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How to Grow and Care for Your Wandering Jew Plant

Tradescantia zebrina

This plant grows best with full sun for most of the dayThis plant requires or will tolerate shade during the heat of the dayOnce established this plant requires little or no supplemental wateringThis plant will tolerate some drought, but benefits from periodic wateringThis plant needs a thorough, deep weekly watering, Double icons require boggy or wet conditionsThis can be grown as a House PlantWhite flowering plantPink flowering plantPurple flowering plantA photograph of a Wandering Jew plantHow to Use the Plant Care Icons at The Garden Helper


The Wandering Jew, also known as a Silver Inch Plant, is a frost tender,
creeping perennial that is only hardy in USDA zones 9-12.
There are several hybrid varieties of Wandering Jew that have foliage colors
in combinations of white, pink, purple, yellow, silver or green stripes.
In most areas the Wandering Jew is grown as a house plant,
but for those who are lucky enough to grow their gardens in frost free regions,
Wandering Jews make an excellent evergreen, drought resistant, ground cover plant for growing in full sun or partial shade.

Growing Wandering Jews as House Plants

In the home, Wandering Jews are most often grown as a hanging plant, but they can also be trained to grow up a small trellis or used to create a topiary statue.
Wandering Jews grow best when they are exposed to in full sun or bright, indirect light.
Water moderately but regularly, keeping the soil evenly moist when this plant is actively growing.
Allow the soil to dry completely before watering during the dormant cycle.
 Clara the Grandma Gnome
Feed monthly while growing, with ½ strength house plant food..

Pruning and Propagating Wandering Jews

When your Wandering Jew begins to get leggy it can be cut back as severely as necessary.
Wandering Jews are very easy to propagate with 4"-6" tip cuttings struck into soil or kept in a glass of water, or by simple layering.
Layering is easily accomplished by pinning the stem onto the surface of a rooting medium.
Roots will grow at each point where a node is in contact with the medium.
Once rooted, each node will produce a new plant that can be severed from the parent plant and planted in its own container.
Wandering Jew
Tradescantia zebrina
Multi-Colored Wandering Jew Plants, Tradescantia zebrina The Foliage of a Wandering Jew Plant, Tradescantia zebrina


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