Bring it back indoors in the fall when nighttime temperatures fall to 60⁰F. Queensland Wet Tropics Region : Evergreen clumping plant to 0.5m. As a child, I accepted it. Indoors, you can keep this plant in a sunny room. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. They grow at the base of the rosette in bracts which some liken to a cradle giving it its name Moses in the cradle. Moses in the cradle (Tradescantia spathacea) is a beautiful tropical plant that is native to Central America. It will form a clump, but lacks the stolons that other Tradescantia use to spread rapidly across the ground. Offsets are basically clones of the parent plant that develop around the perimeter of the parent plant. Read more about this plant in the Popular Houseplant section of the website. To divide your plant, carefully remove it from its pot. If you wish to move it outdoors during the summer, make sure it is in partial shade with only 2 or 3 hours of direct sunlight each day. The cultivar "Vittata" has yellow stripes on the leaves. Rhoeo is a common border or edging plant in tropical or subtropical gardens. They grow in a rosette. Landscape Attributes. Another method is to make leaf rootings, by putting leaves in water until roots form before potting up … Moses in the cradle is hardy in zones 9 – 12 where it can be grown outside. The leaves are glossy and green with distinctly purple undersides. Others include Stripe-Me-Pink (dwarf varigated), vittata variegata (yellow variegated) and ‘Gold’ (all yellow). If you like, you can feed it once a year in the spring with a balanced fertilizer such 10-10-10. Moses-in-the-cradle is a perennial clumping plant native to southern Mexico, and Central America, and grows to approximately 30 cm (11.8 inches). Tradescantia spathacea. Plant it in an area that is partly shady, only receiving 2 or 3 hours of direct sunlight each day. It can cause contact dermatitis which is a rash on your skin. She has been associated with Rutgers Gardens for over a decade. How to Care for a Moses Plant. Its colourful foliage makes it a useful plant for adding foliage contrast around the garden. LOCATION: Prefers a full sun to part shade position.Plant in free draining soil rich in organic matter. They are tiny and some say resemble a baby. Moses in the cradle (Tradescantia spathacea variegata) aka Moses in a boat is a favorite houseplant known for its eye-catching foliage. The recommended time to do this is during the spring, because it is the time when the plant starts to intensively grow. Depending on where you live, you may call this plant moses-in-the-cradle, moses-in-a-basket, boat lily and oyster plant. Moses In The Cradle. 8AM - 4PM     |     His work forever changed the face of those urban neighborhoods. The easiest way to propagate a Moses plant is by cutting stems or dividing the roots. Can’t miss the brilliant foliage and color. Caren White is a Master Gardener and instructor at Home Gardeners School. Will not tolerate frost. The cultivar "Variegata" has leaves with white and pink stripes. Nice article Caren. What makes Moses in the cradle especially attractive is its foliage. It was discovered by Europeans in 1788. Moses-in-the-Cradle plants are originated in Belize, Guatemala, and regions of southern Mexico, such as Tabasco, Chiapas, and the Yucatan Peninsula. Vittata has yellow stripes on the leaves. As a child, when I asked her what the various plants were called, very often she would say something crazy like “Moses in the Cradle”. Always wear gloves when handling this plant. Rhoeo does best in part sun on rich well-drained soils. Tradescantia spathacea, usually known as Moses-in-the-Cradle, Boat Lily, Cradle Lily, Oyster plant, or the Bloaty, is a species of herbs in the Commelinaceae family. LOCATION: Prefers a part shade position to hold its colour better. You should stop fertilizing in the fall and winter when the plant is resting. Growing Tradescantia is easy, and you will find the plants to be quite resilient.These plants typically grow in moist, well-drained and acidic (pH 5 to 6) soil. However, like all members of the family, Rhoeo can cause skin irritation in dogs. The fruit is not ornamentally significant. USDA hardiness zones 9a to 11b: from 20 °F (−6.7 °C) to 50 °F (+10 °C).. How to Grow and Care. Tradescantia spathacea. Although a member of the Commeliaceae (Spiderworts), Rhoeo is NOT invasive like many of its relatives. Trees and Shrubs. Fleshy lance shaped leaves to 30cm emerge from a short trunk. As an adult, I thought that maybe she had been pulling my leg. It is not considered invasive because although it is not native to those areas, it has not spread enough to actually displace the native plants. There are two cultivars that offer more color in the leaves. Average, well-drained to dry soil is fine. Moses in the Cradle (Tradescantia spathacea) There are two proven ways how Moses in the Cradle (Tradescantia Spathacea) can easily be propagated: through plant division or stem cuttings . USE IN Great as a ground-cover for dry areas and rockeries.Suitable as a patio plant in small containers. Plan on fertilizing monthly during the spring and summer using a balanced fertilizer such as 10-10-10. The leaves are dark shiny green on top and shiny purple on the underside. It can cause contact dermatitis when in contact with bare skin and is highly irritating if eaten. Replant the parent plant into its pot with fresh soil and then replant your offsets into their own pots. This plant grows steadily into a clump, eventually covering a large area if left to its devices. Rhoeo is a common border or edging plant in tropical or subtropical gardens. Rhoeo spathacea 'Stripe Me Pink'- Moses in the cradle. Rhoeo ‘Moses in a Cradle’ Rhoeo spathacea or ‘ Moses in a Cradle’ and Rhoeo discolor compacta are two of the species for sale, both are a low growing clump forming foliage plant grown widely in tropical and sub tropical areas as a ground cover plant. Native to Central America and hardy in USDA zones 9 through 12, the plant cannot tolerate cold temperatures and is typically grown as a houseplant in most of the United States. Moses in the Cradle plants (Tradescantia spathacea) have many alternative names such as Moses-in-a-Boat, Boat Lily, Cradle Lily, Moses-in-the-Bullrushes, and Oyster plant. I guess the upside of that was people like Jane Jacobs, who woke us up to the loss such destruction could cause on a long-term basis. Fertilize with a slow release fertilizer such as Troforte. The plant thrives with regular watering, but keeping the soil too wet can encourage disease problems, such as root rot. If you are looking for the easiest way to propagate this beautiful plant, you should go for plant division. It will irritate your lips, tongue and throat as well as cause pain in your mouth and stomach. Culture: Moses-in-the-cradle can grow just about anywhere, from full sun to full shade, although it seems to prefer light shade. The top 1 – 2 inches of soil should be dry before you water it again. Moses-in-the-cradle propagation is by stem cuttings, root division, or seeds. DESCRIPTION: Twist on the old favourite with white and pink striped rosettes of sword-shaped leaves, bright purple on the reverse.Compact habit and spreading nature. You will need to fertilize more often than if you grew this outdoors because when it is in a container, each time you water, nutrients are leached out of the soil. It is often grown in hanging baskets or used as a border plant. It is often grown in hanging baskets or used as a border plant. Moses in the cradle is hardy in zones 9 – 12 where it can be grown outside. The sap is poisonous. The unique leaves are sword-shaped with tri-color tops of green, pink and cream and rich purple, glossy undersides. Literally can go with out water for several weeks. A place to share pictures and discuss growing, maintaining, and propagating houseplants and outdoor decorative … Each leaf is 3 inches wide and 12 inches long. I understand Oxley Nursery does not offer postage on this item. Moses-in-the-cradle’s scientific name was originally Rhoeo discolour, then Rhoeo spathacea and it is now Tradescantia spathacea. New bought or recently repotted plants don’t need to be fed for the first year. But if you have pooches that like to go garden diving, perhaps this is not the plant for you. Variegata, also called Tricolor, has leaves that are striped with white and pink. It prefers well-drained or even rocky soil. The only thing that really bothers it is the cold. Common name(s): oyster plant, Moses in the Cradle Family: Commelinaceae Plant type: perennial; herbaceous USDA hardiness zones: 9B through 11 (Fig. Since then, it has become naturalized in tropical areas of the US such as Florida, Louisiana, Texas and Hawaii. Plant it in an area that is partly shady, only receiving 2 or 3 hours of direct sunlight each day. The white flowers are barely noticeable. The Moses-in-the-cradle plant (Tradescantia spathacea) gets its interesting name from its flowers, which are small and white, and sit in a special leaf, called a bract, which resembles a dark purple boat. Common name(s): Moses-in-the-Cradle; Family: Commelinaceae; Stem cuttings: yes; Leaf cuttings: no; Root cuttings/runners: no; Time: the year round It needs to be planted in areas where there is maximum sunlight. Oyster Plant, Moses-In-The-Cradle Indoors (Tradescantia spathacea) Join the Club to Manage Your Garden Plant Details; Basic Care Instructions; Detailed Care Instructions; Features. Tradescantias do best in partial shade but will do equally well in sunny areas as long as the soil is kept moist. It’s tough and adaptable, suitable for full sun or part shade, across a range of soil types. Tradescantia spathacea is very easy to root in soil or water, making it a fun plant to propagate. Moses in the Cradle Plants are easily propagated using stem clippings. Its sword-like leaves remain dark green in color with prominent white stripes and tinges of purple throughout the year. When grown outdoors, this plant does not require fertilizer. Very low maintenance. Fortunately, this plant has another way to reproduce: offsets. This isn’t usually a big issue as dogs aren’t interested in the plant. Planting it in your garden where there is 6 to 8 hours of sunlight daily will help it to grow faster. 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