Issue #43

Finding the Perfect Light for Your Tradescantia

It’s one of the most common pieces of plant care advice out there: “Keep your Tradescantia in bright indirect light.” Sounds simple, right? The problem is, this vague guideline often leaves people underestimating how much light their plants really need.

When Tradescantias don’t get enough light, their colours fade, their growth becomes long and leggy, and they can even become more vulnerable to pests and disease. Over time, they lose that vibrant, compact look that makes them so beautiful.

The good news? With the right placement and a few easy tricks, you can give your Tradescantias all the light they need to thrive, whether they’re indoors, outdoors, or under grow lights. In this issue, I’ll show you exactly how to do it.

Tradescantia of the week: Spathacea Vittata

The yellow-striped Vittata is actually the oldest variegated Tradescantia cultivar, with a history going all the way back to the 19th century. While it’s not as common today as it once was, it still has a favourite among plant lovers, and it’s easy to see why.

Vittata belongs to the Spathacea species, which grows quite differently from most other Tradescantias. Instead of trailing, it forms large, upright, compact rosettes.

The Spathacea species are known by many names, including Boat Lily, Moses-in-the-cradle, Oyster Plant, and Rhoeo. Vittata is sometimes referred to as Variegated Boat Lily.

The leaves on Vittata are dark green with yellow stripes running down the center, and the undersides are a deep, rich purple. Compared to the more common Spathacea Sitara (often called Spathacea Tricolor), Vittata has much larger leaves, sometimes reaching up to 30 cm long!

And then there are the flowers. Vittata blooms in a way that’s quite different from other Tradescantias. The flowers emerge from small “pockets” along the sides between the leaves.

My Vittata started blooming in September and kept going all the way until April when I got tired of them and cut off all the pockets. There were just so many flowers! Some days I’d get one, other days two, and by the end, there had been well over 200 flowers.

Bright indirect light – what does that really mean?

Have you noticed that almost every care guide says Tradescantias need “bright indirect light”? It sounds helpful, but is it really? What does that even mean?

This advice often makes people worry about giving their plants too much sun, when in reality most Tradescantias can handle far more light than you might think. In fact, good light is the most important factor for colour and healthy growth.

Why light matters so much

While Tradescantias can survive in lower light, the amount and type of light they get will affect their colours, growth, and overall health. Too little light often leads to pale leaves, and leggy growth with long spaces between the leaves. A plant that isn’t getting enough light may also stop growing and can become more vulnerable to pests, diseases, and even root rot.

Different species, different needs

Some Tradescantias really love the sun. Pallida and Sillamontana both need a lot of light to grow well and will quickly start to struggle without it. This is especially noticeable on the purple Pallidas, which lose their purple colour and turn green when the light is too low. Others, like Fluminensis and Zebrina, are more forgiving and can manage better in slightly lower light conditions.

Where to place your Tradescantia

Indoors, the best spot for a Tradescantia is usually the brightest window you have. It’s actually quite hard to give them too much light inside, so a south-facing window is perfect. But even a west-facing or east-facing window can work well.

Outdoors it’s a different story. The sun is much stronger, and a few hours of direct sunlight is usually enough. Too much intense sun can burn the leaves, especially in the middle of the day. A spot with morning sun and afternoon shade often works best.

If you’re unsure, start with a brighter location and watch how the plant responds. Strong colours and compact growth are good signs that it’s getting the light it needs.

How to avoid sunburn

If your Tradescantia has been growing in low light and you want to move it to a brighter spot, be careful not to do it too quickly. Too much strong sunlight all at once can burn the leaves, especially on variegated varieties.

Start by moving it to a brighter spot for just an hour or two each day, then gradually increase the time in stronger light. This gives the plant a chance to adapt without burning.

What if your home doesn’t get enough light?

Grow lights can be a real game changer if you live in a darker home or during the winter months when daylight is limited. A grow light can make a huge difference and keep your plants healthy all year round.

One important thing to remember is placement. If the light is too far away from the plant, it won’t actually help much. Most grow lights need to be fairly close, around 20–40 cm (8–16") above the plant to be effective. It also helps to place the lamp straight above the plant so the light reaches all parts of it evenly, which encourages compact growth.

Tradescantias do best with around 12 to 16 hours of light per day if they don’t get much natural sunlight. A simple timer can make this much easier, especially in winter when the days are short.

Choosing the right light can feel confusing with so many options, red, blue, white, or full spectrum. Full spectrum is the easiest choice, as it mimics natural daylight and works well for all plants.

I’m not an expert on the technical side of it, so I can’t give a detailed recommendation. What I can say is that I’ve been using SANSI grow lights myself, and I’ve been really happy with them. They’re easy to use, and they’ve made a huge difference for my Tradescantias when natural light just isn’t enough.

And if you want to try SANSI grow lights yourself, you can get a discount with the code katja32.

Until next time, happy planting! 🌿

Katja

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