieties look the same.
A wandering jew flower can be purple, pink, or white, and it’s always fun to see them. Sometimes they will even flower during the winter, which is a welcome surprise!
Purple heart wandering jew plant flower
Pest Control For Wandering Jew Houseplant
Bugs aren’t usually an issue when growing wandering jews outdoors. But spider mites, aphids, and fungus gnats can become a problem indoors.
To fight houseplant pests that infest the leaves, I recommend using neem oil, which is a natural pesticide.
I also like to use a mixture of 1 tsp mild liquid soap per 1 liter of water, and spray it on the leaves to kill the bugs. Insecticidal soap or horticultural oil also work great.
If you see gnats flying around your wandering jew houseplant, allow the soil to dry out a bit more between waterings. You can use a yellow sticky trap to help control them.
Purple and silver variegated wandering jew (Tradescantia zebrina)
Pruning Wandering Jew Plants
It’s a good idea to make pruning a part of your wandering jew plant care schedule. Regular pinching and pruning will keep the vines compact and thick.
Trimming wandering jews encourages new growth, so it’s best to do it during the spring and summer months only. You can prune off dead and dying growth at any time.
For precision cuts, I recommend using bonsai shears or a micro-tip snip. Otherwise, if you’re doing heavy pruning, regular hand shears are perfect.
Pruning wandering jew plants
Tips For Propagating Wandering Jew Plants
Wandering jew plants are super easy to propagate. Take cuttings that are 3-4″ long, and include a couple of leaf nodes.
Dip the cut ends into rooting hormone, then stick them in moist soil. Don’t allow the soil to dry out, and keep the air around the cuttings humid. A propagation chamber makes this super easy.
They are also simple to root in a vase of water, and you’ll start to see new roots in a matter of days. I like to use a clear vase so I can see when the roots start to form.
Propagating wandering jew plant cuttings
Troubleshooting Wandering Jew Plant Care Problems
It’s super easy to grow wandering jew plants outside, especially when it’s humid. But growing them indoors is a whole different story.
Most of the problems you’ll have with indoor wandering jew plant care will be due to inadequate water, light, and/or humidity.
- Weak, leggy growth – This is very common during the winter months, and is caused by a lack of light. Check the location of your wandering jew to ensure it’s getting the right amount of sun, or add a grow light.
- Leaves look dull and faded – Dull, faded leaves can be caused by too much light, not enough light, or a bug infestation. See the sections on lighting and houseplant pests sections above to help diagnose and fix the problem.
- Brown leaves – The leaves turn brown when the plant isn’t getting enough moisture or humidity. Also, as they age, they tend to start dying out in the middle. When this happens, you can prune the vines to refresh the plant.
Bolivian wandering jew in hanging basket
Where To Buy Wandering Jew Plants
It’s easy to find all kinds of wandering jews for sale during the spring. Just look for different varieties in the annual plant section at any garden center, or you can buy them online.
During the winter, you can find them in the houseplant section. But, it’s usually cheaper to buy them as annual plants during the spring and summer, so you may want to wait a few months.
Growing wandering jews indoors or outside is easy and fun! There are so many Tradescantia varieties to choose from, you could collect them all. The best part is that, no matter which one you choose, wandering jew plant care is the same for them all!
If you struggle with taking care of plants during the long winter months, my Winter Houseplant Care eBook is perfect for you! It’s a comprehensive guide that will show you exactly how to care for your favorite plants indoors during the winter, so you can keep them thriving all year long! Grab your copy today!
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Share your wandering jew plant care tips in the comments below.
joann schuzer says
Can I add several starters of a wandering jew in 1 pot? Is so does size of pot matter?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, you can add several small wandering jews into one pot, they don’t mind being crowded. Just choose a pot that is large enough that the plants will fill it nicely.
Jeff says
How long will these vines grow, indoors? I have a 15 foot tall wall to cover (and good indoor conditions—the right light and humidity, so that won’t be a problem). Will these vines grow that long?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Wandering jews are not technically vines, they are more like a ground cover in their native habitat. The longest mine ever get is about 3-4′ long, so I don’t think this would work to cover your wall. Instead you could try a large ivy, or pothos.
Rebecca says
How long is too long for the hanging branches and leaves? How do I know it’s time to cut it back? I’d prefer not to unless it is harmful to let them grow too long, as it cascades off of a tall dresser and looks healthy
Amy Andrychowicz says
As long as your wandering jew looks healthy, and you’re happy with the shape, then there’s no reason to prune it.
Rebecca says
Thank you!
Amy Andrychowicz says
You’re welcome!
Meghan L says
I’ve got the pretty classic purple and silver wandering jew variety, it’s fairly new and its in a hanging pot indoors where it get’s a good amount of sun daily. We bought it before it started hanging with the belief that as it grew it would drop down and become a hanging plant. The only issue I’m having is that it’s growing straight up!! It’s climbing instead of falling! HELP! How can I make it hang? It’s also fairly leggy and I would love to make it a smidge thicker. Thanks!
Amy Andrychowicz says
It sounds to me like your wandering jew may not getting enough light, that’s why it’s grown so leggy. They will naturally trail over the top of a hanging basket once the stems grow too long for them to stand up on their own, so there’s nothing you can really do to force it. If you regularly pinch off the new tips, that will force your plant to grow fuller and thicker, rather than continue to get taller. You could also try pruning it back if you’ve never done that. Pruning also encourages branching. Good luck!
VlCook says
My deep purple plants have brown/gray legions all over the leaves. It has gotten so bad that I think the plant is dying. What could this be? i live in south east Texas. is this fungus or mold or an insect? I have these purple plants in several areas and whatever this is seems to be moving to all of these plant.
Amy Andrychowicz says
It’s hard to tell for sure from the description. Most of the time, brown spots on tradescantia leaves are caused by improper watering (over or under watering). Wandering jews are very prone to root rot when overwatered, but love lots of humidity. So, if it’s too dry for them, the leaves will start to turn brown. This could also be caused by too much sun, which can burn the leaves. To rule out bugs, take a close look at the damaged leaves, and see if you spot any bugs (look under the leaves too). Most insects that cause that type of damage will be easy to see when you inspect the leaves.
Melissa says
I add a little bit of cinnamon to the surface of the soil. This helps keep fungas gnats away. Cinnamon is a natural fungicide. You just water it right in. It doesn’t hurt the plant. It works great for me. I do this with all my houseplants.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Thanks for your tip. I haven’t tried using cinnamon myself, but always good to hear it works for others!
Rose says
Thanks so much for your great advice! My green and white beauty has many leaves turning brown this September, after an amazing summer of growth as an indoor plant in the UK. I was worried to see all these brown leaves. I feel more confident with pruning, raising humidity and checking for dry soil. Thank you!!
Amy Andrychowicz says
Oh no, sorry to hear your tradescantia is struggling! Glad to hear that you found this article helpful, thanks for sharing! 🙂 You’re welcome! Hope your plant recovers quickly.
Barbara Sabin says
Amy,
I have a Purple Heart, I bought it in the spring and she lived in full sun all this summer. She has grown and has beautiful little flowers.I live in New Jersey and know I will have to bring her in in the winter. My problem is I don’t have a window east or west, she will live by window with light but not direct sun. Also, next year will she acclimate to the change from inside, with no direct sun to outside direct sun.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Great job getting your purple heart to grow so well this summer, how fun! That variety of tradescantia does need a lot of light. So, if you can’t put it in a sunny window through the winter, then I would recommend getting a grow light for it. If purple heart plants don’t get enough light, their color will fade, and they will start to grow leggy. Bu, it will pop back pretty quickly after you move it back outside in the spring. Just be sure to slowly transition it back to growing in full sun again, or the leaves could get sunburn (BTW, this is true even if you use a grow light).
Meagen Joseph says
I bought a sad looking green and purple wandering Jew and having moved from a very hot climate to a dry and cold climate I was uneducated to the care of this beauty but your tips help me save the poor thing I now have a pretty little family starting over and I can’t wait to see them flourish. Thank you for your knowledge.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Wonderful to hear! So glad you were able to save your wandering jew, and now it’s flourishing! You’re welcome, glad I could help. 🙂
Cathy says
Hi, this article is very informative. I couldn’t find the answer to my question, so I thought I would ask. When I water my purple wandering Jew plant, the water runs out quite dark brown out of the bottom of my hanging planter. Does this sound like it needs to be reported or watered less? I usually just water when the soil feels dry to the touch, but maybe I am pouring too much in? Thanks!
Amy Andrychowicz says
There’s no concern about the water being brown when it drains out the bottom of the pot. It just means the nutrients are leaching out of the soil, which is totally normal for potted plants. As long as your wandering jew is growing great, then there’s no need to repot it.
Lewis Messer says
I have a massive purple silver wandering jew in my office. I water it twice a week and it is thriving. Everyone that comes into my office comments on it and all want a cut-ling, lol. I have 5 or 6 cut-lings in water at all times to hand out to folks. I give them a few tips about lighting and watering them. So far people love them.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Wonderful! Sounds like you have the perfect touch for caring for your wandering jew! Love to hear that you share cuttings with your co-workers. That’s so much fun, and I bet they love it too!
Ernie Marotta says
I have a wandering jew out doors in central Fl. Can it take temperatures below 35degress.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, wandering jews are hardy in zones 9-11, and can handle temps down into the 20sF.