The Wandering Jew plant is actually a name given to a number of different plants from the genus tradescantia. Around the world, the Wandering Jew is considered invasive in the outdoors, but indoors it makes for an ideal vining plant.
They are originally from Mexico, grow up to 6 feet tall, love sunlight and don’t require much care. They often have green, heart-shaped leaves with a prominent purple strip and a silvery sheen to them.
Wandering Jews refer to three different species:
- Tradescantia fluminensis (a white flowered species),
- Tradescantia zebrine (the common stripe with purple highlights species), and
- Tradescantia pallida (a delicate purple flowered species).
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Why Wandering Jew Plants Are Good for Homes
Wandering Jew plants are often regarded as a great entry-level plant because they aren’t too complicated and are ideal for growers who are new to indoor plants.
They are easy to grow, love being potted up high and don’t require constant watering. Just ensure their soil is damp. They love brightly lit rooms, and an all-purpose potting soil is all they’ll need.
This plant is great in homes because of its air-cleaning properties. Wandering Jews absorb lots of carbon dioxide from the air, which is great for us humans!
For most people and pets, Wandering Jews are also non-toxic, so your cat shouldn’t get sick if they are being naughty and eating or playing with your dangling Wandering Jew, making the Wandering Jew plant a winner for nearly any home.
A Wandering Jew Can Be Good for Your Feng Shui Flow
Are Wandering Jew plants good for feng shui? In short, yes!
What is feng shui? Feng shui is a Chinese practice that has been around for thousands of years and focuses on how the external environment affects human beings.
A harmonious environment is said to put us at peace and bring satisfaction success. Because plants quietly grow and exude abundance and new life, they positively contribute to this concept, and to our well-being.
When it comes to feng shui, a Wandering Jew plant creates a harmonious environment from up high, and its aura trickles down, so to speak – plus its vibrant colors intrigue guests and owners alike.
If feng shui sounds like a practice you’d like to explore, but you don’t want the responsibility of plant care, artificial plants still achieve the same outcome. Read more here about how artificial plants contribute to feng shui, too.
Wandering Jew Plants Are Easy to Grow and Maintain Any Time of The Year
As mentioned, Wandering Jew plants are popular because they aren’t a particularly fussy plant. Keeping a Wandering Jew plant alive isn’t a particularly onerous task.
Wandering Jews need to be in rooms that are 50º-80ºF (10º-27ºC) and prefer humidity. To keep them humid in colder months or in dry, hot areas, simply spray the leaves with water from time to time to simulate humidity, which will keep your Wandering Jew happy.
They tend to peak in the mid to late spring or early summer, but are a great addition to a room year-round. They are hardy and, as mentioned, love being near sunlight, so keep them near windows or rooms that are well lit.
How Do Wandering Jew Plants Grow?
When it comes to the question of how do Wandering Jew plants grow (outside), start with lightly covering the seeds of the plant once sown. Aim to space them 30-45 cm apart, depending on how large they are.
A moist, rich soil with pH levels between 5 and 6 is ideal. If it’s a particularly hot outdoor environment, shade them, but if it’s more of a moderate climate, full sun is fine. The soil just needs to remain moist.
For indoor growing, sow the seeds around seven weeks in advance. Once they germinate (anywhere between 10-40 days), take them outside for a week after the last cold period of spring.
What Kind of Soil Does a Wandering Jew Plant Need?
Well-drained and moist soil is ideal for growing a Wandering Jew. The plant generally prefers a lighter soil, but it isn’t too fussy.
Most available brands will work fine for Wandering Jews, especially if they contain a slow-release fertilizer.
How Much Water Does a Wandering Jew Plant Need?
Watering a Wandering Jew plant is an easy process. Remember, they are ideal for beginner indoor plant growers.
Keep their soil moist, but not soaked. A general rule of thumb with a Wandering Jew is that underwatering them is better than overwatering them. Furthermore, if you stick your finger in the soil and the top inch of it feels dry, then water it!
Wandering Jew Plants Are Relatively Inexpensive
The Wandering Jew, on top of being an easy-to-maintain, attractive plant, is also relatively inexpensive. Decorating with Wandering Jew plants indoors won’t cost you an arm and a leg.
They are quite easy to find as a grown plant or as previously discussed, they can be grown from seedlings.
Another common way of growing a Wandering Jew indoors is from cuttings from an existing one. So if you have family or friends with a Wandering Jew, ask if they can give you some cuttings of theirs!
Wandering Jew Decorating Ideas Are Nearly Endless
Decorating with Wandering Jew plants indoors offers a myriad of possibilities. Because they are so versatile, don’t require too much care and love natural light, they have endless decorative potential.
Take some cuttings and place them in glass Ball jars or small milk bottles andset them around your home for small, cute touches.
By housing Wandering Jews in a slim, long box, they can become a vibrant centerpiece for a dining table or kitchen countertop.
Artificial Wandering Jew Plants Often Look Just Like the Real Thing
The one drawback some people have about growing a Wandering Jew indoors, or any plant for that matter is that they travel. They worry about neglecting the plant.
Artificial Wandering Jew plants are a great answer to this problem though. And here’s the real benefit to them – they look a lot like the real thing!
Artificial Wandering Jews are great for people who love the feng shui of plants in a home but won’t get real ones because of travel, or let’s face it, forgetfulness.
So there you have it, pretty much all there is to know about growing a Wandering Jew indoors and how decorating with Wandering Jew plants indoors is a great idea. They’re a remarkably diverse plant and aren’t too fussy either!
Got any tips of your own or ideas about placing a Wandering Jew plant in your home? Let us know in the comments section below, we’d love some feedback.
