How do you care for a Tradescantia Navicularis?
How do you care for a Tradescantia Navicularis? Tradescantia Navicularis can grow anywhere in the house, or the garden. It looks best in a bright window where it gets plenty of direct sunlight. In a room that receives little light, this plant will grow spindly and will only last for one growing season. While this…
How do you care for a Tradescantia Navicularis?
Tradescantia Navicularis can grow anywhere in the house, or the garden. It looks best in a bright window where it gets plenty of direct sunlight. In a room that receives little light, this plant will grow spindly and will only last for one growing season.
While this is a very easy plant to grow, there are still some tips that can make your life easier when maintaining it. The following are factors when caring;
Sunlight
These plants are destined to thrive in bright light, not too much light. Some people place the plant near a window and hope it will grow, but it will only last for a short time, then it can bring all different types of problem.
For example, if the plant is placed in front of a north or east facing window for too long, when winter comes the plant would not be able to take a good cold without wilting or dropping leaves.
Soil
Tradescantia Navicularis can grow in any soil; it just needs to be full of plenty of moisture. So you can place it in your house, in a bucket or on the garden, with whichever is more convenient for you.
Watering
This is one of the most important factors that you have to pay attention too. Get water only when the soil has dried out, then let your plant dry out again before watering again.
When the plants are dry, you should water them with a cup or so of water. This will maintain plant health and help eliminate root diseases that can occur if plants stay too wet.
Temperature
Tradescantia Navicularis can grow in all soil temperatures. But the ideal temperature for their growth is between 60-75 degrees Fahrenheit. Tradescantia Navicularis can survive in extreme temperature but it might look a little worse for wear.
Propagation
Tradescantia Navicularis can be propagated with stem cuttings. Get a cutting of 2-3 inches long and strip the bottom leaves off but leave some leaves on the tip of the stem.
Humidity
Tradescantia Navicularis are not really a plant that needs to be kept in high humidity levels. You can keep it in any levels of humidity you wish, even in the most arid conditions.
Repotting
The plant can be repotted at any time. It will grow fine in a 4-8 inch pot. However, keep an eye out on the container to make sure that it’s not getting too large (over 3 years old). If it is, then you need to repot the plant.
Pruning
Tradescantia Navicularis can be pruned back anytime if you want to, whenever you need to feed your plant. You can prune it back in the summer, when you want to water your plant. This is also a great plant to use indoor containers such as terrariums and planters to contain it.
Fertilizing
Fertilizing Tradescantia Navicularis is very important and it will help your plant grow. Hormones are needed to make the plant turn into a beautiful flower, therefore you should fertilize in the growing season. During the winter months, you can still fertilize but not as much because plants take longer to grow when it’s colder. So by feeding your plant less you are helping it prepare for its spring growing season.
How to propagate Tradescantia Navicularis?
Tradescantia Navicularis can be propagated with stem cuttings. Take cuttings 2-3 inches long and let them dry out for a day or two. Strip the bottom leaves off, while leaving a couple leaves at the tip. The following are steps to follow when propagating;
- It is easier to take stem cuttings from juvenile plants in the spring, because they have just finished their first growing season and stems are easier to re-root.
- Cut off a healthy stem about 2 – 3 inches long, leaving at least one leaf on the end.
- Place the cutting in a 1/2 -1 inch of water, but not too much. Keep it at room temperature for 4 hours to root.
- Gently slide the cutting into potting mix or soil.
- Place it in bright light and keep it moist, but not water-logged. Tradescantia has a vining habit and can be trained to spread more through pruning, often becoming an informal twining vine. Tradescantia can be grown in large hanging baskets, or small pots of clay or plastic for indoor use.
Why is my Tradescantia Navicularis all green?
Tradescantia Navicularis is prone to leaf burn, therefore sunlight can cause it to burn. Make sure you place the plant near a window that receives direct sunlight for at least 6 hours, but no more than 12 hours. The following are the causes of Tradescantia Navicularis to be green’
Sunlight: Direct sunlight can cause the plant to burn; therefore make sure you place the plant near a window that receives direct sunlight for at least 6 hours, but no more than 12 hours.
Temperature: Warm temperatures are not good for Tradescantia Navicularis, because in warmer temperatures, it will have trouble growing in the pot and fall over and die.
Soil: If the soil has too much water or if it is too wet, then the leaves will be all green.
Pests and Diseases: If the leaves all turn green, there might be a bug or pest, such as aphids, mealybugs or scale. If the leaves are turning green too long before they fall off then it is a sign of disease.
Fertilizing: Over fertilization can cause the leaves to burn or turn green. So make sure you fertilize your plant when it’s needed, such as during the growing season.
How do you keep Tradescantia Navicularis pink?
Tradescantia Navicularis is pink when it’s in the light. Therefore, you must keep your plant in bright indirect sunlight to keep it pink.
The sun needs to shine on the front leaves so you need to have enough light to protect the leaf from burning. Tradescantia Navicularis thrives in indirect sunlight, because too much light will cause it to turn a lot greener.
Tradescantia Navicularis is not fussy and will grow in a container with moist soil in any conditions, even low light. If you are growing your Tradescantia indoors, try placing it near a window where it can get plenty of indirect sunlight.
When growing your plant in an outdoor garden, you must make sure that the plant is placed in full sun so that it can grow pink again.
Why my Tradescantia Navicularis leaves curling?
This is a common problem that people find with Tradescantia Navicularis. It can be caused by overwatering and/or over fertilizing of the plant. Make sure you don’t water too much and fertilize only when necessary.
Tradescantia Navicularis leaves can also curl if they are getting too much or not enough sunlight. The following are other causes of Tradescantia Navicularis to be curling;
Temperature: In colder temperatures, the leaves might curl due to lack of nutrients. When Tradescantia Navicularis is in a pot outside, the first sign of this is the curling of the leaves due to lack of nutrients.
Overwatering: Overwatering can cause the leaves to curl because the plant is dehydrated. So make sure you leave well-draining soil so that the water doesn’t stay in the pot for more than 5 days.
Pests: Spider mites and aphids can cause Tradescantia Navicularis to curl. In this case, it’s a good idea to spray insecticide directly onto the plant to kill any pests that are eating or damaging your plant.
Lack of light: If your plant doesn’t get enough light it will start curling and turning green. This can happen when you place your plant indoors. So make sure you place it near a window that receives indirect sunlight for at least 6 hours, but no more than 12 hours.
Underwatering: If the plant is under watered, it can cause the leaves to turn yellow and then curl. Make sure the plant gets enough water daily.
Fertilizer: If you are fertilizing your plant during the wrong time you can cause your Tradescantia Navicularis to curl. Make sure you fertilize during the growing season so that it can grow healthy new leaves.
How do you make a Tradescantia Navicularis bushy?
If you have a plant that has one or two stems, then you can make it bushy by training the plant. To keep your plant bushy you must pinch the tips of each stem when they are 4-6 inches tall.
The next time they grow, pinch the first node of each stem after the leaves are about 4–6 inches tall, before new side branches form. This will encourage branching and help keep your Tradescantia Navicularis bushy.
Tradescantia Navicularis is a plant that can be trained easily. So make sure you train your Tradescantia with a trellis or string so that it can grow upward. The following are the best ways to keep it bushy’
If your plant has one or two stems, then you can train it to be bushy by training the plant. To keep your plant bushy you must pinch the tips of each stem when they are 4-6 inches tall.
Then, the next time they grow, pinch the first node of each stem after the leaves are about 4–6 inches tall. This will encourage branching and help keep your Tradescantia Navicularis bushy. Make sure you fertilize your plant during the growing season so that it can grow healthy new leaves.
Is Tradescantia Navicularis an indoor or outdoor plant?
Tradescantia Navicularis is an indoor plant if you want to keep it pink. However, if you want your plant to grow green, then you must place Tradescantia Navicularis outside.
Tradescantia Navicularis can be placed outdoors in a garden during the growing season. You can place it anywhere in the garden in a very sunny area, because the sun can burn the leaves and make them turn green.
Tradescantia Navicularis is usually placed in a sunny area of the garden in the summertime. It can be grown outdoors during the summer and then kept indoors during the winter months.
Tradescantia Navicularis can be kept indoors as long as it’s not overwatered. Make sure to put it in a warm area so that it continues to grow healthy.
How big do Tradescantia Navicularis leaves get?
Tradescantia Navicularis is a plant that can grow to be up to 2 feet tall and 2 feet wide. The leaves are usually about 4-6 inches long, but they might get bigger depending on how healthy your plant is. Tradescantia Navicularis leaves can also be longer than 6 inches, but it’s not common.
Tradescantia Navicularis is a plant that doesn’t grow bigger than 2 feet unless it’s being cared for correctly. It becomes bushy and fills the container as long as it gets enough sun, water, and fertilizer. Make sure you don’t over fertilize your plant because this might cause the leaves to turn green.