Purple-Heart plant

Purple-Heart plant Care

Tradescantia pallida

Other names: Purple Secretia

What is the plant

The Purple-Heart plant is famous for its beatiful flowers and leaves with sharp tips that come in a variety of colors. It can be grown both indoors and outdoors.

Setcreasea pallida is an evergreen perennial plant with purple stems and violet leaves covered in pale hairs. It belongs to the Commelinaceae family. In the wild, it can be found in eastern Mexico. Purple-Heart plants produce pink beautiful flowers in the summer.

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Humidity

Normal

Lighting

Part Sun

Temperature

10°C - 15°C

Hardiness zone

9 - 11

Difficulty

Easy

Hibernation

Cold Period

How to Care for the Plant

Water
Tradescantia pallida is quite resistant to drought, but you should never starve your plant of water! If the soil feels dry, it's time to water your Purple-Heart. After the soil is moistened, drain excess liquid to avoid waterlogging. Typically, Purple-Heart plants need a sip once a week.
Pruning
You can pinch your Purple-Heart plant to encourage new growth. Use sharp and clean tools to prune back the young stems. Trimming is a necessary part of plant care both indoors and outdoors.
Fertilizer
We recommend using a slow-release balanced fertilizer. Be careful! Chemicals can harm your purple friend.

Disease diagnosis

Check your plant’s health

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Sunlight
Setcreasea pallida needs a lot of light. Keep an eye on the color of the plant! If you see it fade, your plant might be suffering from too much shade! We recommend placing your Purple-Heart next to an east-facing window.
Soil
Universal ready-made potting mix will be a good fit. You can also use soil with peat moss or compost. Make sure the growing medium is well-drained.
Propagation
The best propagation method is stem cuttings. You can use any part of the plant. Soak the cut end in root hormone and keept it in a warm place until the roots start to grow. Then, repot your Purple-Heart.

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Temperature
The best temperature for Setcreasea pallida is 60-80˚F (15-26°C). Cold temperatures of less than 40˚F (4°C) should be avoided because the leaves may freeze.
Container
Choose a pot big enough to accomodate the plant. Make sure it has drainage holes. If you see roots peeking from the drainage holes in spring, it's time to repot your purple beauty! When repotting, choose a pot 1-2 inches (2-5 cm) bigger than the previous one.
Fun fact
The name of this plant species comes from Greek. It means "pale".