Moses in the Cradle Plant - House Plant Care Tips - HousePlant411.com | Houseplant 411

Moses-in-the-Cradle Plant

Tradescantia spathacea

Moses-in-a-Boat Plant | Oyster Plant

Moses in the Cradle, Tradescantia spathacea, (alternative names include: Moses-in-a-Boat, Boat Lily, Cradle Lily, Moses-in-the-Bullrushes, Oyster Plant, Rhoeo discolor) is an attractive easy care houseplant native to Mexico, the West Indies, and Central America. It produces rosettes of long waxy sword shaped leaves that are glossy green on top and rich burgundy on the under side. The very small three petaled white flowers of a Moses-in-the-Cradle are tucked away in a purple boat shaped bract in the leaf axil. This gives the plant its many common names. Treat this plant as you would a succulentSucculents, native to very dry areas of the tropics and subtropics, adapted to a limited availability of water by developing thick roots, leaves, and stems. These parts of the plant collect and store water in order to survive long periods of drought. This gives succulents a very swollen appearance and its nickname, the fat plant. Succulents need little water or humidity..

Light

Moses-in-the-Cradle likes very bight light at least 6-8 hours a day.

Water

Allow the top inch or two of soil to dry out before watering. Keep Moses-in-the-Cradle drier during the winter when the plant is not actively growing.

Fertilizer

Feed monthly in the spring and summer with a well- balanced plant food at 1/2 the recommended strength.

Temperature

60-85 degrees (16-19C) is preferable. Moses-in-the- Cradle likes it a little cooler at night.

Humidity

Medium to high humidity

Flowering

Moses-in-the-Cradle produces small inconsequential three pedaled white flowers.

Pests

spider mitesSpider Mites, members of the Acari family, are small insects about 1mm in size. The most common indoor plant mite is the red spider mite (also called the two-spotted spider mite.). These pests lay their eggs on the under surface of leaves and produce fine webbing especially where the leaves are attached to the stem. Spider mites are hard to see with the naked eye, and may appear only as small red dots. They are more often recognized by the gritty feel of the leaf when you run your finger down it’s length, or by the appearance of discolored leaves due to the sucking action of the mites. The best way to prevent spider mites is to keep your plants clean and dust free. Treat spider mites by spraying every ten days for a month with a product such as Safer Insecticidal Soap. and Mealy BugsMealy Bugs are one of the most annoying and destructive pests that attack houseplants. These tiny sucking insects look like small pieces of cotton. When young, mealy bugs have legs and can crawl. This is the best time to treat an infestation. A female mealy bug can lay over 500 eggs within a 1-2 week period. Mealy bugs suck the sap out of a plant, concentrating on the tender new growth; this causes spots on the leaves, yellow leaves, leaf drop, slow growth, and weak stems. While feeding on the plant, mealy bugs secrete a sticky substance called “honeydew" which acts as a breeding ground for “sooty mold.” This mold covers leaves and stems ruining the plant’s appearance and interfering with photosynthesis. When mealy bugs are immature and crawling, use Yellow Sticky Cards to trap them. Once they mature, Mealy Bugs should be sprayed with the Green Solution. Be sure the plant is well-watered and not in the sun when you spray. Repeat this treatment every 10 days for a month to catch any further eggs that might hatch. On furry leafed plants dip a Qtip in the Green Solution and wipe the mealy bugs off. Do not spray the entire leaf.

Diseases

Root Rot and leaf spotThe attacking fungus or bacteria causes small brown spots trimmed in yellow where it is feeding on the leaf. The spots may vary in shape, color, and size, but eventually the leaves wilt and die. As with all the other fungal and bacterial diseases better air circulation, well-drained soil, dry leaves, and less water help prevent this condition. Never mist a plant if leaf spot is suspected. You can use a commercial fungicide to treat this disease or the homemade remedy of putting a tablespoon or two of baking soda and a teaspoon or two of mineral oil in a spray bottle of water. Shake the solution well and then spray all areas of the plant.

Soil

Use a good potting soil that retains moisture yet drains well.

Pot Size

The plant likes to be root bound so repot about every 2-3 years

Pruning

If you want a more upright rather than a trailing plant, pinch back any new shoots that develop at the base of a Moses-in-the Cradle.

Propagation

Easily propagated by stem cuttings or plant divisionPropagating houseplants using plant division works well with plants that form clumps or rosettes as they mature. When the plant becomes too crowded remove it from the pot and gently tease the root ball into sections. Never use a knife to cut the root ball in half. Plant the sections in pots that are a few inches larger than the new root balls. Try to use the same soil mixture that was in the parent plant. Tuber Division is a specialized form of plant division. Certain plants develop thick stems or roots called tubers that store food for the flowers and leaves. These plants, such as Caladium, Gloxinia, tuberous Begonias, and Cyclamen, should be propagated in the spring as they emerge from dormancy. Take the plant out of its pot and cut the tubers into sections. Each section should have a bud. Dip the cut ends of the tuber into a rooting hormone that contains a fungicide. Plant the tuber pieces just below the soil surface. in the spring and summer.

Poisonous Plant Info

Toxicity levelThese are general guidelines that describe how poisonous certain houseplants are. It's possible for an allergic reaction to occur from contact with any plant, toxic or non-toxic. If there is ever a concern, call: Poison Control Center: ******1-800-222-1222****** Level #1: Low toxicity, mildly irritating, especially the sap. Level#2: Medium to severe toxicity. Vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pains, skin irritations, breathing difficulties. Level #3: Highly toxic when eaten in large quantities. Symtoms mentioned above will be more intense. Level #4: Highly toxic, ingestion of parts of these plants can be be life threatening. Every plant listed in our Popular HousePlant section has a section explaining whether or not it is poisonous and if so, what is the toxicity level. Amaryllis, alocasia, dieffenbachias, crotons, ivies, azaleas, lilies are just a few of poisonous plants we use all of the time. If you don't know whether or not your houseplant is poisonous, go to Ask Judy on the website and send her a picture of your plant. #3. The sap causes severe pain in the mouth if eaten and minor skin irritations that last a few minutes.

My friend told me there's a pretty new variety of Moses-in-the-Cradle with stripped leaves. What name should I ask for?

The new variety is called Rhoea discolor'Variegata' and it's quite spectacular with striped foliage in burgundy, pink, green and cream.

The beautiful purple and green leaves of my Moses-in-the-Cradles are looking pale and feel a little gritty or sandy when I touch them. Do you know what's wrong?

Great description of what spider mitesSpider Mites, members of the Acari family, are small insects about 1mm in size. The most common indoor plant mite is the red spider mite (also called the two-spotted spider mite.). These pests lay their eggs on the under surface of leaves and produce fine webbing especially where the leaves are attached to the stem. Spider mites are hard to see with the naked eye, and may appear only as small red dots. They are more often recognized by the gritty feel of the leaf when you run your finger down it’s length, or by the appearance of discolored leaves due to the sucking action of the mites. The best way to prevent spider mites is to keep your plants clean and dust free. Treat spider mites by spraying every ten days for a month with a product such as Safer Insecticidal Soap. do to a plant. There are complete instructions how to deal with spider mitesSpider Mites, members of the Acari family, are small insects about 1mm in size. The most common indoor plant mite is the red spider mite (also called the two-spotted spider mite.). These pests lay their eggs on the under surface of leaves and produce fine webbing especially where the leaves are attached to the stem. Spider mites are hard to see with the naked eye, and may appear only as small red dots. They are more often recognized by the gritty feel of the leaf when you run your finger down it’s length, or by the appearance of discolored leaves due to the sucking action of the mites. The best way to prevent spider mites is to keep your plants clean and dust free. Treat spider mites by spraying every ten days for a month with a product such as Safer Insecticidal Soap. in the Glossary Section of the website.

Why are the ends of the leaves on my Moses-in the Cradle turning brown?

The air in your room is probably too dry and there is not enough humidity for a Moses in the Cradle. You can put in a small humidifier next to the plant or place your plant on a wet pebble tray; be sure the plant is sitting on pebbles and not in the water. I don't recommend misting a Moses-in-the Cradle since this encourages fungal & bacterial diseases on the leaves.