The Wandering Jew is a rather curious plant, with a low-growing, vining habit and silver-purple striped leaves. It’s also known as the Inch Plant and by its botanical name, Tradescantia Zebrina. The plant will win you over at first look, and its easy-going nature may compel you to want to have several more for your home or garden. Here’s how to propagate wandering jew.
How to Propagate Wandering Jew
Wandering jew cuttings can be taken anytime, but it is best to wait until the growing season starts, preferably in spring or summer.
The good news is that you can easily multiply your inch plants via stem cuttings or ‘slips’. Wandering Jew stems easily grow roots and soon turn into brand-new plants as long as you keep a few things in mind.
Step 1. Choose a Healthy Specimen
You can take several cuttings from a bushy and healthy wandering jew. Choose ones that have several leaves growing from the stem so you have a higher chance of success. Anywhere between 2 to 4 inches should be fine.
Step 2. Prepare the Soil
When propagating Wandering Jew you’ll have two options- a glass of water or a small pot or container that has soil. Inch plant stems readily grow roots in either media, and the choice depends mainly on your preference.
When opting for the pot and soil method you’d need to fill up the container with well-draining soil and a regular potting mix.
The water rooting method simply requires putting the cutting in a glass of clean water.
Step 3. Cut the Stem
Use sharp scissors or a small pruner and cut into a Wandering Jew stem that’s around 2 to 4 inches long. The stem has to have at least two sets of leaves, but making several cuttings on a long stem is viable. For example, you can cut a 6 to 8 inch trailing vine and divide it into two or three specimens.
Angle your cuts to around 45 degree angles and under a leaf node.
Step 4. Remove Lower Leaves to Expose Nodes
The cutting will now have anywhere between 2 to 3 sets of leaves. Using your hand or the scissors, remove all but the top set of the wandering jew leaves. This lets the cutting grow roots in the leaf nodes so it can transform into a plant.
Step 5. Put the Cuttings in Soil and Wait
Once the inch plant stems are prepared you can insert the bottom into the soil or water you created earlier. Make sure that the exposed leaf nodes are deep into the soil or water to activate the rooting process.
Leave your cuttings in a place that gets bright and indirect sunlight. In about a month or so the cuttings will have formed roots. Ensure the soil stays consistently moist but not waterlogged to prevent the stems from rotting.
Once the roots are about two inches long, repot the cuttings in separate containers or outside. Then, you can treat them and care for them as brand-new wandering jew plants.
Caring for Your New Wandering Jew Plant
Tradescantia Zebrina is native to Mexico and likes to stay in a warm environment of around 50 to 80 degrees F. You’ll want to put the inch plant where it can get bright but indirect light, or even indoors as long as it stays near a door or window.
The more light the wandering jew receives, the shinier the silver and the deeper the purple leaf color.
As for watering, you’ll want to keep the soil consistently moist. However, you shouldn’t water too much or else the roots will rot. As a general rule you should touch the soil’s surface and see if it’s dry before giving your wandering jew a drink. Otherwise, you should wait another day or two and check again.
The wandering jew can adapt to any soil, but an organic mix should work very well. You can use an ordinary potting mix and amend with organic matter, such as humus or peat so the medium retains more moisture.
It’s worth noting that Wandering Jew plants like to be root bound, so a yearly repotting is not necessary. To make your plant bushy, you can cut off the stem tips, which will force your wandering jew to branch out and sport a fuller appearance.
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