Cobweb Spiderwort (Tradescantia sillamontana) Care: What to Know

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Today, we have a plant care video for cobweb spiderwort, botanically known as Tradescantia sillamontana. This is a beautiful trailing plant with gray-green leaves that often have a purple sheen on the underside of the leaves and along the stem, as you can see here. It has a really nice color combination. The plant gets its common name from the fact that the leaves are covered in cobweb-like hairs. You can see a kind of hairy look on the plant, and the more hairs, the happier the plant is.

Other common names for this plant include white gossamer plant and white velvet wandering Jew. Cobweb spiderwort is native to the dry regions in the mountains of Nuevo León in northern Mexico. In its native habitat, the plant blooms in summer with hot pink flowers at the end of each stem, as you can see in this photo. It generally doesn’t bloom indoors, but you never know. If you give it really good bright light, that could actually happen.

The plant makes a great hanging basket plant and trailing plant as well. Once it begins to mature, it will grow longer stems that are really nice for trailing. When young, it will grow upright, but as it matures, it will grow longer stems like this one, which look really pretty when hanging down. It will eventually vine 12 to 18 inches long.

If you prefer it growing upright, you can prune it back when it’s young. Pinch back to a stem node, which is right underneath where a leaf meets the stem. This will encourage more growth at that point. Otherwise, let it trail naturally, which is more in line with its natural growing habit.

Lighting for this plant is very important. For the best cobwebbing and coloration, grow Tradescantia sillamontana in bright light, such as two to three feet from a southern window. The plant also does well in front of an eastern window. Avoid northern windows as they tend to not give the plant enough light, and western windows can get pretty hot at the end of the day. If you have them near a western or southern window, place the plant two to three feet away. These plants also do really well under full spectrum lighting, which should be used if the light levels in your home are low, especially during lower light times of the year such as the winter months. Rotate this plant regularly as it has a tendency to only grow on one side if you don’t. Rotate it about a quarter turn of the pot each time you water, or an eighth to a quarter turn every time you water.

Speaking of watering, Tradescantia sillamontana comes from an arid area of Mexico and tends to do best indoors on the dry side. Avoid overwatering this plant as that will quickly lead to root rot. Water when the soil throughout the plant is nearly dry. The top inch should be dry, and the moisture meter should read at four or almost on the three. Insert the moisture meter about two-thirds of the way into the pot. If it reads higher than four, do not water. It’s better to under-water this plant rather than over-water it, as over-watering will quickly lead to root rot. Pull back on watering even more in the winter months when the plant will be cycling water much more slowly.

Fertilize Tradescantia sillamontana from spring through fall with an organic fertilizer. Chemical fertilizers are too harsh for this plant and many houseplants. They can cause crispy leaf edges, leaf drop, and browning leaves. Remember that in nature, plants don’t get chemical fertilizers; they get nutrients from plants around them breaking down. Organic fertilizers are much better for your houseplants.

Because the plant comes from a dry area of Mexico, it does not require much humidity. Most average humidity levels in homes of 40 to 50 percent are perfectly fine for this plant. It can tolerate temperatures as low as 55 degrees Fahrenheit and as high as 80 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. It can even tolerate draftier areas in your home, making it a lot easier to grow this houseplant in areas where you can’t grow other houseplants as successfully.

Tradescantia sillamontana does well when it’s root-bound, so avoid repotting this plant too early. A good rule of thumb is two-thirds foliage to one-third pot. When it gets to three-quarters plant to one-quarter pot, repot it, but only go up one pot size maximum. Repot in spring through mid-summer. Use a high-quality organic potting soil with added drainage, such as pumice or perlite. Good, fast drainage is what it gets in its native habitat.

Pruning is also important for this plant. Remove dead foliage on a fairly regular basis, as it tends to clump up around the stem. Use sharp scissors or garden shears to cut right near the stem without damaging it. Pruning off dead leaves will help prevent pests. If you want the plant to be bushier, begin pinching off growing tips to a stem node when the plant is young. Avoid cutting off more than one-third of the plant at a time. Wait a couple of weeks or a month before pruning more. This plant can get leggy, so if you don’t like leggy plants, do some pruning. Otherwise, enjoy its natural trailing habit.

Tradescantia sillamontana is generally pest-free, making it a fun and easy plant to grow.

So there you go, all the information you need to keep this beautiful cobweb spiderwort happy and healthy in your indoor garden. Thank you for stopping by today. Please leave any comments about any indoor gardening tutorials you’d like to see. Remember to like, comment, subscribe, and share this video. And please check the bell if you’d like to be notified when new videos are released.

Cobweb Spiderwort: Your Questions Answered

What exactly is a Cobweb Spiderwort?

Cobweb Spiderwort, or Tradescantia Sillamontana if you want to get fancy, is a pretty unique plant. It’s got these fuzzy leaves that look like they’re covered in cobwebs (hence the name) and little white flowers that pop up now and then.

How do I keep it alive and happy?

These plants aren’t too fussy. Give them bright light, but not direct sun – they’ll burn. Use well-draining soil and water when the top inch feels dry. A bit of liquid fertilizer every now and then won’t hurt either. Oh, and trim it occasionally to keep it looking tidy.

When’s the best time to water?

When the top inch or two of soil feels dry to the touch. These guys don’t like wet feet, so err on the side of underwatering rather than overwatering.

Does it need special soil?

Not really. Any decent potting mix that drains well will do the trick. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can mix your own, but it’s not necessary.

Can I make more of these plants?

Definitely! It’s super easy. Just snip off a piece of stem about 3-4 inches long, stick it in some soil, keep it moist, and voila! New plant.

It’s getting a bit wild. How do I tame it?

Grab some scissors and give it a haircut. Trim off any dead bits or stems that are getting too long. It’ll help keep your plant looking neat and encourage bushier growth.

Can I plant it in my garden?

If you live somewhere warm (think zones 9-11), go for it. For the rest of us, it’s better as a houseplant.

My plant looks unhappy. What’s wrong?

Yellow leaves usually mean you’re overwatering or the soil isn’t draining well. If it’s getting leggy and stretched out, it probably needs more light.

When should I repot it?

When you notice roots coming out of the drainage holes or the plant seems to be outgrowing its current pot. Just be gentle when you do it – these plants can be a bit fragile.

Should I fertilize it?

You can if you want. A bit of liquid fertilizer once a month during spring and summer can give your plant a nice boost. But don’t overdo it – these plants aren’t big eaters.