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The wandering Jew’s plant: why is it called that? There has been much debate about whether people should continue to use the Wandering Jew as an identifier for the Tradescantia Zebrina plant.
Some people find this name harmless, while others find it has an offensive history. This ties in with a mythical story where a Jew was doomed to wander the earth until the apocalypse.
The name also resurfaced in the 20th century during the Nazi period.
Given that history of this name and the likelihood of causing a violation, it may be necessary to consider giving this plant further identification over time.
Alternatively, people can try sticking with the scientific name: Tradescantia Zebrina.
The Tradescantia Zebrina plant is not like most houseplants in that it is much easier to grow and does not have the standard ordinary appearance.
Instead, it has beautiful patterns on the leaves and stems, making it a sight to behold.
It looks best when bushy, but certain growing conditions can cause the wandering bean plant to grow long, which is something we’re going to delve into today. Let’s start:
Contents
Why Does Your Wandering Jew Plant Have Long Legs?
One thing to note about the Tradescantia Zebrina plant is that it grows at a very fast rate.
You may want to consider buying larger pots in advance, as you will be repotting them multiple times.
The wandering bean plant looks best when bushy, but can sometimes get long.
bad lighting
Often these long legs are visible during the winter months when the plant is dormant.
But you can always get around this problem by making sure the plant gets enough light even when the months get colder and darker.
All you have to do is adjust the position of the plant and move it to a better lit area or invest in a grow light.
So how much light should your plant get? This plant is picky about the amount of light it receives and will do well in indirect sunlight but bright light.
This is often very confusing because people think that if a plant needs bright light, it equates to needing sun exposure.
But this is not the case. Instead, you should place your plant in an area that has access to light but is not exposed to direct sunlight.
You can easily achieve this by using blinds in light areas. It gets even more confusing with the Wandering Jew plants.
If you have a purple plant, you need to place it in full sun. Other varieties will burn with this type of exposure, but a purple plant will do better in these conditions.
It’s best to position your plant toward a west or east-facing window so that it receives bright light in the morning and during the day without being fully exposed at any one time.
If you want to grow your plant outside, be sure to shade it by placing it in a location that doesn’t have access to afternoon sun.
Why is my Wandering Jew growing straight?
If your plant seems to be going to heaven, the likely problem is poor lighting.
You need to make sure that your plant gets enough bright light without sun exposure.
bad watering
If the wandering bean plant does not have access to adequate moisture in the soil, it may seem long. This problem is common in winter, when most people tend to water less.
Curious jews like to water regularly and will not succeed if the soil stays dry for too long.
However, you must be careful not to overwater the plant, as this can lead to root rot, which can kill the plant.
It is important that you strike a balance between giving the plant more than it needs and less than it needs.
At the same time, you should adjust your watering techniques throughout the year so that you water the plant less during the cooler months.
At this point, the plant enters the resting phase and does not need a lot of water to survive this phase. Giving the plant plenty of water at this time can increase the risk of root rot.
It can be difficult to determine when to water the plant. The best way to do this is to check the condition of the floor.
If the soil looks dry at least 2 inches below the soil surface, you can water the plant.
In the summer, you want to keep the soil moist by watering it well and letting excess water drain from the bottom of the pot.
The soil should remain moist but not wet. During the winter, spread out the irrigation even more, checking the condition of the soil about 2 inches below the soil surface.
If it seems dry, moisten it, but try not to get it wet like you do in the summer.
If you have trouble determining the amount of water in the soil, you can invest in a moisture meter.
low humidity
This is another problem that will arise in winter when the humidity tends to drop drastically, especially indoors.
Low humidity affects not only the legs of the plant, but also the leaves, so that they turn brown and die.
In winter, you can place the plant in the kitchen or bathroom where the humidity is usually higher.
Alternatively, you can invest in a humidifier that you can place near the plant.
For an inexpensive solution, you can place the pot in a tray filled with pebbles and water so the plant part doesn’t soak up water and set the stage for root rot.
If you like this article, check out our article on How to fix a leggy pilea.
How do you fix a wandering, leggy bean plant?
Most people fix a wandering jew plant with long legs by pinching out the new stems. This method works with the usual long legs.
Once you pinch the stems, the plant moves back and forth developing two new stems which create a bushy appearance.
However, if the elongation is due to poor lighting, low humidity, or poor watering techniques, you may need to prune the plant more than necessary.
In this case, it is better to address the cause of the problem and reduce the need for maintenance of the installation.
Other Problems With Your Wandering Bean Plant
Your plant may also show other signs of poor growing conditions as follows:
Why are your Wandering Jew’s leaves turning yellow?
Yellowing leaves are a sign that your plant is not being watered as it should.
You can over or under water your plants and you will need to monitor the moisture level in the soil and adjust your watering schedule.
The plant grows well in soil that is neither dry nor soggy. You need to dig at least two inches into the ground to gauge how dry it is.
If it seems dry, you can moisten it thoroughly in the summer, making sure to drain off any excess and keep the soil moist.
In the winter, you won’t get it as wet, but you want to make sure the soil doesn’t dry out by wetting it.
Your soil may also be to blame. If you use a mix that is not suitable for indoor growing, it will not retain water or will retain too much.
The plant may suffer from root rot or not have enough water for the roots to absorb nutrients from the potting soil.
You should look at the potting soil and irrigation techniques to determine the source of the problem.
If you think your irrigation techniques are not adequate, consider purchasing a moisture meter.
Why are your Wandering Jew’s leaves curling?
As we mentioned earlier, access to full sun is not good for a wandering bean plant.
Direct sunlight causes the leaves to curl around the edges, so the plant doesn’t look as lush as it should.
You should move the plant to an east or west facing window where it will have access to bright light but will not be exposed to unfiltered sunlight.
The solution is not to move it to a dark place as this can hinder its growth.
Why is your Wandering Jew changing color?
Again, this problem is caused by too much direct sunlight. If your plant is exposed to direct sunlight, the leaves will wilt and you will notice a change in color.
Unfortunately, this change is irreversible and you will have to settle for the new normal.
Fortunately, you can prevent this from happening to new growth by moving the plant to a well-lit area without access to full sun.
If you notice any problems with wandering jew or any other plant, it’s likely the result of poor growing conditions.
The way to deal with this is to assess if the plant is growing under the required conditions and make changes if necessary.
Final Thoughts: How to Fix a Leggy Wandering Bean Plant?
The wandering bean plant should be fairly easy to care for once you keep an eye on its lighting, watering, and humidity needs.
As long as you prune the plant regularly, the vines should grow healthy and bushy.
Also, prune the plant frequently to encourage new growth during the summer and spring months to make the plant even bushier. Pruning can be done at any time.
Happy gardening!
Before you go, here are some more related articles that I encourage you to read below to solve more of your gardening problems:
How to troubleshoot your Schefflera plant.
How to fix a leggy jade plant?
Why is my pilea suspended?
Jade Plant Light Requirement
Written by: Daisy Njeric