root rot on Wandering Jew
Quick answer
If your Wandering Jew has root rot, the most likely cause is: Wandering Jew (Tradescantia fluminensis, T. pallida Purpurea, T. zebrina, Zebrina pendula, Tradescantia albiflora) is a fast-growing trailing plant whose soft, hairless, fleshy stems rot at the soil line when the potting medium stays waterlogged; root rot is usually caused by fungi that proliferate in saturated soil, and the first visible symptom is the entire stem withering as the base turns black and mushy.
Start here:
- 1. Remove the affected stem at the soil line, cut back to firm green tissue, and reduce watering so the top inch of the medium dries between drinks.
- 2. Propagate healthy stem tip cuttings about 3–4 inches long, root them in fresh moist potting medium in a sealed plastic bag, and discard the rotten parent once the new plants are established.
Why Wandering Jew gets root rot
wandering jew
Wandering Jew (Tradescantia fluminensis, T. pallida Purpurea, T. zebrina, Zebrina pendula, Tradescantia albiflora) is a fast-growing trailing plant whose soft, hairless, fleshy stems rot at the soil line when the potting medium stays waterlogged; root rot is usually caused by fungi that proliferate in saturated soil, and the first visible symptom is the entire stem withering as the base turns black and mushy.
How to reverse root rot on Wandering Jew
- 1
Remove the affected stem at the soil line, cut back to firm green tissue, and reduce watering so the top inch of the medium dries between drinks.
- 2
Propagate healthy stem tip cuttings about 3–4 inches long, root them in fresh moist potting medium in a sealed plastic bag, and discard the rotten parent once the new plants are established.
Keep root rot off this Wandering Jew
Use a well-drained, loam-based potting mixture, water only when the top of the medium is dry to a depth of about 1 inch, and shift the plant up to a container only 4 inches larger than the current one so the soil does not stay wet for long stretches.