Inch Plant Care

Also known as Wandering Dude, this trailing plant is a member of the Tradescantia family and is grown for its beautiful purple leaves that can be solid colored or variegated. Perfect for hanging baskets.

Light – Bright, indirect light. It can tolerate moderate light but low light can cause its leaves to lose their vibrant coloration. Avoid direct sunlight which can cause leaf scorch.

Water – Inch Plants prefer to be kept evenly moist but not soaking wet. Water once the top third of the soil is dry. Avoid overwatering, which can lead to root rot. When watering, water the soil not the plant, consistently wet stems can rot.

Soil – Moist, well-draining soil. All-purpose potting soils, like Espoma Potting Soil, are a great choice for these plants.

Temperature – Ideal temperatures are between 65° and 75°, though they can handle warmer temperatures. Do not expose to temperatures below 50° and keep protected from drafts.

Humidity – Inch Plants do well in average home humidity levels, though they’ll flourish in higher levels. A nearby humidifier or a brightly lit bathroom location are easy ways to raise humidity.

Fertilization – Fertilization is generally not wanted and over fertilization can result in variegated varieties to lose that coloring. If a need for fertilization arises, dilute a balanced fertilizer, like Bonide Liquid Plant Food, and feed once every other month in spring and summer.

Size – Inch Plant’s tendrils can reach up to 24 inches long. Longer tendrils can start looking scraggily, so pinch them back by about one third to encourage a fuller plant.

Repotting – Inch Plants enjoy being slightly pot-bound so don’t repot too frequently. When the times comes to repot, select a container with good drainage that is not more than 2 sizes larger than its current container. Hanging baskets are great choice for Inch Plants.

Propagation – Easily propagated via stem cuttings.

Toxicity – Moderately toxic to people and dogs, highly toxic to cats.