Guide to growing Spiderwort - Tradescantia
Tradescantia are usually grown in the garden as hardy or half hardy perennials.
They range in height from 30 to 90cm. Many species of Tradescantia have attractive foliage, which may be a lovely plummy purple colour. Tradescantia bloom in the summer, and with a little effort can be encouraged to bloom a second time in the autumn.
Some Tradescantia species carry beautiful tri-petalled flowers; these may be purple, blue or white.
Some common names for Tradescantia include Spiderwort, Wandering Jew and Trinity flower.
How to grow Spiderwort
The seeds of Tradescantia plants such as trinity flower and Spiderwort can be sown outdoors in either autumn or in early spring. The seeds should be lightly covered once sown. Depending upon their size Tradescantia should be spaced from 30 to 45cm apart. Ideally the soil that Spiderwort grows in will be moist, rich, well drained and acidic (pH 5 to 6). The plants do best in a partially shaded are but will tolerate sunny areas as long as the soil is kept moist.
If starting spiderwort indoors then sow about 7 weeks inadvance. It should take from 10 days to 6 weeks for Tradescantia seeds to germinate at a temperature of about 20 degrees centigrade. Transplant them outdoors about a week after the last frost of spring.
Caring for Tradescantia species such as Spiderwort
It is easy to care for Spiderwort, Trinity flower and other Tradescantia species. They like a moist soil so water regularly. Cutting back once they have flowered should result in a second bloom in the autumn. To maintain vigorous growth spiderwort and related species should be divided every three years. Cut back dead foliage. If you require more plants then spiderwort can be propagated by division in the spring.