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Tradescantia Blossfeldiana cerinthoides variegata

Tradescantia nanouk (Bubblegum)

Get to know the Tradescantia Bubblegum, a plant that's all about vibrant and colorful charm.

Published on 08 September, 2023 by Ash Read
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Tradescantia nanouk
  • Tradescantia Bubblegum
  • tradescantia nanouk
  • The Tradescantia Bubblegum

Other names for this plant...

Fantasy Venice Plant Spiderwort 'Nanouk' Wandering Dude 'Nanouk' Tradescantia Bubblegum Lilac

About The Tradescantia Nanouk

Meet the trendiest plant for your indoor collection - the Tradescantia Nanouk or Tradescantia Bubblegum.

The Tradescantia Bubblegum is a new plant cultivar patented in 2017, and it's now a beloved houseplant. The beauty and intrigue of this plant are right in the name - it shows off bright pink, purple, and green foliage on its chunky stems.

Tradescantia Bubblegum
Photo: IndoorPlants.comThe Tradescantia Bubblegum is a new plant cultivar patented in 2017.

Family

The Tradescantia Nanouk belongs to the Commelinaceae family. In this family, you'll find a wide range of perennial wildflowers that typically grow close to the ground. You may also find epiphytes and climbers among them.

Commelinaceae plants can be found all over the world, from lush tropical rainforests to cooler temperate areas.

Origin

Tradescantia plants originated in the Americas, stretching from southern Canada down to north Argentina, including the West Indies.

tradescantia nanouk
Photo: IndoorPlants.comThe Tradescantia nanouk is a product of cross-pollinating seedlings from Tradescantia albiflora.

However, the Tradescantia Nanouk has a more unique origin story. This plant is a product of cross-pollinating seedlings from Tradescantia albiflora in the Netherlands in 2012 (though there's some controversy about the year). The goal was to create a Tradescantia variety that was more compact, with beautiful flowers, and striking variegated colors.

Appearance

Imagine a plant that's not just stunning but downright attention-grabbing. The Tradescantia Bubblegum's allure is owed to those vibrant variegated leaves that stand out boldly, featuring shades of green with graceful stripes in light pink and a striking magenta-purple hue on the underside.

The Tradescantia Bubblegum
Photo: IndoorPlants.comTradescantia Bubblegum's has vibrant variegated leaves.

The Tradescantia Bubblegum is also celebrated for its slightly larger, almond-shaped leaves, thicker stems, and plump foliage.

Perhaps most excitingly are the plant's blooms. These plants love to put out dainty white flowers that perfectly complement their foliage.

Styling

An eye-catcher anywhere you grow it, the Tradescantia Nanouk is sure to be the centerpiece and conversation starter of any room. This trendy plant is an ideal choice for a hanging basket in well-lit corners as its trailing stems and colorful leaves create a captivating cascading effect.

Alternatively, you can place it as a centerpiece on a tabletop to bring visual interest to the room. A Tradescantia Nanouk also makes a wonderful deskmate, breathing life into your workspace.

Light

Light is a key player in keeping this plant happy, especially because of its vibrant variegation. The Tradescantia Nanouk thrives in bright, indirect light, although it can also manage some direct sunlight.

To keep them happy and encourage more blooms, they need about 6-8 hours of bright, indirect sunlight each day. A sunny east or north-facing windowsill is the perfect spot for them.

Water

The Tradescantia Nanouk is a plant that likes its soil moderately moist, but not soggy. Use well-draining soil and a pot with drainage holes to prevent waterlogging.

The best time to water them is when the top few inches of soil is dry. During the summer, keep the soil consistently moist but allow it to dry slightly between waterings.

Temperature

The Tradescantia Nanouk is a pretty adaptable plant that can thrive in various climates, including normal household temperatures. However, temperatures around 60-80°F promote optimal and happy growth.

This plant is quite sensitive to extreme temperatures, both frost/freeze and sweltering heat, so be cautious of this.

Humidity

A Tradescantia Nanouk is quite adaptable when it comes to humidity. It prefers slightly higher humidity but does well in average conditions too.

There are a couple of neat hacks you can use to maintain ambient moisture. A simple solution involves using a pebble tray filled with water and placing the plant container on top. Alternatively, you can group it together with other humidity-loving plants or use a small humidifier.

Soil

This plant isn't particularly demanding and will thrive in standard all-purpose soil. But, given their preference for consistent moisture, you might want to enhance the soil's water with moisture-retaining additives.

The ideal potting mix for a Tradescantia Bubblegum is a standard houseplant blend with some coarse sand and/or added orchid bark. If your soil seems too dense, you can incorporate a handful of perlite to enhance drainage.

Pruning

Pruning your Tradescantia Bubblegum is up to you. If you want it to stay compact, you can prune it regularly to keep it bushy. If you prefer those stems to grow tall and cascade, you won't need to prune as often, if at all. But, a snip here and there can be smart to manage growth.

Feed

While it's not necessary, fertilizing your Tradescantia plant will reward you with better growth. Stick to fertilizing only in the growing season (during the spring and summer months), once or twice a month.

Any standard houseplant fertilizer will do, just make sure that the fertilizer is diluted to half the recommended strength.

Height & Growth

Tradescantias are speedy growers, especially the Nanouk variety. With the right care, they can stretch up to 12 inches in length each year. They're trailing plants, so they spread out as they grow, making them great for hanging baskets or ground cover.

Toxicity

Yes, Tradescantia Nanouk plants are mildly toxic, so it's essential to keep them out of reach of curious pets and small children.

Pet

That would be a definitive no! If your pet ingests a part of a Tradescantia Nanouk, it can cause dermatitis and an upset stomach.

Common Problems

Tradescantia Nanouk care can be a breeze, but watch out for these hiccups:

  1. Root rot: Yellowing leaves and mushy roots? That's root rot. Ease off on the watering until the top inch dries out, then repot in well-draining soil. To prevent this, don't overwater it and provide ample bright, indirect light.

  2. Dull or no variegation: If your Tradescantia Nanouk loses its vibrant purples and pinks, it's likely not getting enough light. Relocate it closer to a window with more light to revive those lovely hues.

  3. Leggy stems: Long, stretched-out stems with sparse leaves are usually a sign that your plant's telling you it craves more bright light. To keep it bushy, amp up the light and trim leggy growth.

  4. Pest infestations: Small yellow spots and webbing on the leaves are telltale signs of spider mites - the common enemy of these plants. Neem oil or plant insecticidal soap works wonders for these critters.

FAQs

Can you propagate Tradescantia Nanouk plants?

Certainly! This plant practically tells you when it's ready for some propagation action by sprouting aerial roots at the leaf nodes. To get started with Tradescantia Nanouk propagation, take stem cuttings and pop them in a glass of water. Within a week, new roots will begin to emerge. Once they're big enough, transfer the cuttings into soil and your new Tradescantia will establish itself in a few weeks.

Can a Tradescantia Nanouk grow outdoors?

Tradescantia Nanouks can be grown outdoors, although they tend to thrive better as indoor plants. If you decide to take it outside, make sure it doesn't receive excessive direct sunlight. Additionally, outdoor conditions can cause the soil to dry out faster, so you'll need to water it more frequently than when it's indoors.