Tradescantia multiflora or Tahitian Bridal Veil

Care of the indoor plant Tradescantia multiflora or Tahitian Bridal Veil

The genus Tradescantia, family Commelinaceae, comprises 30 species of herbaceous and perennial plants native to the American continent. Some species are: Tradescantia multiflora, Tradescantia zebrina, Tradescantia fluminensis, Tradescantia pallida, Tradescantia albiflora, Tradescantia spathacea, Tradescantia sillamontana, Tradescantia brevicaulis.

Common names: Tahitian Bridal Veil, Spiderwort. This species is native to tropical regions of Mexico, Brazil and Argentina.

They are herbaceous plants with a trailing, climbing or hanging habit and thin dark stems. They have small oval, pointed leaves that are bright green on the upper side and purple on the underside. They produce small white tripetal flowers. They bloom during the summer.

They are used as indoor and greenhouse plants in hanging pots; in tropical climates they are used as cover or climbing plants (they need supports to climb).

Tradescantia multiflora needs a very bright exposure but without direct sun, as well as good ventilation without sudden changes in temperature. It does not resist temperatures below 10 ºC (50 ºF).

The soil can be a mixture of leaf mulch, normal garden soil, and siliceous sand. Transplant in early spring to a pot one size larger.

Water frequently in spring and summer so that the soil is always moist but never waterlogged. In autumn, water less while waiting for the substrate surface to dry. If the summer is very hot (for example in the Mediterranean climate) it's advisable to spray them every 2-3 days with water without lime.

Fertilize every 15 days in spring and summer with mineral fertilizer.

Prune lightly in late winter to keep it compact.

If the humidity is low and it's very hot, they can be attacked by aphids, mites and mealybugs.

They are propagated by division or by cuttings rooted in water or in a damp substrate.