How to Grow and Care for Purple Heart

Purple heart (Tradescantia pallida), also known as purple spiderwort, is a trailing vine with purple stems, silvery-purple foliage, and small flower clusters in summer, ranging from violet to pink. Native to the Gulf Coast of Mexico, this fast-growing species is often grown as an annual, as a houseplant, and as a perennial in zones where it's hardy.

Purple heart thrives in full sun and a variety of soil types. As a houseplant, it's often grown in hanging baskets in bright light so that it can trail. Like other species of the Tradescantia genus, purple heart can be mildly toxic to pets and people.

Purple Heart Care

To grow purple heart, place it in a sunny location (full sun outdoors or the sunniest spot you can find indoors) and plant it in well-draining soil. Water the plant thoroughly once the soil dries out. Fertilize it at the beginning of the growing season. As the plant gets leggy, pinch the ends to encourage fullness.

Warning

Purple heart is considered to be invasive in various parts of the world and some corners of the United States, such as Florida.

Light

Planting your purple hearts in full sun can help ensure that they grow vibrant purple stems. The plant can also grow in partial shade, but its stem is more likely to appear green than purple. It's best to introduce these plants to brighter conditions over time, as too much direct sunlight all at once can lead to foliage burn.

Soil

Purple heart plants will grow best in soil that's lightweight, porous, and moist. Good drainage is a must. The plant tolerates a wide pH range, from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline.

Water

Purple heart is considered to be drought-tolerant, and it will not require a great deal of watering. For best growth, however, it is best not to let the plant sit dry for long periods.

Temperature and Humidity

Purple heart can survive in an array of temperatures, but it's susceptible to frost. As a plant that grows naturally in tropical and subtropical locations, purple heart prefers high humidity. If your house has drier air, a humidifier can help, as can placing your plant in a bathroom or kitchen. Dry air will impact the leaves, rendering them limp.

Fertilizer

The purple heart plant generally doesn't require fertilizer, although it can be used. Just be sure to dilute the solution to about half of its regular strength.

Types of Purple Heart

The purple T. pallida most often found at plant nurseries is the cultivar 'Purple Heart' or 'Purpurea'. While some less popular cultivars of T. pallida exist, you are more likely to find similar plants in the Tradescantia genus, including:

• T. zebrina, whichis an extremely common and popular species often referred to as inch plant. It has striped leaves with silvery shades of green and purple.
• T. spathacea, also known as Moses-in-the-cradle, this plant grows in a more compact, rosette manner with similar shades of green and purple.
• T. fluminensis,which includes multiple popular houseplant cultivars, such as 'Nanouk,' 'Tricolor,' and 'Variegata.'

Pruning

Prune purple heart as it begins to grow long stems to prevent it from becoming leggy. Do so during the warmer months after the bloom period is over. Be sure to use sharp scissors and wear gloves, as the sap in the stems can cause skin irritations and burns. Aim to take off the top half of the stems that have become overgrown.

Get Your Pruning Gear

Looking for the best pruners to keep your purple heart healthy? Here are top-rated and tested pruners to make the job easier. Don't forget safety gear—here are our best 10 gardening glove picks to keep your hands safe from the plant's red sap.

Propagating Purple Heart

Purple heart can be easily propagated by stem cuttings.

1. Cut a 3- to 6-inch-long piece from a healthy plant, with at least one node, using a sharp knife or pruners.
2. Remove the leaves from the lower end of the cutting so that only a couple of leaves remain on the upper parts.
3. Fill a 4-inch pot with moist potting soil.
4. Using a pencil or a stick, poke a hole in the soil and insert the cutting in it so that the node is buried in the soil.
5. Place it in a bright location but out of direct sunlight.
6. Water it regularly to keep the soil evenly moist at all times.
7. Transplant it into a larger pot or outdoors in garden soil after it has rooted.

Potting and Repotting Purple Heart

Purple heart grows well in pots, but in ideal conditions, it grows quickly. You will know it's time to repot the plant when you see roots sticking out of the drainage hole or emerging from the soil level.

Opt for a new container that is about 2 or 3 inches wider than its current pot. Fill it with fresh potting mix before transferring the plant. Firm the soil around your purple heart and water well to settle it into its new home.

Overwintering

If you are located in USDA hardiness zones 7-11, purple heart will survive the winter outdoors without issues. However, if you're in a cooler zone, purple heart will not make it through the colder months. You can either grow it as an annual, allowing it to die and replacing it next spring, or you can bring it indoors.

To do so, bring your purple heart indoors before the first frost. Place it in the sunniest spot in your home since it prefers full sunlight. Consider using a grow light if needed. Water once the soil completely dries out, and prune the vines if they get leggy. Purple heart can be placed outside again once your local last frost date has passed.

Common Pests & Diseases

This is a tough plant that attracts caterpillars and snails when grown outdoors. However, it may also attract aphids, vine weevils, mealybugs, and scale insects.

Place a layer of gravel, wood chips, or diatomaceous earth as a protective barrier around the plants to keep the little critters away. Fortunately, purple heart is deer-resistant.

How to Get Purple Heart to Bloom

In healthy growing conditions, purple heart should bloom readily, whether it's outside in the garden or indoors on a shelf.

Bloom Months

Purple heart reliably blooms in summer when grown outside, though it can start flowering as early as spring and last into the fall, depending on where you live. Indoors, the plant can get a bit confused and flower at odd times, but it will usually bloom around summer as well.

What Do Purple Heart Blooms Look and Smell Like?

The small, dark pink blooms of purple heart plants have three petals and pop up inside the dark, lance-shaped purple leaves. They don't offer much fragrance.

How to Encourage More Blooms

To get the most blooms out of your purple heart, make sure it is getting enough light. Ideally, these plants should get six hours of direct sunlight or more. Indoors, you may need a grow light to achieve such conditions.

Caring for Purple Heart After It Blooms

Purple heart doesn't require any sort of different care after it blooms. Treat it the same way that you have been. However, if your plant is getting leggy, this may be a good time to trim it, promoting bushy growth.

Deadheading Purple Heart

Deadheading purple heart blooms as they begin to fade will encourage the plant to produce even more flowers.

Common Problems with Purple Heart

Yellow Leaves

Yellowing leaves on a purple heart plant often indicate overwatering. Wait until the soil is dry before watering again. You can use a moisture meter to confirm the timing. If you are certain that this isn't the cause, the plant may have a nutrient deficiency.

Browning Leaves

Browning leaves can have multiple potential causes, including too much sun, lack of water, and old age. The oldest leaves on the plant will naturally die over time, which is no cause for alarm.

Green Leaves

If a purple heart plant does not get enough sunlight, its purple leaves may revert to green. Move the plant to a location with more light, or add a grow light.

From: thespruce