Are you in search of a houseplant that adds a touch of elegance and beauty to your space? Look no further than the Moses-in-the-Cradle, scientifically known as Tradescantia Spathacea. This stunning plant is not only easy to care for but also boasts striking variegations that will capture anyone’s attention.
Top Tips & Info
- Care Difficulty – Easy to Moderate
- Location: Bright, indirect light
- Watering: Keep soil evenly moist, allowing the top two inches to dry between watering
- Fertilization: Feed every four waters in spring and summer, and every six waters in colder months
- Repotting: Every three years using a ‘Houseplant’ labeled potting mix
- Common issue: Mealybugs attacking juvenile growth
Location & Light – 🔸🔸
To ensure healthy and vibrant growth, it’s essential to provide your Moses-in-the-Cradle with a bright location that receives indirect sunlight. Avoid placing it in excessively dark areas, as this can lead to leggy growth and loss of variegations. Similarly, direct sunlight can cause sun-scorch, resulting in pale leaves and weakened health. Ideally, place your plant near overhead lighting, like a sill or bay window, to ensure optimal growth. Remember, if it’s too hot for a chocolate bar, it’s too hot for your plant too!
Water – 🔸🔸
Moses-in-the-Cradle thrives in consistently moist soil. Water your plant when the pot feels light when lifted, ensuring the top two inches of soil are dry between watering. In the colder months, reduce the frequency of watering to replicate its dormancy. However, be cautious not to wet the foliage each time you water, as excess moisture can lead to yellowing and rotting leaves. Under-watering can cause crispy leaves, a washed-out appearance, yellowing, and stunted growth. On the other hand, over-watering may result in yellowing lower leaves, lack of growth, and root rot. Keep a close eye on the soil moisture to ensure optimal hydration levels.
Humidity – 🔸🔸
The average humidity found in most homes is sufficient for the Moses-in-the-Cradle. However, if you notice browning leaf tips, it may indicate low humidity levels. You can address this by misting the foliage weekly or by using a humidity tray to increase moisture around the plant.
Fertilization – 🔸🔸🔸
Fertilize your Moses-in-the-Cradle every four waters during the growing season and reduce the frequency to every six waters in the autumn and winter. While an ‘All-Purpose’ fertilizer will suffice, using a ‘Houseplant’ labeled fertilizer specifically formulated for this species is highly recommended. It will provide the necessary thirteen nutrients essential for healthy growth.
Common Issues with Moses-in-the-Cradle
- Loss of Variegations and Leggy Growth: Insufficient light can cause a loss of variegations. Consider moving your plant to a brighter location to promote new growth with beautiful patterns. Conversely, too much sunlight can also hinder growth and cause extreme variegations.
- Under-watering: This is the most common issue. Symptoms include wilting, yellowing leaves, and stunted growth. Increase watering and move the plant to a slightly shadier area if it is in direct sunlight.
- Sun Scorch: Too much sunlight can result in browning or crispy leaves, dry leaf edges, and stunted growth. Reduce sun exposure and monitor for environmental shock.
- Root Rot: Dark locations and overly wet soil are prime conditions for root rot. If you notice rapidly yellowing leaves, stunted growth, or collapsed stems, inspect the roots. Brown and mushy roots indicate root rot and require immediate action.
- Excess Moisture Settling on Foliage: This can result in yellow central leaves. Avoid pouring water directly onto the foliage and focus on watering at the soil line.
- Low Humidity: Browning of leaf tips with yellow halos may indicate low humidity, especially near operating radiators. Consider misting the foliage or using a humidity tray to improve moisture levels.
Origins
Tradescantia Spathacea was first described by Olof Peter Swartz in 1778 during his voyage to the Americas. The name Tradescantia honors John Tradescant Snr. and John Tradescant Jnr., a father-son duo from 17th century England who brought live Tradescantia specimens to the UK. The species name ‘Spathacea’ refers to the spoon-shaped bracts that appear during its flowering process.
Temperature
Moses-in-the-Cradle thrives in temperatures ranging from 12°C to 30°C (54°F to 86°F). It can be grown outdoors during the summer in a sheltered location with temperatures above 12℃ (54℉). However, avoid direct sunlight, as it may lead to sun-scorch and dehydration. Regularly check for pests when transitioning the plant back indoors.
Spread
Given enough space, Moses-in-the-Cradle can reach a length and width of up to 1.5 meters. It takes between 5 to 8 years to attain its ultimate height. The growth rate is rapid, with some specimens growing up to 15cm per year!
Pruning & Maintenance
Regularly remove yellow or dying leaves and plant debris to encourage optimal growth conditions. When pruning, use clean utensils or shears to minimize the risk of bacterial and fungal diseases. Avoid cutting through yellowed tissue, as this may lead to further damage and infections. Clean incisions promote healthy growth and overall plant health.
Propagation
You can propagate the Moses-in-the-Cradle through seed or vine cuttings. Vine cuttings are a popular method and can be taken from spring to summer. Select healthy vines with at least three to six leaves and a length of 8cm (3 inches). Remove the bottom half of the leaves to stimulate root production. Place the cutting in water to root, and once the roots reach 3cm (1 inch) in length, pot them in well-draining soil.
Flowers
Moses-in-the-Cradle produces small, white, or pink flowers during the summer. The quality of its blooms depends on the quality of the previous winter’s dormancy period. To replicate this dormancy, reduce temperatures, allow the soil to dry between irrigations, and provide a few hours of off-peak direct sunlight. This will help ensure beautiful blooms in the following spring.
Repotting
Repot your Moses-in-the-Cradle every three years in the spring using a ‘Houseplant’ labeled compost. Choose the next-sized pot with adequate drainage. It’s important to note that this plant thrives when slightly potbound, so only repot if necessary. Restricted root growth can also promote blooming. Hydrate the plant 24 hours before repotting, and use perlite and grit to reduce over-watering risks, especially in darker locations.
Pests & Diseases
Watch out for common pests such as spider mites, mealybugs, aphids, whitefly, and scale. Common diseases associated with Tradescantia include leaf-spot disease, botrytis, powdery mildew, and root rot. Proper identification and timely treatment are crucial to maintaining plant health.
Toxicity
Moses-in-the-Cradle is not known to be poisonous when consumed by humans or pets. However, ingestion in large quantities may cause vomiting, nausea, and loss of appetite.
Retail Locations
You can find Moses-in-the-Cradle available for purchase online.
Book a 1-to-1 Call with Joe Bagley
If you need expert advice on houseplant care, consider booking a personalized advice call with Joe Bagley, our friendly and knowledgeable writer. He can provide guidance on topics such as plant care, pests, repotting advice, and more. Choose a video or audio call on popular apps like Facebook, FaceTime, or Skype. Sessions are available for ten minutes (£5.99 / US$7) or thirty minutes (£15.99). Your support will help keep ukhouseplants thriving!
So why wait? Bring the beauty of the Moses-in-the-Cradle into your space and enjoy the stunning variegations that will surely enhance any room. Happy gardening!