Inch Plant (Wandering Dude) - Tradescantia Zebrina 'Silver Plus' variety

Inch Plants (or Wandering Dudes, previously known as Wandering Jews), are a great plant for starters or anyone that needs a stunning addition to their plants. These Silver Plus variety have an unusually deep and vibrant purple coloring, and are very forgiving of neglect. Are you lazy, incompetent, forgetful? All of the above? ME TOO, which is why these are in my top 3 favorite indoor plants.

Why Gothic Gardeners Love It

• Rich burgundy, unique coloration

• Strong contrast against pale planters, stone, or bone-toned decor

• Looks intentional even when running wild

• Thrives on neglect (a virtue, not a flaw)

• Different than your run-of-the-mill green and slightly purplish inch plant

Why You Need It

They are a stunning addition for a hanging pot or shelf, with a unique purple -perfect for those that love a darker and burgundy aesthetic- they complement gothic gardens and darker plants well for a splash of color and much needed contrast, and are known for growing quickly and being easy to care for.

They will tolerate low light, but will be more green, and the burgundy color will be richest in a well lit room with bright indirect light. Do not put into direct sunlight, it can scorch the leaves. Keep in regular potting soil; they do not need augmented soil or high humidity. Water 2x a week, or when the top of the soil is dry.

They can be trimmed to be bushy, trained, or left to dangle and create a cascade of color. Commonly used for hanging pots or to cascade from a shelf, providing a bright splash of color.

To keep them bushy, use clean scissors to cut a vine off immediately after a leaf.

Cautionary Tales and Questions

Toxicity - These are toxic to pets - hanging planters can be best to keep nosy pets away (looking at you, cats).

Invasive in US - Native to Mexico and South America, these are indoor-only and invasive in most of the US. They are hardy only in zones 9-11 in the US, but as always make sure to check your local laws before planting outdoors if you are in those zones!

My plant is turning green!

It will be okay, that just means it needs more light! Although these can tolerate, survive and grow in low light, the burgundy color will be best in bright, indirect light (grow lights are great, but any brightly lit room while avoiding direct sun which can scorch the leaves)

Got a bushy one at a big box store (Home Depot, Lowes, etc), and it is not bushy anymore!

It is likely that the plant was treated with PGRs, or growth regulators by the manufacturer. Although we do not use PGRs, many facilities do because it can make shipping easier and keep them stable on the shelf for longer. The plants are treated with a hormone that stops them from growing too quickly, so they will ship in a compact form, and then be easy to care for and stay looking nice on the shelf for a long time. These hormones wear off though, and the plant will begin growing naturally, and inch plants are leggy babes. They are called Inch Plants because they usually have 1-2 inches between leaves, and they can get a couple of feet long! There is likely nothing wrong with it, they are meant to be a bit wild. If you want to keep it bushy, you can trim it immediately after a leaf node and shape it however you would like!

Care & Growing Notes

• Light: Bright indirect light (more light = deeper burgundy, greater potential for flowers, it may turn green and get 'leggy' if it doesn't get enough light)

• Water: 2x/week when soil is dry when young; drought tolerant once established

• Soil: Well-draining potting mix

• Growth Habit: Trailing, vining, and fast-growing

• Difficulty: Extremely easy / beginner-friendly

• Mature Size: 6" tall, up to 2' long vines (making it ideal for hanging planters or a spot to cascade)

• USDA Hardiness Zones: 9-11, but check your local area if you want to plant outdoors, as they are considered invasive in most places in the US!!

• Toxic to pets: Yes!

• Fertilizer: Typically not necessary, but a general purpose fertilizer during the growth season late spring to mid-summer can be used

• Deer Resistant: No