Wondering about growing and propogating purple wandering Jews....
@artsyfartsygal (121)
United States
March 18, 2010 8:07am CST
Good morning~ I've wanted a purple wandering Jew for a really long time and finally have one! I'm very happy about it. It's such a pretty plant.
If I cut off pieces of the plant, will they root fairly easily? Will cutting encourage growth or not necessarily? The plant is fairly healthy, so it doesn't really have to be pruned...but I'm interested in encouraging growth and starting new plants. Is spring the only time to do this? Or can you do this also in the fall?
Let me know what you know about growing and propogating these lovely plants.
Thanks very much!
Have a great day!
2 responses
@sleepylittlerose (1648)
• United States
20 Mar 10
It is very possible that you have a purple wander jew. These plants do propogate pretty easily. The best way to start a cutting is to either float it in water or use a rooting hormone to get the roots started. You should have roots started before potting it or it is possible that the piece will rot before you get it to take hold. Word of warning if you do float your cutting in water, make sure that you pot it after the roots reach 1-2 inches. You do not want it to become root bound in your floating container.
@artsyfartsygal (121)
• United States
20 Mar 10
Thanks very much, sleepy, little rose! That's great! Thanks!
@TrashQueen (107)
• United States
19 Mar 10
Now sure you are really talking about a Wandering Jew. If it's purple, I think you are talking about the Moses in a Cradle. It has long slim, purple leaves & the flower on it is a little boat shaped pod with white flowers in the pod. Hence the Moses in a Cradle.
Yes, they propagate extremely easily. They become weed like in their desire to take over the yard.
I don't do anything at all to mine to get them to spread, but if you want to do it on purpose, then lay the plant on the ground & cover it lightly with soil. It will take off. Or you can pile dirt around the stem & it will set new roots. Then you can cut the rooted segments & plant them separately.
@artsyfartsygal (121)
• United States
19 Mar 10
Hi, TrashQueen~
Thank you for your reply. I thought I at least kind of knew what I was talking about; but now, I'm so confused. I went online to look for Moses in a Cradle and purple wandering Jew. I found a picture of a green wandering Jew online, and it looked like my plant (only without the purple in it). But sometimes, when I look for purple wandering Jew online, it leads me to something else which might be Moses in a Cradle, but I'm not sure. I looked up Moses in a Cradle, and it looked different from my plant. I don't think that my plant will have flowers...I don't think so, at least. And it looks different form the Moses in a Cradle. This is a houseplant. However, I'm glad to learn also about the Moses in a Cradle, as I might be able to use something like that in the yard to cover some ground.
Are you able to help me out with the difference between a Moses in a Cradle and a purple wandering Jew? I think perhaps what I have is a purple wandering Jew...I think....
Thanks for your help!
~thepianoladie, aka, artsyfartsygal
