Species library › Tradescantia › Tradescantia fluminensis
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Tradescantia fluminensis

A soft, trailing spiderwort (small-leaf spiderwort, wandering Jew) from the moist, shady forest floors of southern Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and northeastern Argentina. It is one of the easiest plants to grow, and in warm climates it is a serious invasive weed. It wants shade, constantly moist soil and a cooler winter, and it roots wherever a stem touches the ground.

At home, aim for
Day IntermediateTargets in Plantistry
Night Close to the dayTargets in Plantistry
Humidity Ordinary room humidityBand in Plantistry
Light Dappled lightDLI and PPFD in Plantistry
Expects a seasonal restGrows in the ground

Where it grows wild

It is a creeping groundcover in moist forest, forming dense mats up to about 30 cm deep beneath the canopy. It also grows along streams and damp forest edges and tolerates heavy shade.

Recorded from near sea level to 1,500 m, with a median of 364 m. Most populations are in lowland and submontane subtropical forest.

Brazil SouthBrazil SoutheastArgentina NortheastArgentina NorthwestParaguayUruguay

🔒 Growing it like that

The wild conditions above, turned into targets for a shelf, a tent or a greenhouse. The full profile has:

✓ Day and night temperature targets, and the limits it tolerates
✓ Humidity band, and how to hold it
✓ Light as DLI and PPFD for a grow light
✓ Wet and dry seasons, and whether to rest it
✓ Substrate and airflow
✓ A step-by-step setup to grow it like the wild

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Profiles are drafts built from measured range and climate and from published sources; each section carries its own confidence in the app.