There are lots of different types of wandering jew plants, and they are all fun to grow. This comprehensive wandering jew plant care guide will show you everything you need to know about how to care for a wandering jew plant 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 throughout the summer.
Information On Wandering Jews
Wandering jew plants add wonderful color to mixed containers, and add great pops of color to shady garden areas as well.
They’re commonly sold as annual filler plants and ground covers in cold climates. But they are actually tender perennials, and can be a bit invasive in warmer climates (a wandering jew vine will develop roots wherever the leaf joints touch the soil).
Wandering jew plants 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 wandering jew name actually refers to a whole variety of plants that fall under the scientific name of “Tradescantia”. Tradescantia wandering jew plants all require similar care, and they are all fairly easy care plants.
There are a whole bunch of different types of wandering jew plants, and they are all equally beautiful. There are plain green, 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 are a few of the most common wandering jew plant varieties (take a look at the wandering jew plant pictures throughout this post to see what some of these varieties look like).
- Bolivian wandering jew (while this plant 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
Wandering Jew Plant Care Outdoors
I find it much easier for long term wandering jew plant care to move my plants outside for the summer, where they thrive and grow huge!
As I mentioned in the intro paragraph, 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 wandering jew vines grow longer, I train them to climb the obelisks. By mid-summer they are absolutely gorgeous, and I get tons of compliments on them every year.
Growing wandering jew plant outdoors
Growing Wandering Jew Indoors
Before frost hits in the fall, I bring my wandering jew plants into the house, and keep them growing indoors through the winter as houseplants.
Indoor wandering jew plant care can be a bit difficult, but given the right care, you can keep your plant growing 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 and humidity, and adequate light.
Wandering jew plant outside for the summer growing on an obelisk
How To Water A Wandering Jew Plant
Wandering jews like to be watered regularly, and won’t tolerate their soil drying out too much.
Keep the soil evenly moist (but not soaking wet) at all times. Water the plant thoroughly, and allow the water to drain from the bottom of the pot.
Wandering jew plants will tolerate being overwatered once and a while, but it’s best to make sure not to allow the plant to sit in water for too long.
You can also water wandering jew plants from the bottom rather than the top, and that way they will soak up plenty of water.
To water from the bottom, simply fill the plant tray or cache pot with water and allow the plant to soak it up through the holes in the bottom of the pot.
If you struggle with giving your plant the right amount of water, I recommend getting a soil moisture gauge to help you out. You could also look into getting a plant watering device to help you water your wandering jew plant.
If you want, you could take wandering jew cuttings from a plant growing outdoors, and put them in a vase of water. They won’t grow in water forever, but if you keep the water fresh, they’ll grow in water for several weeks.
Growing wandering jew plant in water
Wandering Jews Love Humidity
Another key for successful wandering jew plant care is humidity, and lots of it! When the humidity is too low for a wandering jew, 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 level as high as possible for your wandering jew plant indoors.
One easy way to increase the humidity level around your wandering jew plant is to run a humidifier near the plant.
You can also put your plant on a pebble tray filled with water (don’t allow the plant to sit in the water though), or even grow it in a small plant cloche or a mini indoor greenhouse.
To help you maintain the proper humidity level, keep an indoor humidity monitor near your plants.
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 sunlight will burn their leaves (except for tradescantia purple queen, they love growing in full sun!).
If they don’t get enough light, their leaf colors will start to fade and look dull.
The ideal location for a wander jew plant indoors would be an east or west facing window. That way the plant will get plenty of natural light in the morning/evening, and bright indirect light for the rest of the day.
If you don’t have a spot with lots of natural light, then you’ll need to 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 spot 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 potting soil.
But if you’re one of those people who tends to forget to water your plants (been there, done that!), or the soil is drying out too quickly, then mix some peat moss, coco coir, and/or vermiculite into the general purpose potting soil 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 and a while.
They only need to be fertilized spring through summer, don’t fertilize them in the fall or winter. Winter growth on a wandering jew plant houseplant is usually very weak and leggy, so you really don’t want to encourage new growth during the winter.
As part of your wandering jew plant care routine, you can feed your plant monthly using a liquid fertilizer mixed at half strength.
I recommend using an organic plant fertilizer, rather than a chemical one. Wandering jew plants can be sensitive to chemical fertilizers.
A good, organic general purpose houseplant fertilizer, or compost fertilizer tea would work great. You could also add a slow-release organic granular fertilizer to the soil if you prefer doing that.
Fish emulsion and liquid kelp are also great organic fertilizer options, but only use these on plants growing outdoors (they can get a bit stinky when used indoors).
Tricolor wandering jew plant
Wandering Jew Plant Flowers
Fertilizing can also help encourage flowering. Wandering jew plant flowers are pretty small and insignificant, and not all varieties have the same flower.
A wandering jew flower can be anywhere from purple, to pink, to white, but it’s always fun to see them. And sometimes they will even flower during the winter, which is a welcome site to see!
Purple heart wandering jew plant flower
Wandering Jew Plant Propagation
Wandering jew plants are super easy to propagate, simply stick cuttings in the dirt and they’ll grow. If you’ve never tried propagating plants before, wandering jew is the perfect plant to start with.
Take cuttings that are at least a few inches long and include a couple of leaf nodes. They root easily in moist soil, especially outdoors during the summer.
Dip the cut ends into rooting hormone, then stick them in the dirt. Don’t allow the soil to dry out, and keep the air around the cuttings humid to speed things up.
You could also root wandering jew cuttings using a propagation chamber if you’d rather not risk it, or if you’ve had a hard time propagating them other ways.
The great thing about using a propagation chamber is that it lowers the risk of shock after planting wandering jew cuttings.
Related Post: DIY Propagation Box For Rooting Cuttings
They are also easy to root in a vase of water. Just put the cut ends in water, and you’ll start to see new roots in a matter of days. I like to use a clear vase for this so I can see when the roots start to form.
The downfall of rooting wandering jew cuttings in water is that they can go into shock once you transplant them into soil again, which can be fatal for them.
Propagating wandering jew plant cuttings
Pest Control For Wandering Jew Houseplant
Houseplant pests aren’t usually an issue when growing wandering jew outdoors, but they can become a problem on plants indoors. Spider mites, aphids and soil gnats are the most common insect pests that tend to attack wandering jews.
Spider mites thrive in dry environments, and won’t survive if it’s too humid. So get rid of them by raising the humidity level around the plant.
To fight houseplant pests like spider mites and aphids, I recommend using neem oil on the plant, 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 of the plant to kill the bugs. Insecticidal soap or horticultural oil also work great to kill these buggers.
Soil gnats on the other hand live and bread in wet soil, which is why they can plague plants that need consistently moist soil, like wandering jews. They are usually just a nuisance though, and rarely do damage to a plant.
If you see soil 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 the adult soil gnats.
Bugs can come in on plants that have been growing outside, so it’s best to debug plants before bringing them indoors in the fall as part of your normal wandering jew plant care routine.
Purple and silver variegated wandering jew (Tradescantia zebrina)
Pruning Wandering Jew Plants
Wandering jews will tolerate heavy pruning, and it’s best to make pruning a part of your regular wandering jew plant care schedule.
To prune a wandering jew plant, pinch or trim off new growth as well as any thin, weak growth and dead leaves. You can also prune off the long tendrils if you prefer to keep the plant compact and thick.
Don’t forget to save the healthy cuttings to propagate and create new plants (see the wandering jew propagation section above for details).
Wandering jew plants are very delicate, and it’s easy to accidentally break the stems while pruning if you’re not careful.
For precision cuts, I recommend using a bonsai pruning shears or a micro-tip pruning snip. Otherwise, if you’re doing heavy pruning, all purpose pruning shears would be perfect.
Trimming wandering jew plants encourages new growth, so the best time to prune them is during the spring and summer months. You can prune off dead and dying growth at any time.
Pruning wandering jew plants
Troubleshooting Wandering Jew Plant Care Problems
It’s super easy to grow a wandering jew plant 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 – Weak growth is common during the winter months. It’s a sign that the plant isn’t getting enough water, humidity, and/or light. Check the location of your wandering jew plant to ensure it’s getting the right amount of light, and also make sure the plant is getting enough moisture. See the lighting, watering and humidity sections above for more details.
- Leaves look dull and faded – Dull, faded leaves can be caused by too much light, not enough light, or a houseplant pest like spider mites or aphids. See the sections on lighting and houseplant pests above to help diagnose and fix the problem.
- Brown leaves – Brown leaves are also very common on wandering jew plants, especially during the winter. Wandering jew leaves turn brown when the plant isn’t getting enough moisture. See the watering and humidity sections above for more details. Also as the plant ages, it tends to start to die out in the middle. When this happens, it’s best to take cuttings and propagate them to refresh the plant. See the pruning section above for details.
Bolivian wandering jew in hanging basket
Where To Buy Wandering Jew Plant
It’s easy to find all kinds of wandering jews during the spring, just look for different varieties of the wandering jew plant for sale in the annual plant section at any garden center.
If you’re wondering where to buy a wandering jew plant during the winter, you can almost always find them in the houseplant section at any garden center.
Heck, you can even find wandering jew for sale at big box stores, or you can even buy wandering jew plants online.
(Tip: When shopping at local stores, it’s usually cheaper to buy them as annual plants during the spring and summer than it is to buy wandering jew houseplants in the fall and winter!)
If you normally grow wandering jew plants outside during the summer, why not try bringing them indoors for the winter.
Once you get the hang of indoor wandering jew plant care, you’ll never have to pay for new plants in the spring. Heck, some people even grow them as houseplants year round!
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 winter plant care 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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Do you have a tradescantia plant? Share your wandering jew plant care tips in the comments below.
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.