How to water your Tradescantia tricolor 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 tricolor - they aren’t very picky.

If the soil is wet - snooze this action, we will remind you again in 2 days.

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Water over the soil

Pour water over the soil, using, for example, a watering can or put the plant directly under a tap
Continue adding water to the pot until it starts to run out from the drainage holes
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
If you watered under a tap make sure that water has stopped running out from the bottom before putting it back

Tradescantia tricolor 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

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Bottom watering

Fill the plant tray with water
Make sure the soil is in contact with the water on the tray
Wait for about 10 minutes
Feel the soil to see if it absorbed enough water —> if the soil is moist throughout, remove any excess water from the tray
If it’s still dry —> add more water to the tray
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

Fill a bucket or any other vessel with lukewarm water
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
The water will now start to bubble - wait until it stopped
Lift the pot up and let the excess drain off
Put your plant back in the cachepot or on the tray
After 1 hour, check that your plant isn’t standing in water, if it is it might get overwatered and rot

Even if Tradescantia tricolor 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

Veelgestelde vragen

When should I water my Tradescantia tricolor?

You should water your Tradescantia tricolor when the soil feels a bit moist but not soaking wet. If water seeps out when you squeeze the soil, it's still too wet and doesn't need watering yet.

How do I top water my Tradescantia tricolor?

Pour water over the soil until it begins to run out of the drainage holes. Always remember to remove any collected water from the tray afterwards to prevent your plant from sitting in it.

What is bottom watering and how do I do it for my Tradescantia tricolor?

To bottom water, fill your plant tray with water, ensuring the soil touches the water. Let it soak for about 10 minutes, then check if the soil is moist. If not, add more water for another 20 minutes before removing any excess.

Can I give my Tradescantia tricolor a water bath?

Yes, you can give your Tradescantia tricolor a water bath by submerging the entire pot in lukewarm water until the bubbling stops. Lift the pot to let excess water drain completely, and check again after an hour to ensure no standing water remains.

Is it bad if my Tradescantia tricolor sits in water?

Yes, you should never let your Tradescantia tricolor sit in collected water, whether in a tray or cachepot. This can lead to overwatering and rot, so always ensure proper drainage and remove excess water.

How to water your Tradescantia tricolor

Check the soil; it should feel a bit moist but not wet before you water your Tradescantia tricolor again.

Pour water over the soil, using a watering can or by placing the plant directly under a tap.

Continue adding water until it starts to run out from the drainage holes of the pot.

If you have a tray, remove all collected water afterwards to prevent the plant from sitting in it.

If you watered under a tap, ensure water has stopped running out from the bottom before putting the plant back in its spot.