As the name implies, the purple heart plants have striking, deep royal purple foliage that gives rise to beautiful violet-pink blooms.
The lance-shaped leaves are anchored by stems with a deep royal blue appearance- certainly giving a pleasant touch to just about any garden.
Purple Heart was formerly known as Setcreasea pallida in 1911. However, the botanical classification was later changed to genus Tradescantia by D.R. Hunt of theRoyal Botanic Garden Kewin 1975.
Purple Heart Plant Care
Curious about how you can better take care of Tradescantia pallida? Sit back for a while and let Plantly guide you through the steps for its proper cultivation and needs. Enjoy!
Purple Heart Plants Soil
Adequate soil moisture, a porous structure, and a pH between 6-8 are ideal for optimum growth. Most commercial potting mixes allow the plant to grow favorably, but including perlite, peat moss, and some compost goes a long way.
Generally, a soil structure with good drainage is a must-have when growing purple hearts.
The Right Amount of Light
Allowing purple heart plant to grow under full sun ensure vibrant purple leaves and stem. As outdoor plants, they are suitable for growing conditions receiving ample light.
Nevertheless, it would help if you ensured that the direct sunlight isn’t too much that it causes foliage burn. We certainly don’t want that!
When grown as a house plant, you can place the purple heart in a spot receiving as much light, but this hardy perennial can also tolerate partial shade. Consider using a hanging basket for it to bask in the light.
Watering Purple Heart Plant
The purple heart, also known as purple queen, is a well-considered drought-tolerant species. So, you’ve guessed right, they do not like overwatering! When overwatered, it can lead to root rot.
Wait until the top layer of the soil dries at an inch, but do not allow them to sit unwatered for longer. However, when tending to younger plants, remember they need more watering.
This also applies during the blooming season. Another interesting thing is that they can grow outdoors as ground cover needing minimal watering.
The Ideal Temperature
This tough plant can thrive in a wide range of temperatures, but it would be best to have them settled in a normal temperature ranging from 60 to 70 °F during the day, and 50 to 55 °F at night. Exposure to extreme heat must be avoided especially if the purple heart plants will be placed in outdoor gardens.
Known as a hardy perennial, purple heart tradescantia flaunts their adorable foliage in a garden year-round even if they are grown indoors, either in a small decorative container or hanging baskets.
Maintaining a Good Level of Humidity
Purple hearts can benefit from an average humidity of 40 to 50 % as indoor plants, as dry air makes the leaves appear limp and affects new growth.
Yet consider it a relief that a humid environment is easily maintained with a humidifier or by simply placing them on the spot with bright light and a fair level of air moisture – such as in the bathroom or kitchen. Phew!
Water Soluble Fertilizer
Tradescantia pallida generally don’t require the use of fertilizer. But if you want to give them extra TLC, water-soluble or liquid fertilizer is a go-to as it promotes healthier plants. The growing season is a critical period for a purple heart plant, and one can never go wrong in supplementing it with enough nutrients so it can thrive and increase well.
Propating Purple Heart Plant
Cuttings quickly propagate this creeping perennial. Having an aggressive root system, one can easily place the cuttings in any moist potting mix, and it would eventually develop roots. Wood chips incorporated in the soil are an excellent propagation medium.
Cut a three to a six-inch piece of cutting from a healthy plant. The cutting needs to have at least one node present.
Remove the lower leaves and leave the top stem tips leaves in place.
Dip the cut end into a rooting hormone, place it in a soilless potting medium, and water until moist.
Place your plant cutting in bright light but not direct sun, and water regularly when the top surface is dry.
In a few weeks, you will notice roots developing, and you can transplant them to a larger container, or they can be grown outdoors.
Cuttings may also be placed in water until roots growing are observed, and a rooting hormone can hasten this. The plant is also propagated from seed, which usually takes time and is often unavailable.
The Most Suitable Growth Zone
These plants are pretty hardy in temperate regions. While frost may hamper the top growth, the plants can easily resprout from the roots, usually in the early spring.
This plant from the spiderwort family, especially those in the north, may become a bit winter hardy and thus survive in USDA hardiness zones between 7 to 10.
When’s the Best Time for Potting and Pruning?
In time, this plant’s trailing stems need some trimming to maintain their compact growth. Regular trimming allows new growth as they tend to form dense groundcovers. Use sharp scissors to cut plants beginning from the top half of their overgrowth.
So, for most plant species, you can remove the tips to form new stem tips and grow them as wall plantings.
Purple hearts do not need frequent repotting, given their relatively fair size. This, among other characteristics, makes them great indoor plants.
Purple Heart Plant Varieties and Similar Plants
Genus tradescantia offers a wide variation of foliage patterns and flowers. You’ll be amazed to see how these other plants have their own unique share of the spectacle attributed to their species.
Here are some of the most common varieties to marvel at:
T. zebrina ‘Burgundy’
Tradescantia zebrina ‘Burgundy’ @hq
Able to show off different kinds of colors in different lighting and growth stages, this variety certainly deserves our attention with its pronounced stripes and Fuschia undersides. This incredibly attractive plant prefers bright indirect light and a little dryness in between watering.
T. fluminensis ‘Lavender’
Reverted green stems with white to purple variegated leaves are a known characteristic of this plant. When grown indoors, be sure to provide bright filtered light. Unlike most tradescantia species, these plants prefer not to dry out in between watering.
Avoid prolonging a dry soil condition, and the plant will surely thank you with its fresh vibrant foliage.
T. albiflora albovitatta
This easy-to-grow plant has large blue-green leaves with distinct white stripes and edges. Easy to pot with sufficient drainage holes, it thrives from full sun to partial shade. Grows at about 6-8 inches tall, they can be used as ground cover and may spread up to 2 feet.
Purple Heart Plant Diseases & Pests
Purple hearts are quite hardy in nature, but some insects may threaten them such as scales, aphids, and mealybugs. Vibrant and healthy foliage may also attract some borers and chewing insects like caterpillars, but they can be easily controlled either by hand or by using natural insect repellents.
You may also want to pay attention to the surroundings of your purple hearts, as some symptoms may be relative to their growing condition. For example, brown leaf tips may be caused by dry air.
As an avid botanist and horticulture enthusiast with a deep passion for ornamental plants, especially those within the Tradescantia genus, I can confidently provide extensive knowledge about the purple heart plant (Tradescantia pallida) and its care requirements.
The purple heart plant, scientifically known as Tradescantia pallida, is renowned for its striking royal purple foliage and violet-pink blooms. Initially classified as Setcreasea pallida in 1911, its taxonomic designation was revised by D.R. Hunt of the Royal Botanic Garden Kew in 1975, reclassifying it under the genus Tradescantia.
Let's delve into the key concepts and care instructions outlined in the provided article:
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Soil Requirements: Purple heart plants thrive in well-draining soil with adequate moisture and a pH between 6-8. Commercial potting mixes with added perlite, peat moss, and compost are beneficial for optimum growth.
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Light: These plants prefer full sun to showcase their vibrant purple foliage but should be protected from excessive direct sunlight to avoid foliage burn. They can also tolerate partial shade when cultivated indoors.
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Watering: Tradescantia pallida is drought-tolerant and susceptible to root rot if overwatered. Water when the top inch of soil is dry, but ensure it's not left parched for too long, especially for younger plants and during the blooming season.
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Temperature: Thriving in a wide temperature range, these plants prefer temperatures between 60 to 70 °F during the day and 50 to 55 °F at night. They should be shielded from extreme heat, especially when grown outdoors.
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Humidity: Maintaining 40-50% humidity is ideal for indoor plants. Using a humidifier or placing the plant in areas with adequate moisture, such as bathrooms or kitchens, helps prevent limp leaves and encourages healthy growth.
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Fertilization: While not highly demanding, water-soluble or liquid fertilizers can be used during the growing season to enhance plant health and growth.
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Propagation: Tradescantia pallida is easily propagated via cuttings. A cutting with at least one node can be placed in a moist potting mix or water until roots develop. Rooting hormone can expedite this process.
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Growth Zones: Hardy in temperate regions (USDA hardiness zones 7-10), these plants can resprout from roots after frost damage.
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Pruning and Potting: Regular pruning helps maintain compact growth. Infrequent repotting due to their fair size makes them suitable for indoor cultivation.
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Varieties and Similar Plants: The Tradescantia genus offers various species with different foliage patterns and colors, such as T. zebrina ‘Burgundy,’ T. fluminensis ‘Lavender,’ and T. albiflora albovitatta, each with unique care requirements.
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Diseases and Pests: While hardy, purple heart plants may encounter pests like scales, aphids, and mealybugs. Dry air can lead to issues like brown leaf tips.
This comprehensive overview highlights the nuances of caring for Tradescantia pallida, enabling enthusiasts to cultivate and appreciate these beautiful plants while ensuring their optimal health and growth.
