Many people grow this decorative unpretentious plant in the home called tradescantia zebrin. A flower from the tropics, it adapts well to home conditions and does not require much attention from the owners. In floriculture, it occupies a separate niche.
What does it look like to which family
The plant belongs to the Kommelinov family, its botanical name: Tradescantia zebrina. The name is associated with the presence of longitudinal stripes giving the tradescantia a striped color. In floriculture, there are several types of zebrins, the most common of them is hanging zebrina. This is an ampelous plant with a decorative effect. Creeping, creeping, fast-growing shoots are 60-100 cm long and are covered with ovate-pointed leaves.
Tradescantia zebrina
The upper part of the leaves is glossy, shiny and two-tone. A bright red stripe is visible in the middle on both sides of the central vein. Behind it, gray-green or silver stripes stretch from two sides to the very edge of the sheet. Behind them, at the edges, the color is the same as in the middle. The length of the leaves reaches 7-8 cm, width - 3 cm. Their lower seamy side, as well as smooth stems, is painted in purple-violet color. Plant height does not exceed 15 cm.
Briefly about the history of the appearance
In history, there is a mention of a scientist named John Tradescan. He lived in the seventeenth century, and for some time worked as a gardener at the court of the English king Charles I. The scientist was engaged in the study and cultivation of plants brought to Europe from America. Tradescan's attention was especially attracted by the fast-growing creeping plant, which now bears his name.
Homeland of the plant
The homeland of the flower are the tropical forests of Mexico. Spreading naturally, the plant reached South America and Florida. Later it was brought to Africa, Australia, Asia and Europe.
Features of home care
Tradescantia zebrin special care is not needed. She easily adapts to growing conditions and is so unpretentious that even a beginner in floriculture will not be difficult to care for her. A bright, periodically ventilated room is suitable for Zebrina, but on a hot day, direct sunlight should be avoided. In summer, the plant is taken out onto a balcony or a veranda, but at the same time it is slightly shaded.
The plant loves light, but it is better to avoid direct sunlight
Juice of striped leaves is very useful, it has wound healing, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic effects. It has long been believed that zebrin is a magical flower that protects its owners from ill-wishers, rumors and gossip, and also cleans the air surrounding it.
It's important to know! The healing properties of zebrins attract pets. In order for the stems and leaves to survive, the plant is placed higher.
Temperature
A zebrin flower can withstand different temperatures, but in heat it will develop faster, and in cool air growth will slow down. The usual room mode is well suited: from +18 to +24 ℃. The lowest temperature at which growth retardation does not yet occur is +12 ℃.
Lighting
The plant loves light, with its lack of shoots begin to fade, fade. Ideal is the placement of pots on the eastern or western windowsills. The morning and evening rays of the sun will only benefit the plant. In winter, when daylight hours become shorter than 8 hours, the flower requires artificial illumination with fluorescent lamps.
Watering
In summer, the tradescantia zebrin violet is watered sparingly, about 2-3 waterings per week. Softened and filtered water is best suited for this. In winter, if the zebrin is in a cool room, the development of the plant slows down and the number of waterings is reduced. The reference point is the dryness of the soil in pots. In between waterings, the soil should dry to a depth of 1-2 cm. Excessive watering for a flower is much more dangerous than a lack of moisture. With occasional watering, the leaves may wilt, but then quickly recover. If the soil in the pot is moist all the time, the roots and stems will begin to rot and the plant will die.
Spraying
With insufficient moisture, the leaves of the zebrine begin to wrinkle. Therefore, a pot with a plant is sometimes placed on a tray with gravel filled with water, and leaves and shoots are regularly sprayed from a spray bottle. But if the flower grows and develops well, it is not necessary to moisten it with spraying. The dust settled on the leaves is removed with a damp sponge or washed off under a shower.
If the air is dry, leaves and stems should be sprayed.
Humidity
Indoor humidity should be at least 60%. It is acceptable if the pot is located next to the aquarium or other source of moisture. You can place a bowl of water nearby.
Priming
The soil is characterized by a neutral or slightly acidic pH. It must be loosened. To prepare such a soil, a mixture of sheet soil, humus, turf and coarse river sand is made. These components should be taken in a ratio of 2: 1: 1: 1. You can also prepare a mixture of 2 parts peat and 1 part coarse sand or perlite. The planting pot should be deep, with a drain hole at the bottom.
Top dressing
Zebrin is fed with complex fertilizers, starting from spring until the end of the active growth phase. You need to fertilize once every two weeks, an excess of fertilizing can cause blanching of the color of the leaves.
Additional Information! In winter and autumn, feeding is not done. Diseased and weakened by transplant plants also do not fertilize.
When and how it blooms
Zebra-shaped tradescantia blooms with small pinkish-purple or purple flowers that appear on the stems and leaf sinuses. The flowers are radially symmetrical, each with three petals.
Flower shapes
The inflorescences of the plant are umbrella, they are axillary. The flowers are small, three petal. Calyx and corolla are leafy.
Flowering period
In open ground, the zebra-like tradescantia usually blooms in late spring - early summer. Indoors, if you create greenhouse conditions, the plant can also bloom from early September to February.
Zebrina flowers
Pruning
The stems of the plant grow rapidly, stretch, and with age comes the exposure of the branches. To maintain decorative properties, shoots need to be cut, giving the bush a beautiful shape. Flower stalks with withered buds and stems that begin to dry are also removed. The tips of long branches are regularly nipped to make the plant more compact and lush.
Note! Pruning zebrins should be done with gloves, since the juice of the plant can cause skin irritation.
How to breed
This plant propagates in several ways:
- cuttings;
- by seeds;
- by dividing the plant into parts.
Propagation by cuttings
The method is the easiest and most effective. For cuttings take shoots 8 cm long. It is desirable that they have 3-4 pairs of leaves. To make the plant more magnificent, several cuttings are planted in one pot at once. Root shoots can be both in the ground and in the water. They don’t cover anything from above. When the cuttings take root and grow back a little, they are transplanted into specially prepared soil.
Seed propagation
It is considered the most laborious way. In spring, the seeds are sown in a container with soil, moistened, and everything is covered with a film or glass on top to create a greenhouse effect. The capacity is installed in a room with good lighting and heating. Air temperature should be around +20 ℃. To prevent excess moisture from accumulating, the greenhouse is aired from time to time. After emergence, the film is removed. Seedlings periodically moisturize, and when they germinate - transplanted into pots.
Plant division
If the bush is large, it is divided into several parts, sharing and rhizomes. Usually this is done when transplanting. Each of the formed parts is planted separately. Young seedlings at first shade and water moderately.
Transfer
Transplanted, usually in the spring. The capacity for transplantation should be low, but wide with holes in the bottom for drainage. So that moisture in the soil does not stagnate, a layer of expanded clay or small stones is first laid on the bottom of the container, and then soil is poured. Young plants are transplanted once a year, adults - once every two years.
Zebrin transplant
Important! In order for the root system to have enough nutrition and space for growth, the distance between the roots and the walls of the container should be at least 2-5 cm.
Possible problems in growing
The main pests of the zebra-like tradescantia:
- spider mite;
- scale shield;
- aphid.
The presence of these insects is indicated primarily by the pallor of the leaves. If cobwebs appeared in the internodes, there were some spider mites here. The presence of the thyroid gland can be detected by characteristic plaques on the inside of the leaves. Aphids prefer to feast on young shoots.
To combat harmful insects, the stems and leaves are washed with soapy water. But if the defeat is already strong, you can’t do without chemicals. Insecticides are sold in all flower shops.
Other problems
It is very difficult for the plant to harm the inadequate care, but sometimes it happens. Other problems are usually associated with insufficient care:
- if the leaves fall, the plant does not have enough light and water;
- their color has become faded - the sun is missing;
- the leaves are wrinkled, get a brown tint - not enough moisture;
- dry out, and the tips become brown - the air around the flower needs to be moisturized;
- leaves are watery and translucent - the soil does not dry out and the roots begin to rot.
Unpretentious Zebrina
If it turns out that the problem is in dry soil, you need to water the zebrin, and this will help revitalize it. The lack of light is worth fixing. If it comes to the roots, the surviving cuttings are cut and planted again.
Tradescantia zebrin home care is easy to provide. This is an unpretentious flower. Demanding only a little attention, he will decorate a house, apartment or office for a long time, pleasing to the eye and helping to transfer illnesses.
