--- title: "How to Water Your Tradescantia Plant" description: "Learn how to properly water your Tradescantia (Tradescantia fluminensis). Discover how to check soil moisture, master top watering, bottom watering, and water baths." url: "https://getplanta.com/discover/watering/tradescantiafluminensis" published: "2025-11-20T08:44:35.110Z" modified: "2026-10-06T10:02:47.542Z" author: "Planta" image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/public/content/FjMBqY5OTsuW2cZkXzwnvQ.webp?size=large" --- # How to Water Your Tradescantia Plant ## How to water Feel the soil: it should be a bit moist but not wet when watering your Tradescantia tricolor again. Squeeze a bit of soil between your fingers - if water seeps out it’s still wet. There are several ways to water Tradescantia fluminensis - they aren’t very picky. **If the soil is wet - snooze this action, we will remind you again in 2 days.** ![](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/public/content/FjMBqY5OTsuW2cZkXzwnvQ.webp?size=large) ## Water over the soil 1. Pour water over the soil, using, for example, a watering can or put the plant directly under a tap 2. Continue adding water to the pot until it starts to run out from the drainage holes 3. If you have a tray under the pot when watering, make sure you remove all the collected water afterwards - never let your plant sit in water 4. If you watered under a tap make sure that water has stopped running out from the bottom before putting it back > Tradescantia fluminensis loves the perfect balance between wet and dry soil. They don’t like to dry out completely and they don’t want to be overwatered. > — Planta tip ![](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/public/content/ArTzQEgbTy20tZxVO2s5Fg.webp?size=large) ## Bottom watering 1. Fill the plant tray with water 2. Make sure the soil is in contact with the water on the tray 3. Wait for about 10 minutes 4. Feel the soil to see if it absorbed enough water —> if the soil is moist throughout, remove any excess water from the tray 5. If it’s still dry —> add more water to the tray 6. Wait 20 more minutes before removing the excess ### Note Bottom watering will not wash away salts and other minerals from the soil, so make sure to also give water over the soil every now and then. ## Water bath 1. Fill a bucket or any other vessel with lukewarm water 2. Lower the whole pot down in the water, stop where the stem of the plant starts. Make sure all of the soil is under water 3. The water will now start to bubble - wait until it stopped 4. Lift the pot up and let the excess drain off 5. Put your plant back in the cachepot or on the tray 6. After 1 hour, check that your plant isn’t standing in water, if it is it might get overwatered and rot > Even if Tradescantia fluminensis loves water, they don’t like to live in wet soil, so make sure that it is planted in a pot with excellent drainage. > — Planta tip ## Domande frequenti ### How do I know when my Tradescantia needs watering? You can tell your Tradescantia (Tradescantia fluminensis) needs watering by feeling its soil. It should be slightly moist but not wet; if water seeps out when you squeeze it, it's still too wet. ### What is bottom watering for Tradescantia plants? Bottom watering involves placing the plant's pot in a tray filled with water, allowing the soil to absorb moisture from the bottom. You should let it sit for about 10 minutes, checking the soil's moisture, and repeating if needed before removing any excess water. ### Can Tradescantia sit in water after watering? No, Tradescantia should not sit in standing water after being watered. Always remove any excess water from the drainage tray or cachepot to prevent overwatering and rot. ### What is a 'water bath' for watering a Tradescantia? A water bath involves submerging the entire pot of your Tradescantia in a bucket of lukewarm water until all soil is underwater and bubbles stop. After bubbling ceases, lift the pot, let it drain completely, and ensure no standing water remains after an hour. ### Do Tradescantia plants like to dry out completely between waterings? No, Tradescantia fluminensis does not like to dry out completely between waterings. They prefer a balance of moist and dry soil, so the soil should remain a bit moist when it's time to water again. ### Why should I sometimes water my Tradescantia from above, even if I bottom water? Watering your Tradescantia from above occasionally helps wash away accumulated salts and other minerals from the soil. Bottom watering alone does not rinse these away. ## How to Water a Tradescantia Over the Soil 1. Pour water over the soil, using a watering can or placing the plant directly under a tap. 2. Continue adding water to the pot until it starts to run out from the drainage holes. 3. If you have a tray under the pot, make sure to remove all collected water afterwards; never let your plant sit in water. 4. If you watered under a tap, ensure that water has stopped running out from the bottom before putting it back. --- _Planta (https://getplanta.com), l'app per la cura delle piante per iOS e Android. Scarica l'app: https://getplanta.com/download_