Wandering Jew

Tradescantia zebrina is a fast-growing trailing plant native to Mexico and Central America, valued indoors almost entirely for its foliage. Each lance-shaped leaf is deep purple on the underside and striped silver and green on top, often with a violet iridescence depending on light exposure. People grow it because it fills a hanging basket or spills over a shelf edge quickly, and it asks very little in return.

Bright indirect light is the single most important variable for keeping the coloring vivid. Without adequate light, the leaves fade toward plain green within a few weeks. Watering is straightforward: let the top inch of soil dry out, then water thoroughly. The most common mistake is overwatering - the stems turn soft and mushy at the base before most growers notice anything is wrong. Average household humidity and typical indoor temperatures suit it well; no humidifier or misting is necessary.

The stems grow fast but tend to go bare and leggy at the base over time. Pinching the tips regularly keeps growth denser, and the cuttings root in water or moist soil within one to two weeks. Most growers find it easier to refresh the plant from cuttings every year or two rather than trying to rehabilitate a woody-stemmed parent.

Bright indirect light a few feet back from an east- or west-facing window keeps the purple and silver coloring saturated. In low light the leaves lose their variegation and turn largely green; prolonged direct sun bleaches or scorches the foliage.