Rooting Inch Plants: How To Propagate Tradescantia Inch Plants

Inch plant (Tradescantia zebrina) is a pretty houseplant that creeps over the edge of containers for a nice effect alone or with a mix of plants. You can also grow it as a groundcover outdoors in warmer climates. It’s an easy plant to grow, and it’s tough and hard to kill. To get more of it to fill in pots and beds, you can easily take cuttings.

About Inch Plants

Inch plant is famed as one of the most popular houseplants, and not just because it's so tough... although that helps. Even if you don’t have a green thumb, you can still grow this plant.

Inch plant is equally popular for its pretty colors and foliage. The wandering, creeping growth pattern makes it perfect for any container, but especially hanging baskets. The foliage is green to purple and can also be striped. The flowers are small and pretty, but it is the foliage that really makes an impact.

How to Propagate Inch Plant

Inch plant cutting propagation is the easiest way to get new plants without buying more at the nursery. Take cuttings with a sharp, sterilized knife or shears. Cuttings should be 3 to 4 inches (7.6 to 10 cm.) long.

Choose a tip that looks healthy and has new growth. Make the cut right below a leaf node and at a 45-degree angle. Take a few cuttings to make sure you get one or two that root well and that you can plant later.

Start the rooting process in water. First, remove the bottom leaves on the cuttings and then stick them in a glass of water. Leave them for a week or so in sunlight and you’ll begin to see little roots form.

Once your cuttings have roots, you can put them in a container with standard potting soil. Put it in a location that will get medium to bright light with temperatures between 55 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit (13-24 C).

And that’s all there is to rooting this beautiful plant.