[Boat Lily]
[Boat Lily]
[Boat Lily]
[Boat Lily]
[Boat Lily]
[Boat Lily]
[Boat Lily]
[Boat Lily]
[Boat Lily]
[Boat Lily]

JOHN [Boat Lily]

Tradescantia spathacea Rhoeo

Write a review
R 109.00 Save R -109.00
/


Also known as the Oyster Plant or Moses-in-the-cradle, Tradescantia spathacea is a dashingly handsome plant with a love of wearing bright pink undergarments under a cloak of metallic silver stripes. Tradescantias go way back to the 1600s when the famous English gardener & botanical explorer, John Tradescant, brought the plants back from the Americas to his employer King Charles I. They were so easy to grow they soon graced the living rooms of the entire English court!

P.s you can read the fascinating story of John Tradescant in Philippa Gregory's 'Virgin Earth'.

Available in a 12cm grow pot. Decorative pot sold separately.


Flat shipping rates apply per order (add more plants & pay the same on shipping). Gauteng R79. Rest of South Africa R119 (Except Limpopo, Mpumalanga & Northern Cape R149).

FREE DELIVERY on orders over R1000! Read our shipping policy here.

About Plant

Caring for John

Light

Bright filtered light through an east facing window. Too little light and the leaves will lose their lustrous colour. This plant can also be grown outdoors in light shade.

Water & humidity

Tradescantia aren't technically succulents, but have fleshy stems that store water. They therefore hate having wet feet and the Tradescantia spathacea likes to dry out between watering. Normal household humidity is fine in summer, but they may need some help in winter.

Feeding

The Boat Lily does not need much fertiliser. Feed once during the growing season with an organic fertiliser at half dose. Too much fertiliser can lead to salt build up, turning the leaf tips brown. If this happens flush out the fertiliser by running water through the soil. 

Re-potting

Only re-pot if necessary. Use a well draining indoor potting mix with added succulent mix or gravel to aid water drainage. 

Atrium Top Tip

Tradescantias are easily propagated. The Boat Lily produces baby plant shoots that can be gently removed from the soil when they are about 7cm long and planted in a pot.

Quirky plant fact

The Boat Lily produces white or pink flowers which look identical to those of the Spiderwort. In the Philippines and China the plant is used medicinally to treat whooping cough and respiratory illnesses. However the sap is toxic and the plant should not be consumed.