Spiderwort ( Tradescantia)is a charming , old - fashioned industrial plant that should be get more often than it is . The plant is native to woodland areas and thrives in moist , humus - plenteous soil . It blossom better in partial shade , although it grows in full sun as long as the soil is moist .
Spiderwort develop 1 to 3 animal foot tall , with longsighted , strap - like leaf , similar to daylilies . It get lovely , simple-minded flowers in blue , violet , pinkish or deep red . The blooms appear in the good morning and last only one day , closing by tardy good afternoon . Blooms look in other - to - mid summer ; bloom time is 4 to 6 calendar week .
How did this beautiful plant come by its name ? There are several hypothesis . The sap from the plant was known as a remedy for spider bites . The dangle flowers may resemble spiders to some . Also , the sepals of the flowers are covered with glitter hairs , which resemble spider web , especially when encompass with dew . Take your pickaxe .
Spiderwort Propagation
The dewy-eyed way to propagate spiderwort is by using nursery plants or lease a plant from a friend . Spiderwort spreads quickly through underground contrabandist so once you have an set up plant , you could get many more through divisions .
you could also grow spiderwort from seed . Plant the come outdoors in the fall . Prepare the soil by travail compost or manure into it to a deepness of 8 inches . graze the soil so it ’s even and plant the semen 1/8 in abstruse .
If you want to start seeds indoors , you ’ll take to allow a cold menstruation to break dormancy . Mix Baroness Dudevant and perlite in a plastic old bag . Add 1 tablespoon live piss and mix thoroughly . Mix the seeds with the sand variety and storehouse in the refrigerator for up to 4 calendar month . polish off the bag from the icebox 8 weeks before the last frost . satisfy a seed - starting tray with a starter mix . Spread the George Sand admixture equally over the starter mixing . Spray the seed tray with pee from a spray bottle and cover it with shaping wrap . Place the tray in a warm location and spray it as needed to keep the mixture evenly moist . Once the seedlings emerge , remove the plastic wrap and move the tray to a sunny windowpane or put it under grow lights . retain to water as necessitate . Transplant the seedlings outdoors when they stick out 4 in high .
Growing Spiderwort
There is n’t much to spring up spiderwort . It choose moist but not soggy soil . use a balanced fertilizer in the leap before new growth emerges , but do n’t overfertilize dayflower , which causes weak , lank growth and few blooms .
Once established , dayflower diffuse quickly . It can become invasive if planted in a mixed bed . Give it its own space , if possible , and divide it every 3 or 4 years to keep it under ascendancy . In mid - summer , the plant sometimes becomes messy and unruly . Cut it back after it bloom to keep it goodish and encourage another stave of efflorescence .
Spiderwort can also be produce indoors or in containers if you miss garden space . Grow it by itself in a magnanimous container near a bright , sunny windowpane .
The industrial plant has few insect or disease trouble , although it may now and then be taint with rust or powdery mildew . Space dayflower so air circulates freely and nullify experience the leaf wet to preclude most problem . Cats and dogs wish to play in it and sheep and cervid may graze on it .
Varieties of Spiderwort
‘ Zwanenberg ‘ is a traditional spiderwort with very large , blue to deep - over-embellished flowers .
‘ scented Kate’is an interesting variety with purple - down flowers and yellow leaves .
‘ Red Cloud’grows 20 inches in high spirits with recondite crimson prime .
‘ Snow Cap’has pure ashen blooms .
‘ Satin Doll’is a summary variety suitable for container culture . It has pink flower .
For more information , chatter the following links :
Spiderwortfrom the University of Illinois
Look Beyond Spiderwort ’s Name for Its Beautyfrom Iowa State University Extension
CC flickr photo by audreyjm529
When she ’s not pen about gardening , food and canning , Julie Christensen savour drop time in her garden , which let in perennial , veggie and yield tree diagram . She ’s write hundreds of gardening articles for the Gardening Channel , Garden Guides and San Francisco Gate , as well as several e - script .
