Plant Tradescantia rivernsis It is of American origin, specifically from Brazil and Argentina and in fact the epithet fluminensis alludes to the city of Río de Janéiro in Brazil. This was introduced in the islands, becoming totally invasive in humid places.
Features Tradescantia rivernsis
La Tradescantia rivernsis belongs to the Commelináceas family, genus Tradescantia which consists of about 70 species of herbaceous and perennial plants. It is distinguished by its high resistance, hanging bearing and not at all organized since in each knot the stems change direction. It must also be said that the Tradescantia it does very well indoors.
These stems are fleshy, they have very pronounced green leaves that tend to turn blue on the upper side while turning purple on the front; these are semi fleshy and lanceolate. Produces small white or soft pink flowers, of very short duration and that are not very showy to use as an ornament, they are formed at the apex of the stems and bloom in summer, between the months of March and August.
The bearing of the plant is erect, creeping stems whose roots originate in the nodes. The fruit is presented in the form of a loculicidal capsule. There is a diversity of crops, where the Tradescantia fluminensis "Quicksilver" and which is characterized by its fluted silver blades. We can also find the Tradescantia fluminensis "Variegata" with white fluted leaves with pink hues most of them.
Plant cultivation
In general, it is a very easy plant to grow since it does not require so much care since it resists high temperatures very well and it has the ability to withstand up to 10 degrees in winter.
What does it take for the crop to be optimal?
A lot of light. The development of the Tradescantia is optimal in very illuminated spaces, although not in direct sunlight, since that tends to discolor the plant, while dark places make them lose their traditional shape.
Moderate watering and humidity. If it is in a pot, it will be enough to place it on a plate with pebbles that are practically covered with water and without the bottom of it having contact with the water, the rest is to spray the plant every 15 days. In summer you have to water twice a weekOn the other hand, in winter it can be every 10 days, always taking care that the surface of the substrate is dry in each watering.
The plant needs fertilizer with special liquid fertilizer for indoor plants added to the irrigation water and only in spring-summer season. The rest of the year you do not need fertilizer. It is important that the compost contains both potassium, phosphorus and nitrogen, as well as magnesium, iron, copper, manganese, boron, molybdenum and zinc, since they are all of vital importance for the plant.
To preserve its leafy appearance you have to vegetative apexes frequently bluntAlso cut those branches that break with the harmony of the plant due to its excessive growth. It is important that you sterilize the tool you use for pruning with fire, this way you will avoid compromising the tissues of the tradescantia.
Plant multiplication
It reproduces by cuttings either rooted in water or in the ground. The time to remove the cuttings is in spring-summer, which should be approximately 13 cm in length, taking special care to cut them exactly below the knot obliquely.
The scissors, knife or whatever you use to cut must be very sharp to avoid fraying the fabric. Remember to disinfect it every time you go to cut the plant. It is necessary to eliminate the lowest placed leaves, apply a powder in the cutting area to help with the rooting, holes are made in the previously prepared compost with one part of coarse sand and two of fertile substrate and the cuttings are placed no more of 4 in each pot.
Finally you need to very delicately compact the substrate around each cutting. The substrate must be kept moist without excesses and the pot is placed in an area where the sun does not reach it directly. In approximately two weeks the first shoots should be appearing, which indicates that the cutting is already rooted, so you just have to wait for these to become stronger to take them to their final pot together.
If you want to root in water, you should only place it in a container full of water until it is seen that it is well rooted to carefully transfer it to a substrate for adult plants.
Plagues and diseases
It is important that you be attentive to the diseases that the plant presents, such as that it loses its variation, loses its shape becoming small and twisted or that the leaves fade, since they are symptoms that your plant is not healthy.
Sometimes it is very easy to solve since if the leaves are losing their color, it may be due to lack of light, which is solved by moving them to a more illuminated position, although never in direct sunlight. Now, if you see tiny white insects on the plant, it is because aphids have settled there.
The solution to eradicate them is in the use of products specially designed against aphids, which are bought in stores specialized in garden products. These are applied to the plant that absorbs them and from there they pass to the insect when it feeds.
Another symptom of the presence of pests is when spots appear on the back of the leaves, which suggests mealybug presence that are identified by the white shield that they use as protection.
To eliminate them you can soak a cotton ball with alcohol and pass it through the leavesNow, if it is a large pot plant, it is recommended to wash it with water and a neutral soap while gently sponging to remove parasites. Once the process is finished, remove the soap residues very well with water.
Among the diseases that affect the plant are very common leaf spots caused by fungi and rust, that attack it when there is excess humidity, which damages leaves and stems, covering them with a gray mold that ends up rotting them.