When someone talks about beautiful houseplants then no one can forget wandering jews. They can easily brighten up your room in the home. It’s time to step into the wandering jew plant’s enchanting world, where beauty is going to meet botanical wonder.
It doesn’t matter if you’re a budding gardener or just seasoned plant enthusiasts, be ready to explore the splendor of the wandering jew plant. Keep reading our blog to learn about this beauty in detail.
Table of Contents
What is a wandering jew plant?
Before starting, let us guess what you might be thinking is wandering jew an indoor plant? The answer is yes, it is one of the popular houseplants which is known for its trailing, attractive vines and vibrant foliage. Such kinds of plants feature pointed and long leaves with striking patterns of purple, green, and silver stripes. They resemble the markings of the skin of a zebra. Due to its cascading growth habit, it is the perfect choice for ground cover in garden beds or hanging baskets.
Generally, they are low-maintenance and can thrive in indirect sunlight, which makes them suitable for several indoor environments. There is a need to water them regularly to keep the soil moist consistently. However, you don’t have to waterlog it. By giving them proper care, you add a pop of color and natural beauty to your garden or home. That’s why they are a favored choice among beginners and plant enthusiasts.
How to propagate wandering jew plants?
1) Propagation by Division
Materials needed:
- Sharp knife or pruning shears.
- Established wandering jew plant.
- Pots along with well-draining soil.
Steps:
- Choose a Mature Plant: Select a mature wandering jew plant having multiple clusters or stems.
- Remove the Plant: Now, remove the entire plant carefully from its garden bed or pot, and make sure you keep the root ball intact.
- Divide the Plant: You can use a sharp knife or pruning shears to divide the plant into smaller sections. Each section must have several stems with leaves and a portion of the root system.
- Plant the Divisions: Plant each division in a distinctive pot full of well-draining soil.
- Water and Care: Newly potted divisions should be watered thoroughly. Now, place them in a location having indirect and bright light. When they are establishing themselves, keep the soil moist consistently.
- Transplant as Needed: With the growth of divisions and turned into established plants, you can transplant into desired locations or larger pots.
2) Propagation by Stem Cuttings
Materials needed:
- A small pot having well-draining soil.
- Sharp scissors or pruning shears.
- Healthy wandering jew plant.
- Rooting hormone (optional)
Steps:
- Select a Healthy Stem: Choose a healthy stem by taking a cutting from. Take a stem of 4-6 inches in length and have several leaves.
- Cut the Stem: You can make a clean cut below a leaf node by using sharp and clean pruning shears or scissors. A node is a kind of small nub or bump on the stem in which branches or leaves grow. You have to cut right below a node because that’s the place where roots start developing.
- Remove Leaves: From the lower half of the cutting, trim off any leaves, but leave a few leaves at the top. With this, you’ll reduce the moisture demand when the cutting establishes roots.
- Optional Rooting Hormone: This step is not necessary, you can dip the stem’s cut end in rooting hormone, which will boost the root growth.
- Plant the Cutting: Take a small pot full of well-draining potting soil and insert the stem’s cut end into it. Around the cutting, water the soil slightly to let it settle down.
- Provide Adequate Light: Now, place the pot in a location having indirect and bright light. Try to avoid direct sunlight because it can scorch the cutting.
- Root Development: You can spot roots forming just after weeks or months. Make sure you tug on the cutting to check the resistance, which simply indicates root growth.
- Transplant: After 2-3 months, the cutting will turn into a sufficient root system. As a next step, transplant it into your desired location or a larger pot.
Tips for care of Jew plants
When it comes to caring for wandering jew plants, it involves providing regular maintenance and the right conditions for keeping them vibrant and healthy. Now, you might be thinking, are wandering Jew plants easy to care for? Well, here are some points to take care of beautiful plants:
1) Humidity
Such plants mainly appreciate higher humidity levels. It would be better to use a room humidifier or humidity tray during the winter months when air is dry and indoor heating is running. Occasionally, mist the plant along with water to create a more humid microenvironment.
2) Pruning and Pinching
Daily prune or pinch the stem’s tip to boost the bushier growth and prevent your plants from turning into leggy. Also, this will aid in maintaining its compact shape.
3) Light
These plants thrive better in indirect and bright sunlight. It is easier for them to tolerate direct morning sunlight. However, harsh afternoon sun can scorch their leaves and that’s why avoid it. A west or east-facing window is perfect for your indoor plants. In case, if your plant starts losing its vibrant colors or looks leggy, then it might require more sunlight.
4) Watering
Between watering, let the top inch of your soil dry out. It would be better to water them less than overwater because such plants are susceptible to root rotting. You can use a pot along with drainage holes or a well-draining potting mix to prevent water from sitting at the bottom.
5) Pest Control
Keep your eye on common houseplant pests such as mealybugs, aphids, spider mites, etc. In case, you notice any infestations, then use a gentle stream of water to remove them. Also, you can treat your plant along with insecticidal soap or neem oil.
Conclusion
Keep in mind that propagation by division is much faster than stem cuttings. Don’t forget to follow these care guidelines because it’s time to enjoy a vibrant and healthy new plant that will add beauty to your space whether it’s indoor or outdoor. However, remember that consistency is key to your lovely plant’s long-term success.
