The Tradescantia is a pretty, trailing plant that goes by common names like Wandering Jew (more on that later), Wandering Dude, Spiderwort, and Inch plant.

You can grow the Tradescantia as an indoor plant, but it has some specific needs and is a bit more care-intensive than most houseplants. 

Indoor Tradescantia Plant Care

Tradescantias are native to the Americas from southern Canada down to South America. They like bright, indirect light, moist soil, and high humidity.

There are about 70 different Tradescantia varieties, the most common being the Tradescantia Zebrina, with green leaves and silver stripes, and the purple Zebrina burgundy.

There are pink and lilac variegated tradescantias like the Tradescantia fluminensis tricolor, quadricolor, Tradescantia bubblegum, and the Tradescantia Nanouk (continue reading to find out why this last one is extra special).

All the different varieties of Tradescantia plants are very fast-growing. If you can give your plant the right care, it might start flowering and grow small pink or purple flowers that last just one day.

Wandering Jew Plant Name

So let’s talk about it. Why is the Tradescantia commonly called a Wandering Jew? There are a few different stories that go around.

It is said by some that the Tradescantia got its common name Wandering Jew, because of the wandering way it grows. It spreads quickly, with sections of stem all growing in slightly varying directions, wandering about.

Others say it was because propagated cuttings of the plant were passed on to friends and family like wanderers traveling the world.

But this just explains the Wandering part. The Tradescantia could have just been called the Wandering Plant. Why the Jew part?

I wasn’t there when the name was first used, but the explanation most often heard is that of an old Christian myth about a Jew who was said to have had a bad attitude right before the crucifixion, mocking Jesus. It is said that Jesus responded by condemning him to wander the earth until the second coming.

In recent years the name Wandering Jew is being used less frequently. People use Wandering dude and the official name Tradescantia more and more.

Tradescantia Nanouk the Easiest of All Tradescantias

Overall, the Tradescantia nanouk is the easiest Tradescantia to care for.

Unlike the other Tradescantia cultivars, the nanouk isn’t native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas.

Instead, the Tradescantia Nanouk was cultivated in The Netherlands and patented in 2017 for its light purple-pink, green, and grey-green colored variegated leaves (similar but not identical to the Tradescantia tricolor).

Nanouk has shorter, thicker stems and stronger, less delicate leaves, making watering easier. And the Tradescantia nanouk has been specially cultivated to have “good interiorscape performance“. In other words, easy to care for indoors and able to survive in your home.

Variegated Tradescantia Care

Variegated variations like the Tradescantia Zebrina, Tricolor, or Nanouk can lose their pink variegation and turn solid green for different reasons.

When you see the variegated leaves start turning a solid green, get pruning!

Tradescantia Light Requirements

Wandering jew plants grow best in bright, but indirect sunlight. You want to provide your plant with enough light to keep its color and maybe even flower.

Avoid too much direct sunlight. Dry, brown spots on the delicate leaves can be a sign of sunburn. Move your plant further away from the window, or filter the light with a sheer curtain.    

The ideal location is an east or west-facing window. This gives your plant enough light in the morning or late afternoon, and plenty of bright indirect light the rest of the day.

When grown in lower light, pink colors and variegation may fade and growth will slow down and get leggy. 

Pinch off the leggy stems and move your somewhere with more light.

If you can’t provide enough light, a grow lamp can do wonders.

Tradescantia Watering

Overwatering is the most common problem in Tradescantia plant care. To prevent overwatering, Don’t water your plant too often.

Let the soil dry just slightly between watering, keeping the soil damp but not soggy. You want the soil to feel like a well-wrung-out sponge. 

Use a watering can with a long spout to reach the soil. Tradescantia plants don’t like a wet crown.

Make sure the pot has drainage holes and allow all excess water to drain out of the bottom. Excess water stuck inside will drown the roots. 

Or be extra careful, and water from the bottom rather than the top. To do this, fill a bowl or cachepot with water. Place your Tradescantia inside so it can soak up the water through the drainage holes on the bottom of its pot. 

You can buy a moisture meter to help you out with when to water. And check out How to water indoor plants for a quick refresher on houseplant watering. 

High Humidity

In their native habitat, the Tradescantia is used to a warm and humid environment. In our homes, the humidity is much lower.  

Brown, crispy leaves are a sign that your plant needs more humidity. 

Occasionally mist your Tradescantia. This will temporarily up the humidity. 

You can also put your plant on a tray with water and pebbles in such a way that the bottom of the pot doesn’t touch the water. The water will evaporate and raise the humidity around your plant.   

Another option is to buy a hygrometer and a small humidifier to help with the humidity. 

Keeping the humidity is high enough is especially important during the winter months when the air indoors tends to be even dryer. There are a few things you can do to keep your plants happy and healthy during the winter.

Pruning Tradescantia

When your plant starts to wander, it quickly can get leggy and grow long stems all over the place.

Pruning your Tradescantia should be part of your regular care routine.

While you’re at it, do an overall clean-up. Pinch off any possibly thin, weak growth and remove damaged leaves.

Tradescantia Propagation

Tradescantia plants are very easy to propagate by taking stem cuttings and rooting them in water or soil.  

These plants grow roots pretty quickly (unlike snake plants where you might wait months for roots to show!).

Take stem cuttings a few inches long with a couple of leaf nodes. Remove the bottom leaves.

The best time to propagate plants is at the start of the growing period. This is usually in spring, though you can propagate any time of year. 

Propagate Cuttings in Water

Water propagation is an almost foolproof way to make more plants.

Place the leaf cuttings in a glass vessel with just enough water to cover the bottom part of the cuttings. Keep in bright, indirect light.

Make sure to change the water regularly and wait for the roots to grow about two inches. By then you can transfer the cuttings to a small pot with soil.

Propagate Cuttings in Soil

Another way to propagate your Tradescantia is to skip the water rooting and put the cuttings straight into the soil.

Use a rooting hormone to speed up the process. Dip the bottom 1/4 inch of your cuttings in water, followed by a dip in the rooting powder.

Fill a small pot with slightly moist potting soil, and plant your cutting about 1/2 inch deep.

Place it somewhere with indirect light and wait for new growth to appear.

Want to learn more about plant propagation? Read the complete guide explaining the 6 different ways to propagate your plants. 

Are Tradescantia Plants Toxic to Cats and Dogs?

Learn more about the risks of toxic houseplants around your pets (and find out which plants are non-toxic and safe!). 

Where to Buy Tradescantia Plants?