Spiderworts impress with their colorfully patterned foliage, which can develop not only green but also violet or white tones. The plants are suitable for various purposes. With the right care, they delight every hobby gardener with vigorous growth.
Spiderwort blooms in different colors
Table of Contents
Show all- sorts
- loosestrife
- lady's mantle
- moor grass
- iris
- use sharp secateurs
- Thoroughly clean the blades beforehand
- wear gloves as a precaution
- essential oils such as lavender
- savory
- Use homemade herb fertilizer
- Innocence: Good frost hardy. Very long flowering period between May and September, white flowers. Growth height 40-50 centimeters.
- Gisela: Grows loosely upright, forms bushy clumps. Flowers from June to September, white flowers. Growth height 40-50 centimeters.
- Leonora: Forms compact clumps. Blooms between May and September, dark violet flowers. Growth height 35-40 centimeters.
- sweet kate: For partially shaded locations. Flowering period between June and July, develops a second flower in September. Flower color violet to blue, foliage yellowish. Growth height 30-40 centimeters.
- Tradescantia navicularis: Develops creeping shoots, slow growing. Leaves two to three centimeters long, copper-green and strongly keeled. Underside of leaf marbled purple. flowers light pink.
- Tradescantia sillamontana: Forms oblong-oval leaves, six centimeters long, colored peppermint green. Plant hairy. flowers purple-pink.
origin
Tradescantia is a genus of plants within the Commeline family, which bears the German name Dreimasterblumen. There are numerous species that are cultivated as houseplants. Garden spiderwort (Tradescantia x andersoniana) is common in gardens.
The original distribution area of the spiderwort is in the Neotropics. Its range extends across the entire American continent, where it occurs between southern Canada and northern Argentina. It grows in the West Indies. The genus Tradescantia includes both representatives of temperate climate zones and species of tropical habitats. Here they grow in sparsely wooded deciduous forests, prairies and plains, as well as in fields.
growth
Spiderworts mostly grow creeping to slightly upright. Some species develop long shoots that climb up surrounding vegetation. They reach heights of growth between 30 and 60 centimeters and occur individually or in small groups of several plants. Most species are extremely vigorous and form dense clumps within a short period of time. Spiderworts have a clear and viscous sap in the plant parts.
blossom
The plants develop tripartite flowers that appear wheel-shaped. Its petals are colored white, pink, purple or blue, while the anthers are yellow in the center. The flowers are not particularly long-lived. After half a day they wither and are replaced by new flowers. There are species that only open their flowers when the sky is overcast. As soon as the sun shines on the flowers, they close. The flowering period extends between May and September.
fruit
After the flowers have withered, spiderworts develop capsule fruits. These consist of three chambers, each filled with one or two seeds. When the fruit is ripe, the pods burst open and release their seeds, which are then blown away by the wind.
leaves
Spiderworts develop true leaves with a long and thin or slightly fleshy leaf blade. It is shovel-shaped to lanceolate in shape and, depending on the species, is between three and 45 centimeters long. They are simple in structure and have a smooth leaf edge. The leaves are different colored. The color spectrum ranges from green to violet, cream colors and pink to white. Many ornamental plants develop striped leaves.
use
Tradescantia species have many uses. Species with long drooping stems are popular hanging basket plants. In a short time they form a dense curtain composed of aesthetically colored leaves. Hardy representatives of the genus are suitable as ground cover. They are used for planting on the banks and edges of ponds. Upright-growing species cut a fine figure in perennial beds.
These are suitable plant partners:
Poisonous
Some species in the genus can cause an allergic reaction in cats and dogs. It manifests itself as reddened skin that is associated with itching. These mildly poisonous species include Tradescantia albiflora, Tradescantia spathacea and Tradescantia pallida. All other species are considered to be slightly poisonous, although no symptoms of poisoning have been described. Sensitive people should wear gloves as a precaution.
location
The plants grow in both sunny and partially shaded locations. Some species are dependent on several hours of sunshine per day, since their shoots will wilt in locations that are too dark and the leaves will lose their decorative coloring. The plants like high humidity. In their natural distribution areas, spiderworts prefer to grow at the edges of water and in open areas with very humid conditions. These requirements make the plant the perfect plant for living areas in open spaces and at the water's edge.
temperature
Spiderworts feel comfortable in a temperature range between 20 and 24 degrees Celsius. In winter, the lower limit is ten degrees Celsius.
Earth
As water margin plants, spiderworts prefer nutrient-rich soil that provides consistently moist conditions. The sensitive roots do not tolerate waterlogging. A sandy substrate with portions of loam or clay provides optimal growth conditions.
planting time
The ideal time for planting is spring, as the spiderworts have enough time to take root. They can settle into their location until winter. The plants can also be placed outdoors in autumn. Then, however, there is a risk that the plants will be damaged in winter. You can work a root barrier into the soil directly when planting. This prevents the ground cover from spreading unhindered.
planting distance
Place the plants in small groups of up to ten specimens in the bed. Ensure a planting distance of at least 40 centimeters so that the specimens can spread unhindered and develop a dense carpet.
In the pot
Cultivation in tubs is advantageous for most spiderworts, as many species are not hardy. In the pot, they can spend the winter in a frost-free room or on the windowsill. As soon as the temperatures rise above 15 degrees Celsius again, you can put the bucket outside again.
Use a planter with a drainage hole to allow excess water to drain. Cover the bottom of the pot with a layer of expanded clay (€19.73) or grit. (€46.95) You can also use stones or broken pottery for drainage. With a high-quality plant substrate or a mixture you make yourself, you offer the plant ideal conditions for vigorous growth.
multiply
If the clumps of adult specimens become too dense, you can propagate the plant by division. This measure is ideal for rejuvenating out-of-shape plants. The best time is spring before the growing season begins.
Cut off the largest possible root ball and dig it out with a sharp spade. Then divide the rootstock into several pieces and immediately replant the pieces. The planting hole should already be prepared so that the roots are not exposed to the dry air for too long.
sowing
The plants propagate by self-seeding if the withered flowers are not cut off. In this way, they can take over large areas uncontrollably. Trimmings with mature fruit that are disposed of in the compost can also spread seeds that germinate on the nutrient-rich substrate or get onto other beds with it.
In autumn, mature seeds can be sown directly in the bed. In most cases, the next generation of plants does not adopt the leaf markings of the parent plants. Many offspring develop pure white or mottled leaves.
cuttings
Propagation by cuttings is easy with spiderworts. Cut shoots from your plant and put them in groups of six to eight cuttings in a planter. A mixture of equal parts coco hum and sand is ideal. Make sure the substrate is well moistened.
It takes two to three weeks for the cuttings to take root. Plant the rooted shoots in a larger planter, which you fill with substrate for mature plants.
You can also put the cuttings in a glass of water placed in a bright place. Once the roots are about an inch long, you can pot the shoots. Tadescantia navicularis and Tradescantia sillamontana tend to rot in wet conditions. These species should be grown in a slightly moist substrate.
To cut
Cutting back after flowering encourages spiderworts to bloom a second time in late summer. This measure prevents uncontrolled self-reproduction and naturalization. As soon as the leaves have withered in autumn, you can cut back the plant vigorously. Leave the plant about a hand's breadth above the ground so that it can sprout freshly in the coming spring.
Indoor plants can be cut back all year round. If you must perform a radical pruning, at least a third of the plant should be left standing. Shorten shoots that have grown too long to the same length. If you want the plant to grow denser, you can regularly remove the shoot tips. The growth forms new branches below the cutting points.
You should pay attention to this when cutting:
Pour
The water requirement of the plants is high. Young plants need plenty of watering, while older specimens get by with sparing watering. For young plants, make sure that the soil is constantly moist. The substrate should not dry out. Mature spiderworts are watered as soon as the top layer of soil has dried.
Tradescantia navicularis and Tradescantia sillamontana are exceptions. Both species are watered sparingly both as young plants and in older years. For these plants, allow the soil to dry two-thirds before watering again.
Fertilize
In the growth phase between spring and autumn, the plants enjoyed regular fertilization, which takes place every 14 days. Use a complete fertilizer that is administered in a low concentration. In winter you do not need to fertilize the plants. Potted plants are also fertilized in this way. You can give these plants a weak dose of liquid fertilizer over the irrigation water.
Some slow-growing species, such as Tradescantia navicularis, have lower nutrient requirements. You can fertilize these plants once a month.
hibernate
Outdoor plants need winter protection. Cover the plant with a generous layer of leaves or sticks. The spiderworts do not mind if the mulch is 20 to 30 centimeters thick. Container plants are moved to their winter quarters in autumn. Temperatures here should be between 10 and 15 degrees Celsius. Alternatively, you can overwinter the plants warm. Place the bucket on a windowsill in a heated room.
transplant
The fast-growing plants form a dense root network within a short time, which penetrates the entire pot substrate. Such vigorous species should be repotted into a larger planter every year. Tradescantia navicularis belongs to the slow-growing species. She is content with the same tub for up to three or four years. You can also cultivate this species in a shallow dish.
Diseases
Tradescantia species are welcome plants for all hobby gardeners because they are extremely robust and are rarely afflicted by diseases. Incorrect care measures can lead to damage. If rotten leaves are not removed, the risk of mold growth and rot development increases. Waterlogging causes the roots to rot. Remove damaged plant parts and reduce watering.
lice
Occasionally, spiderworts can be attacked by aphids. At the initial stage, you can get rid of the pests by sprinkling the plant. If the annoying residents have spread uncontrollably, spraying the leaves with nettle broth will help.
This prevents an aphid infestation:
fungus
In the winter months there is a risk that spiderworts will be colonized by gray mould. This fungus prefers to spread in high humidity. If the plant is too dark and watered excessively, the spores will find optimal growth conditions. An infestation is expressed by a gray coating on the leaves. Remove the affected areas in good time so that the fungus cannot multiply further. A change of location and a reduction in the amount of water can help.
Brown spots
If the spiderwort tends to form brown spots on the leaves or dried-up leaf tips, insufficient humidity can be the cause. If the plant stands directly above the radiator in winter, it must be sprayed with water regularly. The plants prefer a humidity between 50 and 65 percent.
Yellow spots
Green-leaved species often get light spots in locations that are too dark. This phenomenon indicates a lack of light, because in shady locations the green pigment chlorophyll is broken down and other pigments emerge. Tradescantia fluminensis often tends to develop yellow spots in the wrong location.
tips
The beautiful leaf markings and coloring only appear when the plant gets enough light. Give your plant a spot where the sun shines for a few hours. If the place is too dark, the leaves lose their markings. They're getting greener.