Want to keep your Tradescantia happy and thriving? Here’s an informative Tradescantia Bubble Gum Plant Care guide to help you out!
Tradescantia is a popular houseplant for its easy maintenance, adaptability, and stunning foliage. If you are looking for a fantastic Tradescantia to grace your indoors but don’t know how to care for this beautiful plant, head on to this guide!
- Botanical Name: Tradescantia albiflora var. ‘Nanouk’
- USDA Zones: 10-12
- Prized for variegated foliage
- A vigorous, fast grower
- Needs pruning to avoid a leggy appearance
Tradescantia Bubble Gum Plant Information
Tradescantia bubble gum is a striking, variegated plant with purple, green, and grey-streaked leaves and small white blooms. It’s compact, has an upright to broadly spreading habit, and is adaptable to various growing conditions.
This Tradescantia cultivar’s stems need regular pruning. Otherwise, they will turn leggy and visually unpleasing.
Propagating Tradescantia Bubble Gum Plant
The best way to propagate the Tradescantia Bubble Gum plant is via stem cuttings. Use a clean, sterilized pruner to cut a healthy stem from above the leaf node. Ensure there are not more than two leaves in the cutting. Plant the cuttings in a well-draining, moist growing medium and place it under indirect sunlight. New roots will develop within a few weeks. You can then transfer them to their permanent spots.
Requirements for Growing Tradescantia Bubble Gum Plant
Water
As mentioned before, this species doesn’t ask for much attention and is drought-tolerant, too. It requires water according to the weather—more during summers and less during winters. For best results, keep the soil moist during summers but well-watered during winters. Do not wet the foliage; water only the base.
Sunlight
The Tradescantia Bubble Gum plant grows best in plenty of indirect sunlight. Be careful not to place it in direct sunlight – the leaves will become scorched, fade, turn brown, or die. However, if the leaves are losing their pigment, it’s a sign that they are not getting enough light.
The best bet is to place the Bubble Gum plant in the Northeastern corners of the room so the gorgeous foliage can exhibit its best colors.
Temperature & Humidity
Even though this plant is adaptable to almost all climates, the Tradescantia grows best in moderate temperatures, where it flourishes rapidly. On the other hand, it grows comparatively slowly during the winter months. The plant will die if exposed to frost, and the leaves get damaged if kept in constant cold temperatures. The recommended temperature is 60-80 °F.
This Tradescantia cultivar needs a medium level of humidity. Misting helps if the leaves turn brown or crispy, even after sufficient watering.
Soil
Tradescantia grows best in a well-drained soil. A combination of potting soil and sand will result in a well-drained mixture. The perfect blend would be 50% perlite and 50% sandy, loamy soil to ensure good aeration and healthy plant growth.
Tradescantia Bubble Gum Plant Care
Fertilizer
The Tradescantia Bubble Gum plant is not a heavy feeder, hence doesn’t need regular fertilization. Feeding the plant monthly with a liquid fertilizer, diluted to half its strength, will boost its growth. Alternatively, you can also side-dress the plant with a slow-release fertilizer once a week during the growing months.
Pests and Diseases
Being a houseplant, fungal issues due to overwatering can be a problem. That’s why we need to ensure enough aeration to help it grow. Also, look out for mealy bugs, aphids, spider mites, scales, and thrips. Spray the houseplant with an organic neem oil solution once a month to bar such issues.
Pruning
Pruning a Tradescantia Bubble Gum depends on the appearance you want it to exhibit. If you want the plant to be bushy, prune the stems to your desired length. You may also keep from clipping them if you want them to dangle down from hanging baskets. The stems will tend to take a leggy appearance if not pruned regularly.
