Houseplants: Weird!!!! Wandering Jew

Replies: 40 Views: 287

Author	Comment
Angeleyez Wilmer, AL (Zone 8a) October 12, 2009 03:22 PM	I had two huge Wandering Jews hanging on my back patio.. I cut them back and some of the clippings fell into the flower bed below.... They have sprouted and are growing well. Weird part is.. they are just bright green, they look exactly like the purple one (leaf shape and such) but they are green.... This just blows me away!! You know how sometimes Jews will get the little tiny flowers all over them?? Well the ones in my flower bed have the tiny flowers all over them, from the tip of almost every single stem.. I'm just floored.. Anyone ever seen this before??
Angeleyez Wilmer, AL (Zone 8a) October 12, 2009 03:24 PM	Uh-Oh. I meant "how Jews sometimes get the tiny flowers at the end of the stems"-- this one has then ALL OVER it..
plantladylin East Central, FL (Zone 9b) October 12, 2009 07:52 PM	Angeleyez: I think all Tradescantia (commonly known as "Wandering Jew") bloom on occasion. Some have pink, white or light blue flowers. There are quite a few Tradescantia with the common name of Wandering Jew, here are a few I found in Plant Files with info and photo's: http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/1160/ http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/596/ http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/93008/ http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/31747/ http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/55107/ http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/186408/ http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/101712/ http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/101718/
trinawitch Canton, IL (Zone 5b) October 13, 2009 03:13 PM	that's ok my purple heart turned green and very long
daisylovn Wilmer, AL (Zone 8b) October 14, 2009 05:37 PM	Trina, This one is very long and very green too.. I thought it odd since it started with clipping from a very purple Wandering Jew.. In the bed, it gets more sun and more water.. Hmm, "Gardening is like a box of chocolates" You never know what your gonna get...
daisylovn Wilmer, AL (Zone 8b) October 14, 2009 05:45 PM	Look at what I did... I first logged into this site as Angeleyz, at home weeks ago. When I tried to log back in at home, I could never remember my password so I created a new login, Daisylovn, while at work.. Apparently I'm logged in at home as Angeleyz., but I don't understand how, since I don't know the password... I like the user name, Daisylovn, best. Can someone please tell me how to delete the Angeleyez user name.. I don't need two.. Thanks
trinawitch Canton, IL (Zone 5b) October 14, 2009 07:26 PM	LOL on the box of chocolates...ain't it the truth though! I have no idea how to do that, I just know when I click on the site I am automatically logged in
plantladylin East Central, FL (Zone 9b) October 14, 2009 07:31 PM	Daisylovn: Click on the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page and ask Administration to delete user Angeleyz for you. Explain to them that you are now using daisylovn as your user ID.
sallyg Anne Arundel Co., MD (Zone 7a) October 14, 2009 07:31 PM	I think the log in thing has to do with cookies, but not sure, And if you dmail to Admin I'm sure they'd delete the extra name for you. I am not so smart on the plant question tho!
plantladylin East Central, FL (Zone 9b) October 14, 2009 07:41 PM	daisylovn: Have you been fertilizing the Tradescantia at all? I'm wondering if the reverting to green could be due to nitrogen in fertilizer? I've always heard nitrogen is the ingredient that makes plants green.
trinawitch Canton, IL (Zone 5b) October 14, 2009 08:02 PM	mine just changed. I thought too much sun I thought for the one down stairs, but then the one upstairs changed too and it gets very minimal light and none of them have been fertilized
plantladylin East Central, FL (Zone 9b) October 14, 2009 08:50 PM	Maybe the Tradescantia is reverting due to age? Someone told me once that when variegated plants age they sometimes revert back to a solid color. I have a large variegated Hibiscus in my front yard. I've had this plant for many years and originally the foliage was variegated and the flowers were a really pretty light pink color. It's been transplanted and moved a few times over the years to different locations in the yard. A few years ago the flowers reverted to a coral/red color which they have unfortunately remained (I really liked the light pink color!) The foliage on this plant began reverting to solid green about two years ago. We had extremely cold weather last winter but even if we have a few nights dipping into the 20's, it warms up quickly. This Hibiscus was pretty large, probably about 10' tall and a few feet around. The cold knocked it back to the ground and I really thought it was a goner! When the weather warmed up I lopped back all the dead branches to the ground and left it for a few weeks. I was quite surprised when it began sprouting anew and that the foliage was all variegated again! Snow Queen Hibiscus ... View Larger
trinawitch Canton, IL (Zone 5b) October 14, 2009 10:27 PM	oh wow that's pretty! I think its cause I got all mine at wal mart when they knocked em down to a quarter a piece! LOL
daisylovn Wilmer, AL (Zone 8b) October 15, 2009 05:55 PM	Thanks all!! plantladylin, The bed that the clippings fell into and rooted had the fertilizer used for the plants in that bed... So that may very well be why it is green, green, green, and flowering like crazy.. I bought the plant with another just like it from a garden shop about a 10 months ago. They were huge, beautiful, very full, and very very long. Hanging from the ceiling of my patio, they were almost touching the ground. Remember, I was most definitely a novice at that time (and I'm still pretty new at this). -- After having them a short time, I started looking beyond the outer beauty and I realized that there were problems, they had not been cared for properly before I purchased them. .. Inside the plants everything was dry and dead (or dying). The parts that had not been watered properly were horrible... That is what prompted me to cut them back.. I clipped them and used the cuttings to make new plants, a few of the cuttings ended up in my flower bed.. I cut them back so far that I didn't know if I should dump the original or not.. I didn't, I kept them and placed them on my patio and started watering them properly.. They actually came back...Now I have lots of Wandering Jews. I even gave one to my mom, my sister, and a very dear friend of mine.. Ahh. The joys of gardening. -- This message was edited Oct 15, 2009 3:56 PM
sissy70 Rushville, IN (Zone 5b) October 17, 2009 10:04 PM	I have wandering jews also growing in my flower bed where they fellafter we had a wind and they broke off my plants the one got real big along in front of my porch no little flowers though
plantladylin East Central, FL (Zone 9b) October 18, 2009 03:38 PM	Here in Florida, many plants are quite happy to fall from hanging baskets to the ground, they take root quite quickly. This is Tradescantia growing under a tree where a basket was hanging last year. View Larger
daisylovn Wilmer, AL (Zone 8b) October 18, 2009 05:11 PM	Do you suppose mine went completely green due to it is getting full sun in bed? I like the way it looks, I just wish it was purple.. like Plantladylin's.
trinawitch Canton, IL (Zone 5b) October 18, 2009 05:14 PM	wow Plantlady that one looks completely diferent from my purple one!
plantladylin East Central, FL (Zone 9b) October 18, 2009 07:08 PM	This is the one I have called Zebrina: http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/596/ This is the common one called Purple Heart that a lot of folks have. I used to have this one growing wild along the fence line between my backyard and my neighbors: http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/186408/ but the neighbor sprays chemicals to kill a lot of stuff along the fence so I don't think there's any of it left anymore.
trinawitch Canton, IL (Zone 5b) October 18, 2009 07:19 PM	I like yours better!
plantladylin East Central, FL (Zone 9b) October 18, 2009 07:25 PM	If we have a real cold winter it probably wont' survive but Home Depot will probably have more come springtime. I have an area under the large Schefflera tree in the backyard where Spider Plants have fallen, taken root and are growing too but if we have any freezes this winter they will not survive.
trinawitch Canton, IL (Zone 5b) October 18, 2009 09:56 PM	boy aint that the truth!
Plants4myPots Providence, RI October 26, 2009 08:40 PM	I've got Zebrina too, and I'd totally blame the extra sunlight for turning it green... Bought mine when they were probably just cuttings in a tiny pot from Home Depot in June, and they were not so pretty at first - just kinda muddy purple looking. By August , the ugly leaves were gone and the new growth was all vivid purple and green. At the end of September, I saw new hanging baskets of Tradescantia in HD, and I thought to myself, "I have that plant! Why hasn't mine grown to be long and pretty like those?" So I stuck the pot in a sunnier south-facing window earlier this month for a week or so, thinking maybe it would grow faster. Not only did it start to noticeably grow... the purple started to turn green, and the green to silver. Since my plant isn't old - I've only had it four months... and it's only been "fertilized" twice, the sun has to be the culprit. (The only fertilizer it's gotten is what it could get from the MG potting soil in June/July, and when re-potted it in coconut coir in August, I soaked the coir in fertilizer-water.) I've put mine back in the more indirect west-facing window - hoping the purple will come back. If not... I'd taken a few sprigs off the plant before it started to turn (to try training a new plant to be a bushy trailer like the ones I saw) and they're still purple. I'll let you know if the purple comes back... and I'm posting some pictures so you can see the "progression" This first one is from when I first got it in June... View Larger
Plants4myPots Providence, RI October 26, 2009 08:42 PM	This is what it looked like when I repotted it in August... View Larger
Plants4myPots Providence, RI October 26, 2009 08:44 PM	This is what it looks like now, after having been exposed to sunlight... the Oxalis must be going dormant. Oh, and there's one of the spider babies you sent me, Trina! This message was edited Oct 26, 2009 8:44 PM View Larger
Plants4myPots Providence, RI October 26, 2009 08:46 PM	and finally, these are the cuttings I took off the Zebrina before I exposed the main pot to sunlight. These cuttings weren't put in the sun... I love how Zebrina's foliage sparkles! This message was edited Oct 26, 2009 8:50 PM View Larger
trinawitch Canton, IL (Zone 5b) October 26, 2009 10:36 PM	ahhh it looks happy in its new home! I wish mine would have changed to pretty colors
daisylovn Wilmer, AL (Zone 8b) October 27, 2009 12:58 AM	That is the color of my Jews in the house.. They are very pretty purple and silver. I too, like the sparkles, Plants4myPots. Its progression is coming along nicely. they grow slowly, though not extremely slow, but not fast either. Is "Oxalis" the plant behind it when you repotted in August? I was admiring that too. You see, I ,like so many here, have an addiction. Wonder where I might get that locally? I would love to have a cutting if you ever decide to share. I'm pretty new here so I guess I should make my "haves" and "wants" list for sharing..
Plants4myPots Providence, RI October 27, 2009 10:27 AM	Yes, Oxalis is the shamrock looking plant. Bought them expressly to go with the Zebrina, because they were purple and green! Also, I wanted to try repotting the other plants in there that weren't performing so well. I took that picture the morning after repotting them, because the Oxalis droop at night, and get all perky again in the morning. It's not so impressive looking right now, there's only about five stalks left standing. I've also been looking on the Internet more for information about them, and starting to think that they'd probably rather not be potted in the coconut coir stuff I've got them in, and maybe they'd like some more time in the dry sunny kitchen window, instead of the damp indirect bathroom. Dang... 'cuz sunny windows are in short supply in my apartment, and the couple I got are pretty crammed. Oxalis actually have little carrot shaped bulb bottoms, and here's a link to a site that's selling a few varieties of bulbs right now... http://www.easytogrowbulbs.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS... They don't have the exact same "Charmed Wine" one that I got from Proven Winners brand - but the Oxalis Triangularis is almost the same, but I think the foliage is actually a bit prettier with the variegation. Ten bucks for 25 bulbs seems like an amazing deal too. Seems like you'd be able to plant a whole garden with that! I'd buy some more bulbs myself - but I graduated from college in May, haven't been able to find a job since then, and used up the last of my savings paying last months bills. I don't recall my plant having so many bulbs in the pot when I got it for $6... to be honest, I hardly remember ANY bulbs - but there had to be some. I do remember not knocking all the dirt off the "rootball" when repotting it, because I hardly saw any roots, except some really fine threads. The bottoms of a lot of the stalks were just kind of pointy. There's gotta be a couple bulbs under there now, I can kinda see one, but I don't know if I should dig it up just yet. It also means I'd have to re-pot both plants... poor Zebrina. Getting yanked up every month or two... Oh, and here's a link to the Proven Winners "find a retailer in your area" page. Looks like you've got two Home Depots and one nursery that carry the brand. I'd go to the nursery first to see if they'll special order something for you, but since PW might only be a live plant supplier, and not a bulb supplier... they might not be able to get them right now. http://www.provenwinners.com/findaretailer/index.cfm?doSearc... Good Luck! Rose
daisylovn Wilmer, AL (Zone 8b) October 27, 2009 11:19 AM	You are so helpful, Thank you Rose. You even know how many HD's are in my area... I am going to check into it. That Oxalis is just gorgeous with the Jew. I will let you know when I find some. "Dang... 'cuz sunny windows are in short supply in my apartment, and the couple I got are pretty crammed" I can relate to that... and I live in a 2100 sq ft house.. but my GOOD outside windows are in the kitchen, Dining room and at the Atrium Doors in the living room.. and they are all pretty crammed... Everything fighting for sunshine!! lol
plantladylin East Central, FL (Zone 9b) October 27, 2009 01:36 PM	I ordered Oxalis seeds many years ago and they came as teeny, tiny bulbs. I have the O. triangularis, the first one listed in PF. Even here in Florida, they die back in winter and reemerge in late spring/early summer. There are tons of Oxalis listed in Plant Files: http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/adv_search.php?searcher[com... Some are really, really pretty! When you click on one in PF, if you look on the left side of the page somewhere under the botanical name etc. it will say if there are any vendors with this plant for sale and if you click there it will show you the names of the vendors and give a link to their website. It will also show you if any other folks have the plant for trade. You can click there to see if anyone has it and maybe d-mail them to ask if they are interested in a trade!
daisylovn Wilmer, AL (Zone 8b) October 27, 2009 01:38 PM	I just love you Girls.. Off to find me some Oxalis...
plantladylin East Central, FL (Zone 9b) October 27, 2009 01:41 PM	Daisy: Not only are plants addictive but DG is also!
trinawitch Canton, IL (Zone 5b) October 27, 2009 04:01 PM	well daisy you never said you wanted oxalis or I would have put some in your box!
daisylovn Wilmer, AL (Zone 8b) October 27, 2009 04:10 PM	lol Trina, That is because I just discovered oxalis today!! Trust me, I will have another list for you before long.. I just like 5 minutes ago went through your "haves" list and got utterly excited all over again. I'm just a JUNKIE!!
3jsmom31 zone 6a, KY October 27, 2009 05:53 PM	trinawitch? Which oxalis do you have? I have triangularis and the green leaf one that looks just like it with white flowers. I am trying to find a couple other varieties. Do you need either one?
trinawitch Canton, IL (Zone 5b) October 27, 2009 10:09 PM	I have the oxalis tri..whatever the purple one and Iron cross...I was trying to be smart but stupid took over...LOL
Plants4myPots Providence, RI October 28, 2009 09:07 AM	Oh, boy... I'm gonna hafta start keeping a list to send you Trina, for as soon as I can pay for more shipping! :)
trinawitch Canton, IL (Zone 5b) October 28, 2009 02:42 PM	LOL Plants...yeah the shipping here gets out of hand, But then again my plants are nothing compared to his carparts...LOL
daisylovn Wilmer, AL (Zone 8b) October 28, 2009 02:46 PM	hahaha!! Trina, Don't forget I'm preparing my next list for you.. Tho' I'm happy to send you shipping in advance... You have so much to choose from!!! I'm so excited about all the new plants I have coming, Should be here any day.. Also I keep thinking about my babies that I shipped out.. I just hope they are doing well. This message was edited Oct 28, 2009 12:47 PM
trinawitch Canton, IL (Zone 5b) October 28, 2009 08:21 PM	should be here tomorrow i would think

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