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Moses in the Cradle Care
Tradescantia spathacea
Basic Moses in the Cradle Care
These incredible pink houseplants are actually really easy to care for and are great for new plant parents looking for something a bit different to add to their urban jungle!
Bright Indirect Light
I love the sunshine but too much direct light will damage my leaves.
Water Moderately
I don't like my soil to be too dry or too soggy. Little and often is what I'm after.
Medium Humidity
Please make sure the air isn't too dry, otherwise I won't be a happy plant.
Potting Soil
I need soil specifically for indoor plants as it retains the right amount of water.
Detailed Moses in the Cradle Care Information
Whether you're looking to make sure your Moses in the Cradle is in it's perfect conditions, or looking to see if one could work for your space. We've got you covered.
Bright, indirect light is best
Moses in the Cradle plants love bright spots in your home and can deal with some direct light. However, you want to keep this to only a couple hours a day maximum. Bright but indirect light is best as there is no risk or damaging or scorching the leaves.
Increase watering over summer
As with most houseplants, you want to water your Moses in the Cradle plant more in the warmer summer months than winter. We recommend watering around weekly in summer but make sure the top of the soil is dry before watering again. Each plant is different due to size, environment so you have to see what works for your individual Moses in the Cradle plant.
Moses in the Cradle plants need high humidity
One thing that is super important to do when caring for a Moses in the Cradle plant is boost the humidity. You can do this by misting the plant with a spray bottle, using a pebble tray or buying a humidifier.
Avoid super warm temperatures
Moses in the Cradle plants don’t like really warm temperatures so we always recommend average room temperature. They can deal with a little cooler temperatures at night no problem!
Fertilise in spring and summer only
We recommend fertilising your Moses in the Cradle once a month during the growth period of spring and summer. Use a water-soluble fertiliser at half the recommended strength to avoid fertiliser burn and fading of the leaves.
Propagate your Moses in the Cradle through division
The easiest way to propagate a Moses in the Cradle plant is by dividing the various shoots of the mother plant. You want to make sure each section has a good amount of the healthy root system for success.
Keep your Moses in the Cradle plant away from pets
Unfortunately, Moses in the Cradle plants can cause skin and stomach irritation in pets if they come into a lot of contact with it or eat a lot of the leaves.
Moses in the Cradle FAQs
Quick and simple answers to the most common questions we see about the Moses in the Cradle.
Unfortunately, Moses-in-the-cradle plants are toxic when ingested. You want to make sure to keep children or pets away from them if they are prone to nibbling on the leaves.
There are a few main things to consider to ensure your Moses-in-the-cradle keeps thriving. Firstly, they need high humidity levels so make sure to boost it through misting or using a humidifier.
Next you need to ensure it’s getting enough bright but indirect sunlight whilst ensuring that the potting mix has time to dry out between waterings.
The one thing you need to make sure of is that the soil has time to dry out between waterings. This will help to avoid root rot which can cause a whole range of issues.
You also want to increase the amount of frequency of watering in summer as the soil will dry out quicker and it will be the main growth period for your Moses-in-the-cradle.
They are relatively easy plants to care for once you’ve found the right spot. That can be a little challenging to get the light and temperature levels right but once you’ve found the right area for your Moses-in-the-cradle, then things will get a little easier.
Moses-in-the-cradle plants grow relatively slowly but you can maximise the rate of growth by ensuring the care and environment is perfect. Whilst it won’t outgrow the space or pot in a while, you’ll still be rewarded with plenty of new growth.
Moses in the Cradle Care Starter Kit
We've put together this great little starter kit that includes all of the equipment and information you'll need to take proper care of your Moses in the Cradle.
Common Problems with your Moses in the Cradle
Here are some common issues that you might run into. It's important to diagnose any issues early to give your plant the best chance of bouncing back.
If you notice the leaf tips on your Moses in the Cradle plant turning brown then it indicates a lack of humidity. There are a few easy ways to give the humidity level a boost including misting, pebble trays and humidifiers.
If your Moses in the Cradle plant is getting too much direct sunlight then this can cause the leaves to lose colour. The best thing to do is move it to a slightly shadier spot in your home and monitor how much light it is getting throughout the day.
Simple Moses in the Cradle Care Requirements
It sometimes helps to take caring for your plants back to the basics, here's the key considerations that you should take into account when caring for your Tradescantia spathacea.
These simple points should give you all you need to keep your plant happy and healthy for years to come.
| Common Name | Moses in the Cradle |
| Latin Name | Tradescantia spathacea |
| Light | Bright Indirect Light |
| Water | Water Moderately |
| Humidity | Medium Humidity |
| Soil Type | Potting Soil |
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Related Plants
Here are some other plants that will work in similar conditions, or have some matching qualities.
