Q&A for How to Take Care of a Wandering Jew Plant

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The leaves on my Wandering Jew are turning black. What am I doing wrong?

Katie Gohmann
Professional Gardener
Katherine Gohmann is a Professional Gardener in Texas. She has been a home gardener and professional gardener since 2008.

Katie Gohmann

Professional Gardener

Expert Answer

It might be root rot. You want to keep the soil damp, but not too damp- it's a delicate balance. Try to take a cutting from a healthy part and discard the rest. Next time, make sure to check the soil with your finger before you water. If the soil is dry 2 inches down, give it some water. If it's damp up by the top, leave it alone and check the next day.

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Question

Is it safe to eat the wandering jew plant?

Katie Gohmann
Professional Gardener
Katherine Gohmann is a Professional Gardener in Texas. She has been a home gardener and professional gardener since 2008.

Katie Gohmann

Professional Gardener

Expert Answer

Although the Wandering Jew Plant is not toxic and therefore safe to eat, I would not recommend eating it.

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Question

How can I get my wandering Jew plant to flower?

Katie Gohmann
Professional Gardener
Katherine Gohmann is a Professional Gardener in Texas. She has been a home gardener and professional gardener since 2008.

Katie Gohmann

Professional Gardener

Expert Answer

The Wandering Jew Plant is typically grown for its foliage rather than its flowers.

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Question

Can I grow a wandering Jew in water?

Community Answer

Yes. They can be grown hydroponically.

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Question

Will the Jew plant grow back every year? Can I leave it outdoors during the winter months, or does it need to be brought inside?

Community Answer

It depends on the zone you live in. The article says it grows best in zones 9-11.

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Question

I have wandering Jew plants that will get PM sunlight on my front porch. Will they be okay there?

Community Answer

They will do fine, but as with most plants that get sunlight at a particular time of day, they should be rotated occasionally.

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Question

Do wandering Jew plants get flowers?

Community Answer

They do. The flowers are also purple, but not as deeply hued as the leaves. The foliage is the star of the show. The flowers are incidental.

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Question

Is there any danger to cats from the wandering Jew plant?

Community Answer

No, The wandering Jew plant is actually fine around cats/dogs but if its sap gets on your cat, watch for any irritation or constant scratching from your pet.

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Question

How do I get rid of the tiny flies that are around my Wandering Jew plant?

Community Answer

Don't water it a lot. Also, get apple cider vinager in a cup, and cover it with foil; poke a few holes in the foil. This trap will attract and kill your flies. So the fungus gnats won't spread, keep your Wandering Jew away from your other plants.

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Question

I bought a plant that is so dense that I can't get my finger in to feel the soil without breaking it. It's healthy and has flowered. What should I do with it?

Community Answer

Divide it. Take it out of the pot, use a large knife to cut the rootball into quarters, and pot the smaller plants. Loosen the packed roots before planting your divisions. This sounds brutal, but it will work. It's almost impossible to kill these plants.

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Question

I was given a cup of wandering Jew clippings. Should I try to grow more than one plant, or should I just put all the clippings in one pot?

Community Answer

Put them all together because then you'll have a nice, bushy plant.

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Question

Can aphids be found on an indoor wandering jew?

Community Answer

Yes, they can. Find a mild, quickly biodegradable pesticide to lightly spray, then be sure to mist the leaves often. Do not mist the leaves to the point of saturation, or to the point of leaving standing 'pools' of water at the base of the leaves or in the cup in the center of leaves.

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Question

My plants are extremely brittle. Is that normal?

Community Answer

Yes, the plants are naturally quite brittle. They are easily broken when handled.

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Question

How big does a wandering jew plant get?

Community Answer

They can get very large, even producing other plants, if cared for properly!

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Question

Can they be outside for the summer?

Community Answer

I put my Wandering Jew under a bushy palm tree that is south facing. It seems to like the warm, humid weather. Just make sure it gets some shade.

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Question

Why is some of my wandering jew purple and some green?

Community Answer

It might be because your wandering jew isn’t getting enough light. You can try moving it to a brighter place with half direct light and half filtered light.

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Question

My wandering Jew has a long hanging flower. What do I need to do to it?

Community Answer

After it blooms and is starting to wilt, just cut it off.

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Question

How do I get rid of purple wandering Jew in the landscape?

Community Answer

Dig them up, roots and all. If you leave roots behind, they might return. Or you can replace the soil.

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Question

Can a wandering Jew take morning sunlight?

Community Answer

Yes. Morning sun is not too harsh for a wandering Jew. They love morning sun.

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Question

I took some cuttings about six months ago, but the plant appears to be growing upwards instead of trailing. What should I do?

Community Answer

The biggest mistake you can make is not changing out the water frequently. If you are not changing the water frequently, it becomes still and stagnant, losing the natural mineral components that encourage new root growth.

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Question

Why does my purple plant keep losing its color and turning green?

Community Answer

As it says in the article, if the plant color is fading out or turning back to green, it is not getting enough sunlight.

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Question

Is a wandering Jew plant a succulent?

Community Answer

No a wandering Jew plant takes in water through its roots, rather than by storing the water in the leaves like most succulents do.

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Question

What do I do if my Wandering Jew plant has a lot of dead leaves on the bottom?

Community Answer

Discard all of the dead leaves. Dead heading gives more energy to the plant, plus it looks better too.

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Question

Does the Wandering Jew plant have medicinal properties or is it considered a vegetable in Asian countries?

Greenhouse Anderson

Top Answerer

There is limited evidence that Tradescantia zebrina has medicinal properties, and the sap can impact human health, so it is not typically consumed as food.

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Question

How do I care for an outdoor deep purple Wandering Jew plant during winter in Texas?

Greenhouse Anderson

Top Answerer

Wandering Jew or Inch Plant will freeze at 32°F, so it's best to take it indoors or use insulating fabric to protect it during frost conditions.

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Question

How do I encourage my plant, which is one long shoot, to grow more branches?

Greenhouse Anderson

Top Answerer

Use fertilizer every 3-4 weeks to encourage new shoots or branches to develop and fill out the shape.

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Question

Can wandering Jew plants survive temperatures below zero if used as ground cover?

Greenhouse Anderson

Top Answerer

No, they will not withstand temperatures of 0°C (32°F). You should use an insulated fabric to cover them during freezing temperatures.

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Question

Can I revive a Wandering Jew plant?

Greenhouse Anderson

Top Answerer

If the plant is completely dead, you cannot revive it as there are no underground structures for new shoots to develop.

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Question

How can I get my wandering Jew plant to grow indoors?

Greenhouse Anderson

Top Answerer

Place it in a sunnier location where it receives direct sunlight on its leaves for 1-2 hours every day.

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Question

Why does my Wandering Jew plant only flower for a few days before losing color?

Greenhouse Anderson

Top Answerer

The flowers on a Wandering Jew or inch plant are short-lived, with petals lasting only a couple of days.

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