Spiderwort is considered mildly toxic to humans and pets.
Spiderwort Care
Here are the basic steps to successfully growing spiderwort.
Light
Spiderwort is not overly picky about available sunlight.
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
However, frequent summer storms will provide enough rain to keep your spiderwort plants happy.
Temperature and Humidity
Spiderwort is not fussy when it comes to its temperature and humidity conditions.
They include:
Pruning
Spiderwort can look ragged after its bloom period is over.
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Shearing the plant in mid-season also prevents spiderwort from self-sowing and becoming weedy.
Tips
Spiderwort can grow in water indoors.
To do so, find a stem with root nubs or leaf nodes that are waiting to grow.
Add a few of these stems to a jar of water and watch them quickly sprout.
Keep in water or transplant to the soil when roots grow if desired.
Certain spiderwort plants, such asTradescantia zebrina,are grown as virtuallycarefree houseplantsfor their foliage.
Those types of spiderwort plants look best inhanging containersnear indirect light.
Pinch the plant regularly for bushy growth and pick out the dead leaves as they appear.
The plant will likely last a few years indoors so you probably won’t need to repot spiderwort.
Common Pests and Plant Diseases
Spiderwort does not attract many pests or diseases.
However, be on the lookout forspider mites.
Spiderwort does not like soggy soil and may respond with root rot andleaf spot problemsfrom fungal growth.
What Do Spiderwort Flowers Look and Smell Like?
Spiderwort is a small indigo-blue or lavender flower with three petals.
Spiderwort flowers form in clusters.
They have a subtle, sweet scent.
It’s unlikely this plant will fail to bloom.
However, take note of the following problems.
Curling, Drooping, or Yellowing Leaves
Foliage problems usually occur from overwatering.
Spiderwort is sensitive to soggy conditions.
Overwatering will lead toroot rotand damage to leaves, as well.
Browning or Limp Leaves
This is the opposite problem where the plant is not getting enough water.
Give the spiderwort a good soaking to revive it.
Leaves Falling Over or Severly Drooping
Spiderwort plants are not very strong upright plants.
Spiderwort grows in both sun and partially shady conditions.
However, give the plant more sunlight for the best blooms.
The plant is considered invasive in some parts of the country and they tend to self-sow enthusiastically.
Cut back spiderwort in the summer after it finishes blooming and begins to look tattered.
This will refresh and coax the plant into a second flush of flowers.
Tradescantia.North Carolina State Extension.
Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants: Inch Plant.
White-flowered spiderwort.Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States.
