Today we are going to talk about a plant whose color is not common in the rest. Is about the glitter or love of man. Its scientific name is tradescantia pallida and there are people who do not agree with the common name “love of man.” It is native to eastern Mexico from the Tamaulipasa area to Yucatán. It is a perfect plant to decorate houses for its exotic color and the little care it needs.
In this article we are going to tell you about all the characteristics of glitter and the care it needs. Do you want to know more about it?
Key features
It is a plant that withstands many environments and situations well. They need a lot of light and do not support well the shady and too humid places. However, they are capable of adapting to almost all types of climates and soil as long as it remains in direct light exposure.
Its common name obviously comes from the purple color of its leaves. It is a lively silver with a creeping bearing of 1 meter in diameter. The most normal thing is that it does not exceed 30 cm in height since it has stems that are not too strong. To make it grow healthily and as long as possible we must support it on the wall or some other structure so that it grows.
The leaves are lanceolate and are mostly around the neck of the stem. They have a length of about 7cm and about 3 cm wide. When it blooms, it does so with small flowers that are usually only 1 cm in diameter. They are flowers that are grouped together forming a terminal structure of the stems. It usually blooms in the spring and summer time when temperatures are higher.
In winter it is able to withstand temperatures between 8 and 10 degreesalthough if we place it in direct sun there will be no problems. The best temperature you can have for your optimal stay is around 18-20 degrees.
It is a hanging plant that can tolerate drier environments. Even so, if during the summer the heat is very strong and the environment is too dry, you have to increase the frequency of watering. The important thing here is to always keep the substrate moist so that the plant can be outdoors and not have problems. On the other hand, in winter it will be necessary to reduce the risks.
Uses of tradescantia pallida
This plant is widely used in patios. It is perfect to make a good combination of colors with other flowers. It gives the exotic touch that our patio or garden needs and that matches well with wall colors of all kinds. We can also have it in pots, in beautiful hanging baskets or in planters. Being a hanging plantwe will be giving more diversity to the decoration of our exteriors and interiors.
The only downside to this plant is that it has great invasive power. In many plantations where glitter was grown, it has managed to escape from the growing area and has multiplied excessively to the point that it is considered a weed. Therefore, you have to be careful in the garden because it could invade the living space of other plants.
It is also used in many public gardens in cities, for the decoration of numerous roundabouts and even hung on many cornices. It is quite an exotic decorative plant that is worth having.
Inside to the family tradescantia We also find other precious specimens for decoration such as Tradescantia zebrina, Tradescantia fluminensis, Tradescantia albiflora, Tradescantia spathacea, Tradescantia Sillamontana, Tradescantia brevicaulis, Tradescantia multiflora, y tradescantia virginiana.
One of the most common uses is to cover the plants with gray or yellow leaves due to the wonderful combination of colors that it gives us. It combines very well with other plants as they are Pachystachys lutea, Phlomis fruticosa, Euryops pectinatus, Centaurea, Artemisia, Santolina y cineraria maritime
Glitter care
As we have mentioned before, the ability of this plant to adapt to all types of climates, environments and terrains is totally spectacular. You only need direct sun exposure or avoid areas that are too shady and / or humid. They are not demanding in terms of the type of soil. They are capable of even thriving in calcareous soils.
Related article:
Pale tradescantia: care
The planting is advisable to do it in the spring time which is when temperatures are higher and they have more energy and hours of sunshine to adapt to new environments. It is important to take this into account, since the plant needs a sufficient period of time to be able to adapt to the new type of soil and to the climatic conditions. During the spring time there are no frosts or low temperatures. We remember that its optimal temperature is between 18 and 20 degrees.
When it comes to watering it, we will need a more abundant watering in the summer and spring time. Always keep the substrate moist. If it begins to dry out, it is an indication that you have to water. In winter it is easier for the plant not to have to be watered as often, since the substrate stays humid for a longer time and the rainfall irrigates it by itself.
Maintenance and multiplication tasks
For optimal growth, it is advisable to fertilize it once a year with some organic fertilizer. Natural compost can be a good option. We can make our own compost to serve as compost for our plants. The time when we must pay is in spring so you can make the most of all the nutrients and flourish in more quantity.
This plant does not require much maintenance, but if we want it to stay lively and in perfect condition, we must do some tasks such as pruning it at the beginning of spring. This way we will be guaranteeing that the oldest branches are eliminated and we will leave space for the new ones. In addition, we will be controlling its growth to prevent it from becoming an invasive plant.
It is quite resistant to pests and diseases, so you won’t have much trouble. If a case any cochineal, which you can treat with diatomaceous earth. Here you can buy it. and in this video you will see how it is applied:
From cuttings in spring, summer or fall, their multiplication is quite easy. Therefore, be careful that they do not spread too much.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about glitter.
