Tempted by drugstore Tradescantia

Little trads at my local Walgreens. I want to buy one, but I’m worried it will be delicate. I’m not sure what cultivar it is, or how to care for it.

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small_spider_liker [OP]

Yeah, I’m not 100% trusting when the label says tradescantia anymore, since the last one I bought is probably a Callisia, too (pink panther or pink lady, hard to tell).

I’m in the SF Bay Area (CA).

Born-Drama-2324

Show a picture and I will do my best to tell you what one it is. 😀

small_spider_liker [OP]

https://preview.redd.it/h0ko91go52pd1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=82b5a9b78c8f9d65a675db6bc5233084a6de5b87

Uh, here’s a picture of the plant that I took right before I chopped it up and salvaged what I could. It’s doing better now, but it needs more sun and less water than it’s getting. So I want to get it healthy before I go buying more plants I don’t know how to take care of.

I’ll add a good photo of how it’s doing now in a little bit.

Born-Drama-2324

This is Callisia repens Rosato. 😀

TradescantiaHub

It is indeed Callisia repens. Treat it like a succulent - as much full blazing sun as possible and let the soil dry out between waterings. Prune it regularly to keep it bushy. :)

makemeadayy

They like full sun? I always thought it was “bright indirect light”

TradescantiaHub

Bright indirect light is just the default generic recommendation people give for every houseplant, but yeah every Tradescantia and Callisia I've ever grown has done best with full sun. They're succulents!

makemeadayy

Okay I’m going to try that with my pink panther!

Born-Drama-2324

If they're not accustomed to full time direct sunlight, make sure you gradually introduce them to it. 😀

Especially watch lighter colored ones like your pink panther for, basically, sun burns!

Ik someone who took her plants outside about a month ago and accidentally burned her pink panther because it was not accustomed to the sunlight! Needles to say, it's now all chopped up so it could start over! Lol...

I have a Tradescantia Continental Group that has been in direct sunlight for a good portion of the summer but, we had a few days that were a bit sunnier and hotter than typical and well, it has a few patches of yellow sunburns instead of green now... Lol!

But, I agree with Tradescantia Hub, mine seemed to grow better in more direct light than not. My Tradescantia fluminensis Yellow Hill mother plant looks a little more washed out than the 2 month old props I had growing but, besides that I can't complain about how much it grew! ❤️

All my personal experience and I live in Northern Indiana USA for reference of things. 🙂

distressedminnie

woah- is that a labeled plant?!?! like one with the real name?!?! i’d buy it just because it’s actually called something other than “houseplant” or “foliage”

this might be a C.Repens, but either way they’re super resilient & fast growing. they love bright light & bottom watering!

TradescantiaHub

Yes it's labelled - labelled with a species from the wrong genus, and the photo on the label is of a different wrong species from the wrong genus 🤣

Born-Drama-2324

Ik! Gotta love generic labels! 😆 I guess in the labels defense, I know a lot of people still call it small leaf wondering jew or small leaf Tradescantia! 😆

futurarmy

I got a little chuckle outta that lol, fluminensis but pic of a random zebrina at least they tried I guess!

Born-Drama-2324

Agreed! 😆

Bought a Tranescantia mundula 'Lisa' from Walmart labeled as Nanouk from Walmart before, with photo of Nanouk! 😆

Born-Drama-2324

Looks like a Callisia! Or Turtle Vine! ❤️

Curious, where abouts are you located! I need to check my local ones! 😆

Born-Drama-2324

Just checked a local Walgreens near me and they unfortunately did not have anything except for "Fresh Cut Flowers" and said they get plants in typically around holidays. :/

I'm in Northern Indiana.