Wondering Jew Plant

The Light Touch / My Wandering Jew had a nervous breakdown

By Judith White-Marks

I don't have a green thumb. Moreover, my plants know it: they lie down and die right in front of my eyes. It was not always so. I once had plants in every room. On the windowsill was a blooming Begonia. In the corner of the living room, in direct sunlight was a Fichus so stunning, my husband paid more attention to it than he did me. In the bathroom, a Potted Palm that thrived on showers peered down at my naked body like a voyeur.

Then, I got lazy. I resented treating my plants like children. I never baby talked to my kids, and I refused to stoop to this level with my Anthurium and African violets. I felt ridiculous humming tunes like "Tiptoe through the Tulips" or reciting passages from "How Green was my Valley," which, I was told, would add years to a plant's life.

My dental hygienist said that plants enjoy poetry readings and need to be cleaned regularly.

So, I flossed their stems and began reading verse. My Gesneriads are particularly fond of Keats while my Fittonia is a devotee of Longfellow. But nothing happened.

I began thinking the world was crazy when my friend revealed a well-kept secret: For years she had performed the soliloquy from McBeth in front of her Strelitzia.

"These plants were raised on culture and intellect," she said. "My little Narcissus thrives on the classics.

I went home and read the entire first act of Romeo and Juliet to my Geranium. It didn't seem to care. I got so mad I spritzed it with water until it required CPR.

"Plants are like pets," my veterinarian told me after I had admired his yucca tree."

"If you take on the responsibility of owning them, you must treat them with the kindness and respect they deserve. Care for them as you would a cat."

I put a bowl of Friskies in from of my Schefflera and hoped for the best.

But, my heart wasn't in it and my plants, knowing that, refused to grow. I was guilty of the worst possible gardening crime: plant neglect.

Then, one day when every plant in the house had drooped, I decided to mend my ways. I stocked up on plant care books and threw a little sugar and honey into their water to sweeten their roots. My Petunias went into a diabetic coma.

After that, I devoted my entire life to the care and nurturing of my Fuchsia and Freesia. I gave up visits with my friends to stay home and have tea with my Philodendron.

"You look divine," I told it, offering it a scone.

Wandering Jew Houseplant | Wandering Jew Plant

Tradescantia albiflora is a botanical name for a Wandering Jew houseplant . This houseplant is fast growing and is best known as a hanging plant. It has fleshy stems and a lot of lance shaped leaves. It’s leaves are up to 5 cm long. Leaves are usually deep green to purple with some silver color. Wandering Jew houseplant needs to get it’s stems cut so it can encourage branching and prevent the plant for getting too leggy. Pinching off the tips of new shoots will result in a more fuller and bushier plant. Pruning is the best during spring and summer which is a growing season for this houseplant.If there are spaces between the leaves of time, then your Wanderin Jew houseplant does not get enough sun. The plants need plenty of sun. They do best in hanging baskets out the window. It's creeping stems can reach up to 60 cm long. This plant needs soil moist enough light and it will great. Cuttings of this houseplant is easily spread. In moist soil, the cuttings will root in about 3 weeks. This is the soil must be uniformly wet growing season, but slightly drier in winter. Several species are the Wandering Jew by name. Houseplant wandering Jew plant is also known as thumb and Spiderwort.It's origins are in South America. Wanderin Jew makes an excellent house plant because it is easy and fast growth of plants that do not require much attention.

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