Why are my leaves losing their color?

The plant likely needs more bright, indirect light to maintain its vibrant variegation.

How often should I water it?

Water when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.

Plant guide

Planta cebra.

Tradescantia zebrina

Pronounced tra-des-KAN-tee-uh ze-BREE-nuh

Also known as Inchplant, Inchplant, Wandering jew, Cockroach grass, Purple wandering Jew, Silver inch plant, Striped trad, Striped wandering creeper, Striped wandering Jew, Wandering zebrina, Zebra plant, wandering-Jew, Inch-plant, Creeping Charlie, Wandering Jew, Zebra Plant

Tradescantia zebrina — Photo by 五色鳥 (CC BY) via gbif

The inch plant is a fast growing trailing beauty that adds a splash of purple and silver to any room. It is quite easy to care for and looks lovely in a hanging basket. You will find it grows quickly when it gets enough light.

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Herbaceous perennial
Light: Bright indirect light is best for keeping those vibrant leaf colors.
Indoor light: bright-indirect
Water: Every 5 to 10 days
Mature size: 30 to 60 cm
Growth rate: fast
Hardiness: USDA 9 to 11
Bloom time: Spring to summer

Care

Keep the soil lightly moist but never soggy to prevent root rot. Watch for leggy stems, which usually mean the plant is craving more light. You can easily pinch back the tips to encourage a bushier shape.

Watering: Water when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.
Feeding: Use a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted to half strength during the growing season.
Pruning: Trim back long stems regularly to maintain a compact and full appearance.
Repotting: Repot when the plant becomes root bound or the soil loses its structure.
Soil: Well draining peat based potting mix
Soil pH: 6.0 to 7.5
Temperature: 10 to 24°C
Humidity: 40 to 60%
Drought tolerance: moderate
Lifespan: Perennial, typically 3 to 5 years.
Deer and rabbits: moderate

Signs it needs repotting

Roots growing out of the drainage holes.
Water running straight through the pot without soaking in.
The plant stops growing during the active season.

Safety

People: The sap can cause skin irritation or dermatitis in sensitive individuals.
Pets: This plant is mildly toxic to cats and dogs if ingested.
Children: Keep this plant out of reach of small children as the sap can cause mouth and throat irritation if they chew on the leaves.
Contact allergens: The clear sap contains calcium oxalate crystals that may cause a rash or burning sensation upon contact with skin.
Airborne allergens: There are no significant airborne allergens associated with this plant.
Edibility: This plant is not intended for consumption and can cause significant irritation if ingested.

How to identify it

Trailing stems with succulent texture
Leaves feature silver and purple stripes
Underside of leaves is deep magenta
Small three petaled purple flowers

Height: 0.15 to 0.3m
Spread: 0.3 to 0.6m
Leaves: purple, silver, green, evergreen
Flowers: purple, pink, 1 to 2cm

Common problems

Root rot — This occurs when the soil stays too wet for too long.
Spider mites — These tiny pests thrive in dry indoor air and create fine webbing.
Leggy growth — The stems stretch out when the plant does not receive enough light.

Growing it

Propagation: cuttings
When to plant: spring, summer
Overwintering: Bring the plant indoors before temperatures drop below freezing. Keep it in a bright spot and reduce watering during the cooler months.
In containers: It thrives in hanging baskets or pots at least 6 inches wide to allow for its trailing growth.

Stem Cuttings

Snip a 4 to 6 inch stem cutting just below a leaf node.
Remove the lower leaves from the bottom half of the cutting.
Place the cutting in water or directly into moist potting soil.
Roots will typically appear within 1 to 2 weeks.

Group plants with similar water needs together to make your care routine much simpler.

Grows well with

Pothos — They share similar light and water requirements for easy maintenance.
Peace Lily — They both thrive in the same humid, indirect light conditions.

Similar species

Moses in the Cradle — It is a close relative with similar growth habits but more upright foliage.
Inch Plant — It shares the same trailing nature and ease of propagation.

Science

Family: Commelinaceae
Genus: Tradescantia
Order: Commelinales
Class: Liliopsida
Native range: Mexico and Central America.
Conservation: This species is not currently listed as endangered or threatened.

It grows as a trailing perennial in tropical forest understories where it spreads across the forest floor.

Uses: indoor hanging basket, ground cover in warm climates, terrarium plant

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 2/9
Soil reaction: 6/9
Light: 6/9
Temperature: 7/9
Moisture: 5/9
Nutrients: 4/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Why are my leaves losing their color?: The plant likely needs more bright, indirect light to maintain its vibrant variegation.
How often should I water it?: Water when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.

Where the name comes from

The genus name honors the English naturalists John Tradescant the elder and younger, while the species name zebrina refers to the zebra like stripes on the leaves.

Good to know

It is commonly known as the inch plant because it grows so quickly.
The leaves fold up at night and open again in the morning.
It is incredibly easy to propagate from stem cuttings.
The genus name honors the 17th century royal gardeners John Tradescant the elder and younger.

Also in

Plants toxic to cats and dogs

Is your planta cebra looking unwell?

This page is a general guide. Pocket Botanist diagnoses problems from a photo of your actual plant, works out watering for your light and conditions, and reminds you when care is due.

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This guide was generated with AI and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.