Planting it in your garden where there is 6 to 8 hours of sunlight daily will help it to grow faster. Can’t miss the brilliant foliage and color. Got to know more about Moses in the Cradle plant. You may also find that an established plant grows side shoots that can be removed and repotted. Plant it in an area that is partly shady, only receiving 2 or 3 hours of direct sunlight each day. Very low maintenance. Oyster Plant, Moses-In-The-Cradle Indoors (Tradescantia spathacea) Join the Club to Manage Your Garden Plant Details; Basic Care Instructions; Detailed Care Instructions; Features. Rhoeo is a common border or edging plant in tropical or subtropical gardens. When in active growth with standard liquid fertilizer (monthly), spikes or granules (2 to 3 monthly). It will irritate your lips, tongue and throat as well as cause pain in your mouth and stomach. It will form a clump, but lacks the stolons that other Tradescantia use to spread rapidly across the ground. As an adult, I thought that maybe she had been pulling my leg. The plant thrives with regular watering, but keeping the soil too wet can encourage disease problems, such as root rot. Each leaf is 3 inches wide and 12 inches long. The recommended time to do this is during the spring, because it is the time when the plant starts to intensively grow. Alternatively, the bracts also resemble boats, giving the plant its other nickname, Boat Lily. USDA hardiness zones 9a to 11b: from 20 °F (−6.7 °C) to 50 °F (+10 °C).. How to Grow and Care. Moses in the cradle is hardy in zones 9 – 12 where it can be grown outside. Bring it back indoors in the fall when nighttime temperatures fall to 60⁰F. Using a sharp knife, cut the offsets that have roots from the parent plant. The leaves can grow to a length of about 12 to 18 inches (30.5 to 76 cm) and are approximately 3 inches (7.6 cm) wide at their widest point. Seed is difficult to come by and since most of us grow ours indoors, the flowers will not be pollinated so no seeds will be produced by our plants. The cultivar "Variegata" has leaves with white and pink stripes. The top 1 – 2 inches of soil should be dry before you water it again. Moses in the Cradle (Tradescantia spathacea) There are two proven ways how Moses in the Cradle (Tradescantia Spathacea) can easily be propagated: through plant division or stem cuttings . Moses in the cradle (Tradescantia spathacea variegata) aka Moses in a boat is a favorite houseplant known for its eye-catching foliage. Drought tolerant once established Rhoeo do not like frost prone positions. But if you have pooches that like to go garden diving, perhaps this is not the plant for you. As a child, when I asked her what the various plants were called, very often she would say something crazy like “Moses in the Cradle”. This plant grows steadily into a clump, eventually covering a large area if left to its devices. Gardeners value the plant for its attractive, sword … It is often grown in hanging baskets or used as a border plant. To divide your plant, carefully remove it from its pot. Moses in the cradle reproduces both by seed and offsets. Another method is to make leaf rootings, by putting leaves in water until roots form before potting up … Nice article Caren. The only thing that really bothers it is the cold. You can move your plant outdoors in the spring when nighttime temperatures are consistently above 60⁰F. It will sometimes attract mealybug as well, but this is largely seasonal and not a major issue if treated. Depending on where you live, you may call this plant moses-in-the-cradle, moses-in-a-basket, boat lily and oyster plant. Moses in the Cradle plants are considered toxic to humans and pets. Variegated Moses In The Cradle features showy cymes of white flowers with purple bracts at the ends of the stems from early spring to late winter. This is a drought tolerant plant so allow it to dry out slightly between waterings. Moses in the Cradle can be grown outdoors in tropical areas. Moses-in-the-cradle’s scientific name was originally Rhoeo discolour, then Rhoeo spathacea and it is now Tradescantia spathacea. It prefers well-drained or even rocky soil. It can cause contact dermatitis when in contact with bare skin and is highly irritating if eaten. Use pieces of stem 4-6″ in length with at least three leaves on each piece. It’s tough and adaptable, suitable for full sun or part shade, across a range of soil types. When grown outdoors, this plant does not require fertilizer. Plant, water and ignore. Variegata, also called Tricolor, has leaves that are striped with white and pink. Sometimes called boatlily and oysterplant, Moses-in-the-cradle (Tradescantia spathacea) is a succulent perennial plant noted for its burgundy and bluish-green foliage. Always wear gloves when handling this plant. It is a drought tolerant plant so if you forget to water, it’s okay. New bought or recently repotted plants don’t need to be fed for the first year. Moses in the Cradle Plant Propagation There are two different ways to propagate your Moses in the Cradle. Rhoeo can also sometimes cause skin irritation in humans as well. The unique leaves are sword-shaped with tri-color tops of green, pink and cream and rich purple, glossy undersides. The Moses in the cradle is very easy to plant and to grow and has much to offer. Tradescantia spathacea. She has been associated with Rutgers Gardens for over a decade. The cultivar "Vittata" has yellow stripes on the leaves. 8AM - 4PM     |     Moses In The Cradle. Offsets are basically clones of the parent plant that develop around the perimeter of the parent plant. The leaves are dark shiny green on top and shiny purple on the underside. There are various cultivars of Rhoeo, the most popular being the dwarf purple form. Easy to care for. Green leaved Moses-in-the-Cradle also grows good if placed light shaded. Vittata has yellow stripes on the leaves. 174 Dowding St Oxley, Brisbane, OPEN 7 DAYS   |   174 Dowding St. Oxley, Brisbane. Native to Central America and hardy in USDA zones 9 through 12, the plant cannot tolerate cold temperatures and is typically grown as a houseplant in most of the United States. Produces small white flowers at the base of the leaves that are protected by two cup-like bracts. Rhoeo (Moses-in-the-Cradle) Tradescantia spathacea Synonyms: Ephemerum bicolor, Tradescantia discolor, Tradescantia versicolor, Rhoeo spathacea, Rhoeo discolor, Spiderwort, Boat Lily. It needs to be planted in areas where there is maximum sunlight. It is not considered invasive because although it is not native to those areas, it has not spread enough to actually displace the native plants. LOCATION: Prefers a full sun to part shade position.Plant in free draining soil rich in organic matter. Average, well-drained to dry soil is fine. His work forever changed the face of those urban neighborhoods. If you are looking for the easiest way to propagate this beautiful plant, you should go for plant division. The fruit is not ornamentally significant. Because it spreads so readily, it also makes a good ground cover. Tradescantia spathacea is very easy to root in soil or water, making it a fun plant to propagate. This isn’t usually a big issue as dogs aren’t interested in the plant. Its colourful foliage makes it a useful plant for adding foliage contrast around the garden. Use a well-drained potting soil. Rhoeo, including Rhoeo discolor and Rhoeo spathacea, is a plant of many names. LOCATION: Prefers a part shade position to hold its colour better. Think Robert Moses and what his designs did to countless neighborhoods in New York. Whatever you call it, Rhoeo makes an excellent and fast growing ground cover in the garden. OPEN 7 DAYS     |     It is often grown in hanging baskets or used as a border plant. The Moses in the cradle plant usually has at least eight-to-ten upright sword-shaped leaves that are arranged in an alternating radial pattern from the base of the plant. My mother had a lot of houseplants. 123k members in the plants community. Common name(s): Moses-in-the-Cradle; Family: Commelinaceae; Stem cuttings: yes; Leaf cuttings: no; Root cuttings/runners: no; Time: the year round Others include Stripe-Me-Pink (dwarf varigated), vittata variegata (yellow variegated) and ‘Gold’ (all yellow). Literally can go with out water for several weeks. It is not frost tolerant and also becomes prone to rotting off if kept too wet in winter. Too much water can cause root rot. USE IN Great as a ground-cover for dry areas and rockeries.Suitable as a patio plant in small containers. I guess the upside of that was people like Jane Jacobs, who woke us up to the loss such destruction could cause on a long-term basis. The Moses-in-the-cradle plant (Tradescantia spathacea) gets its interesting name from its flowers, which are small and white, and sit in a special leaf, called a bract, which resembles a dark purple boat. Moses in the cradle is hardy in zones 9 – 12 where it can be grown outside. Rhoeo ‘Moses in a Cradle’ Rhoeo spathacea or ‘ Moses in a Cradle’ and Rhoeo discolor compacta are two of the species for sale, both are a low growing clump forming foliage plant grown widely in tropical and sub tropical areas as a ground cover plant. There are two cultivars that offer more color in the leaves. Turns out, she wasn’t. The leaves are glossy and green with distinctly purple undersides. DESCRIPTION: Twist on the old favourite with white and pink striped rosettes of sword-shaped leaves, bright purple on the reverse.Compact habit and spreading nature. Fertilize with a slow release fertilizer such as Troforte. Will not tolerate frost. A beautiful rosette of spiky foliage that adds great texture and color to any room. Fortunately, this plant has another way to reproduce: offsets. They are tiny and some say resemble a baby. Moses-in-the-cradle propagation is by stem cuttings, root division, or seeds. The white flowers are barely noticeable. Since then, it has become naturalized in tropical areas of the US such as Florida, Louisiana, Texas and Hawaii. Culture: Moses-in-the-cradle can grow just about anywhere, from full sun to full shade, although it seems to prefer light shade. How to Care for a Moses Plant. Read more about this plant in the Popular Houseplant section of the website. Moses-in-the-cradle, also known as oyster plant, Moses-in-a-boat or Moses-in-the-bullrushes, is an herbaceous perennial with a dense, spreading growth habit. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Rhoeo spathacea 'Stripe Me Pink'- Moses in the cradle. Tradescantia spathacea. Organically grown in my backyard. Rhoeo does best in part sun on rich well-drained soils. Whatever you want to call them, these colorful plants, native to Mexico, the West Indies, and Central America, are easy to care for and have very attractive leaves. I understand Oxley Nursery does not offer postage on this item. Propagate by seed or by dividing the offsets. If you are beginner/traveller / forgetful person, this is a great plant for you. Hardiness. Moses in the Cradle Plants are easily propagated using stem clippings. Do not eat this plant. You should stop fertilizing in the fall and winter when the plant is resting. Moses in the cradle (Tradescantia spathacea) is a beautiful tropical plant that is native to Central America. Moses-in-the-cradle is a perennial clumping plant native to southern Mexico, and Central America, and grows to approximately 30 cm (11.8 inches). What makes Moses in the cradle especially attractive is its foliage. Landscape Attributes. They grow at the base of the rosette in bracts which some liken to a cradle giving it its name Moses in the cradle. There are several methods of propagation, easiest is to divide a clump, or you could sow some of the seeds, keeping them warm during germination which takes between 2 weeks and 2 months to take place. The upright position enables you to … In any case, it’s very easy to propagate any type of Tradescantia. Although a member of the Commeliaceae (Spiderworts), Rhoeo is NOT invasive like many of its relatives. Moses in the Cradle plants (Tradescantia spathacea) have many alternative names such as Moses-in-a-Boat, Boat Lily, Cradle Lily, Moses-in-the-Bullrushes, and Oyster plant. If you like, you can feed it once a year in the spring with a balanced fertilizer such 10-10-10. Caren White is a Master Gardener and instructor at Home Gardeners School. Plant it in an area that is partly shady, only receiving 2 or 3 hours of direct sunlight each day. Replant the parent plant into its pot with fresh soil and then replant your offsets into their own pots. Rhoeo Dwarf - cradle of Moses or Moses in the cradle APPEARANCE: Intensely coloured deep-purple and green foliage with a compact growth habit and spreading nature. Its sword-like leaves remain dark green in color with prominent white stripes and tinges of purple throughout the year. Moses-in-the-Cradle plants are originated in Belize, Guatemala, and regions of southern Mexico, such as Tabasco, Chiapas, and the Yucatan Peninsula. Trees and Shrubs. When you do water, allow the soil to dry out between waterings. Plan on fertilizing monthly during the spring and summer using a balanced fertilizer such as 10-10-10. Because it spreads so readily, it also makes a good ground cover. Queensland Wet Tropics Region : Evergreen clumping plant to 0.5m. It can cause contact dermatitis which is a rash on your skin. The sap is poisonous. Fleshy lance shaped leaves to 30cm emerge from a short trunk. Each offset is capable of growing into a completely separate plant. They grow in a rosette. However, like all members of the family, Rhoeo can cause skin irritation in dogs. A place to share pictures and discuss growing, maintaining, and propagating houseplants and outdoor decorative … The easiest way to propagate a Moses plant is by cutting stems or dividing the roots. Rhoeo is a common border or edging plant in tropical or subtropical gardens. Common name(s): oyster plant, Moses in the Cradle Family: Commelinaceae Plant type: perennial; herbaceous USDA hardiness zones: 9B through 11 (Fig. Tradescantia spathacea, usually known as Moses-in-the-Cradle, Boat Lily, Cradle Lily, Oyster plant, or the Bloaty, is a species of herbs in the Commelinaceae family. As a child, I accepted it. Tradescantias do best in partial shade but will do equally well in sunny areas as long as the soil is kept moist. Growing Tradescantia is easy, and you will find the plants to be quite resilient.These plants typically grow in moist, well-drained and acidic (pH 5 to 6) soil. Root division: all you need to do is simply remove some stems at the roots and plant them in a separate pot. The flowers grow at the base of the leaves in bracts that look like tiny boats. Gardeners in zones colder than 9, grow this lovely plant as a houseplant. It was discovered by Europeans in 1788. It’s tough and adaptable, suitable for full sun or part shade, across a range of soil types. If you wish to move it outdoors during the summer, make sure it is in partial shade with only 2 or 3 hours of direct sunlight each day. As mentioned, Rhoeo is very tough and easy to grow. There are small white flowers in boat shaped structure and seeds in a papery capsule. USE IN: Great as a ground-cover for dry areas and rockeries.Suitable as a patio plant in small containers. Moses in the Cradle Toxicity. Indoors, you can keep this plant in a sunny room. You can plant the cuttings directly into the soil. Does not suffer any major pest issues but is vulnerable to rot if kept too wet over winter. You will need to fertilize more often than if you grew this outdoors because when it is in a container, each time you water, nutrients are leached out of the soil. Fun plant to 0.5m a baby cultivars that offer more color in the especially! 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