What Is This Houseplant? (Tradescantia spathacea)

attosa
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September 12, 20170 found this helpful

Looks like a Moses in the Cradle. It requires very little care or maintenance and will thrive if planted in a suitably bright, sheltered location. However, it does benefit from regular feeding during the summer to encourage abundant foliage growth and a healthy, productive root system.

cybergrannie
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September 13, 20170 found this helpful

You are right about these being pretty plants. It is known by several names but mainly oyster plant, Moses in the cradle/Moses-in-a-basket.

• These can be grown outside in zones 9 - 11 but make great attention getting houseplants.
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• The biggest problem with growing these as houseplants seems to be over watering. Just be sure your plant is in a pot with excellent drainage and does not sit in a saucer.
• These plants like high humidity. Place your plant on a tray of wet pebbles but be sure the plant is sitting on the pebbles and not in the water.
• Moses in the Cradle houseplants need very bright light for at least 6-8 hours a day (not direct sun).
• Always allow the top inch or two of soil to dry out before watering.

Here are a couple of links that will give you complete care instructions as they do sometimes have disease problems but ones that are easily corrected.

www.hunker.com/.../plant-care-for-moses-in-the-cradle

www.houseplant411.com/.../moses-in-the-cradle-plant-how-to...

Catherine
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September 18, 20170 found this helpful

I could also be, and I think it is, a cordyline, possibly cordyline fruticosa.