Issue #35

Does Water Really Cause Brown Spots on Tradescantia Leaves?

Do you also struggle with brown spots on your Tradescantia leaves? It seems to be a problem most of us face when growing Tradescantias. And it's so annoying, right? There are so many people claiming it's all because the leaves get wet, but is that really the whole story?

To find out, I did an experiment with my Nanouk to see if that's what really causes those ugly spots. The good news? I’ve discovered that water might not be the big problem we thought it was! More on this in the main story.

Also in this issue, how much do you know about the frost-hardy Tradescantias, the Andersonianas? These aren’t your usual houseplants. They look a bit different, but they bloom beautifully, and they can handle the cold, meaning they're a perfect addition to the garden!

And exciting news for those of you looking to add to your plant collection: I’m now selling Tradescantia cuttings! I have quite a few that are hard to find anywhere else, and for the first time, I'm shipping across the EU.

Tradescantia of the week: Andersoniana

Did you know there are Tradescantias that can stay outside all year round? You might have come across the name Tradescantia Andersoniana. These aren't your typical tropical Tradescantias that we often keep indoors for their colourful leaves that come in all shapes and sizes. Instead, Andersonianas are famous for their lovely flowers and being able to withstand the cold.

Unlike the tropical varieties with their colourful leaves, Andersonianas have long, grass-like leaves. They still have the typical three-petaled flowers, which, just like the tropical ones, only last a day. They originate from North America, but these plants have also found their way into gardens across Europe!

The most well-known frost-hardy species is Tradescantia Virginiana, and historically, almost all garden cultivars were labelled as this species. However, different species of Tradescantia in the wild crossed with each other repeatedly, creating a variety of new hybrids. A botanist named Edgar Anderson traced these back to originating from three species: Virginiana, Ohiensis, and Subaspera. Since they were all hybrids with unclear origins, they were grouped together under the name Andersoniana. The number of plants in this group is constantly growing as new cultivars are discovered and named. These plants are great at self-seeding and creating new open-pollinated hybrids. There's probably 70-80 different cultivars in circulation today!

I started my Andersoniana collection last year, so I haven't been growing them for long. But I loved that once they settled in, they flowered all summer. According to some sources, they might not survive if the temperature drops too low for extended periods, below -10 to -15°C (14 to 5°F). However, we have quite mild winters here in the south of Sweden, with only a few days at a time below 0°C (32°F).

They don't look like much now, but I can tell that most of them have survived the winter, and I can't wait to see them spring back to life now that spring is here. I have already ordered quite a few more and I'm looking forward to adding the new ones to my garden. If you're thinking of adding Andersonianas to your garden, now's the time, as they're usually only sold during spring.

My Water-on-the-Leaves Experiment

It’s common advice to never let the leaves of your Tradescantia get wet, saying that it leads to brown spots and leaf rot. For a long time, I believed this too.

However, I’ve come to question this advice. Many people swear that getting the leaves wet ruined their Tradescantia, but I think it’s likely other factors causing the brown spots on the leaves. Besides, if a plant can’t handle getting its leaves wet, how can it survive outdoors in the rain? Yes, there's natural airflow outside that isn’t present indoors, but I don’t think that fully explains it.

So, I decided to run a little experiment to see if it really is water on the leaves causing problems. I took cuttings from the same Nanouk plant, planted them in identical soil mixes, and placed them in the same spot near a bright window with just a little direct light for a few hours each day. The only difference? I only bottom-watered one, while I misted the other daily for 10 days.

The result? After 10 days, they both looked the same. Yes, I know there are probably many flaws with my experiment. But if water on the leaves were truly problematic, I believe it would have shown some effects within those 10 days. I think the "water on the leaves" theory is often an excuse people use when they're unsure of the actual problem.

If your Tradescantia starts showing brown spots on the leaves, I’d suggest checking for other causes first: overwatering, sunburn, pests... Or, if it’s just a few spots, maybe just let it be. Tradescantias, especially Nanouk, tend to get brown spots on their leaves quite easily without it meaning anything serious.

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Exciting News: My Cuttings Are Going International!

This week, I sent off my first batch of cuttings for the year, all the way to France!

I began selling cuttings last year, but initially, I could only ship within Sweden. This year, I'm excited to expand my reach to include all EU countries. Unfortunately, I'm not able to ship outside the EU at the moment, as it requires a phytosanitary certificate, which is quite costly.

Packing with Care: I take great care in packaging the cuttings. I wrap the bottom of the stems in wet paper, secure it with plastic wrap, and attach a name tag to each cutting so you know exactly which one you're getting. Then, they're placed into a plastic bag and packed in a sturdy cardboard box to make sure they arrive safely.

Interested in Expanding Your Collection? If you're looking to add a new Tradescantia to your collection, you'll find more information here.

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Until next time, happy planting! 🌿

Katja

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