Tradescantia care
Tradescantia zebrina — also called Wandering dude, Inch plant, Zebrina. Everything below is the same data Plantroster uses to schedule care for this species.
Care at a glance
| Light | Bright indirect with some direct. Tolerates medium. Needs good light or the purple fades and it goes leggy. |
|---|---|
| Water | About every 6 days in summer, every 11 in winter. Let the top 1" dry first. |
| Soil | Standard houseplant mix — 7 parts potting mix, 3 parts perlite |
| Humidity | At least 35%, happiest near 55% |
| Temperature | 60–80°F. Cold damage below 45°F; heat stress in sun above 95°F. |
| Feeding | Every ~45 days while actively growing. Nothing in winter. |
| Repotting | Every 2 years, or when roots circle the pot |
| Tap water | Tolerates tap water |
| Pets & children | Toxic. Sap causes skin irritation; mildly toxic if eaten. |
What people get wrong about tradescantia
Pinch it back hard and often — an unpruned plant turns into bare strings within a season.
Common problems
Watch for spider mites, aphids. Check leaf undersides monthly — backlighting a leaf against a window is the fastest way to catch mite webbing before an infestation takes hold.
Plantroster tracks this plant's watering, feeding and repotting cadence against your actual weather — and tells you when a cold night or heatwave means moving it.
Open PlantrosterTradescantia FAQ
How often should I water a tradescantia?
Roughly every 6 days in the growing season and every 11 days in winter, but treat that as a starting point rather than a rule — light, pot size and your home's warmth all shift it. Likes even moisture but recovers quickly from a missed watering.
Is tradescantia toxic to cats and dogs?
Yes. Sap causes skin irritation; mildly toxic if eaten. Keep it out of reach of pets that chew plants.
How much light does a tradescantia need?
Bright indirect with some direct is ideal, and it will cope with medium. Needs good light or the purple fades and it goes leggy.
Why does my tradescantia have brown tips?
Tradescantia is not fluoride-sensitive, so brown tips here usually point to inconsistent watering or fertilizer salts built up in old soil. Flush the pot thoroughly and keep to a steadier watering rhythm.
What soil is best for tradescantia?
Standard houseplant mix: 7 parts potting mix, 3 parts perlite. Bagged potting soil alone stays too wet in an indoor pot; perlite fixes the drainage.
Other plant guides
General horticultural guidance, not a substitute for inspecting your own plant. Toxicity notes are a starting point — if a pet or child has eaten part of a plant, contact a vet or poison control rather than relying on this page.