How to Grow Inch Plants: 7 Tips for Inch Plant Care

The name “inch plants'' refers to a group of trailing succulent plants descended from the Commelinaceae family. They’re native to Mexico, South America, and the Caribbean and are often houseplants outside their homelands. Spiderwort is another common name for the plant grouping.

While inch plant foliage—equal parts leggy and lush—can provide excellent groundcover in an outdoor garden, the plant’s propensity to act like a weed and choke out its neighbors suggests it’s better as an indoor plant. Their long stems make them decent candidates for hanging baskets. Outdoors, their growing season starts in early fall; indoors, it can begin at any point during the year.

There are several different kinds of inch plants, which differ mainly in coloring. Consider these four types:

1. 1. Tradescantia fluminensis: This inch plant produces white flowers on occasion. It also comes in numerous different varieties, some sprouting tricolor and others simply green leaves.
2. 2. Tradescantia nanouk: This pink, green, and white multicolored spiderwort makes for a fitting and beautiful hanging basket plant. Its stems can grow up to two feet in every direction.
3. 3. Tradescantia pallida: While inch plants often have green variegated leaves, this type—also known as Tradescantia ‘Purple Heart’—boasts purplish foliage, hence the nickname.
4. 4. Tradescantia zebrina: Also known as Zebrina pendula, this inch plant sprouts colorful foliage. Its striped patterns are reminiscent of a zebra’s coat, leading to the “zebrina” in its botanical name.

It doesn’t take a lot to help these plants thrive. Keep these inch plant care tips in mind as you foster your spiderworts:

1. 1. Add water occasionally. While you should always avoid overwatering both old and new plants, inch plants benefit from regular misting and watering. To discourage root rot, avoid waterlogging or soaking the soil. Just re-up the supply of moisture every time you see it start to get a little dry.
2. 2. Consider your local climate. Inch plants can make it through a winter in USDA Hardiness Zones 9–12. In other words, if it ever gets lower than twenty degrees Fahrenheit during the winter months, your plant will have a rough time surviving. Storing them as houseplants at room temperature means they’ll flourish year-round no matter how hot or cold it gets.
3. 3. Give them enough light. Your inch plants should be in an environment characterized by partial shade and indirect light when possible. Too much direct sunlight causes scorching for the foliage, but you still want enough bright light throughout the day to ensure the plants’ health. Place them by a window with enough shade to mitigate the effects of a blazing full sun if you’re keeping them indoors, or ensure they’re shaded by other plants if you grow them in an outdoor garden.
4. 4. Manage pest problems. Like many other plants, spiderworts deal with occasional pest infestations. Aphids and spider mites are two of the most common offenders. Do your best to spot them early on as they can do a lot of damage to your inch plants if you let them linger. Use neem oil or another type of insecticide to kill off the pests if need be.
5. 5. Prepare for propagation. Prune these leggy plants regularly to prevent them from growing too unwieldy. This presents an ideal opportunity to snip some stem cuttings for a DIY propagation project. After repotting the cut ends, give them water, light, and a jolt of fertilizer to help them start growing into new inch plants of their own.
6. 6. Try out fertilizer. Inch plants don’t necessarily need fertilizer, but it won’t hurt them so long as you use the right kind. Half-strength liquid fertilizer for houseplants is really all you need to give new growth a leg up. Consider reapplying it every couple of months.
7. 7. Use the right potting soil. Your inch plants will grow best in a well-draining, moist soil. The specific type doesn’t matter quite as much, but a perlite potting mix is advisable. Make sure there are plenty of drainage holes so the moisture can escape.

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