Purple-heart (Tradescantia pallida) can be propagated from cuttings. The steps to do this are:
- Get a cutting from the original plant. Ideally, it will be 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 centimetres) long.
- Let the cutting sit out of the sun for 1 to 3 days to allow the end of it to callus over to reduce the chance that it will rot.
- Fill a plastic grow pot with some regular potting mix and insert the end of the cutting 2 to 3 inches (5 to 7 centimetres) into the pot.
- Place the pot somewhere outside where it won’t get hit with any direct sunlight, but will get indirect sunlight most of the day.
- Water the pot every 2 to 3 days until the plant grows its own roots and establishes itself.
- After 2 to 4 weeks roots will begin to grow.
These plants are considered ground cover plants.
Purple-heart plants are succulent plants and they propagate very easily. For more detailed steps on propagating these plants, read below.
Steps to Propagate a Purple Heart Plant
How to Propagate a Purple Heart Plant
Get a Cutting
Using a clean knife or a pair of secateurs, take a cutting off of the original purple-heart plant.
The cutting length will ideally be anywhere between 4 to 8 inches (10 to 20 centimetres) long.
Prepare Cutting
Remove any dead and excess leave from the lower end of the cutting. The less leaves the purple-heart cutting has to support, the more likely it will get to the stage of growing roots.
Once done, place the cutting indoors away from indirect light for 1 to 3 days. This will allow the end of the cutting to dry out and callus over. If you skip this step there is a chance that the cutting will rot.
Pot the Cutting
Fill a plastic grow pot with a good quality potting mix. Then insert the cutting end into the potting mix. Firm up the soil around the cutting so it is held firmly in place.
Water the Purple-Heart Cutting
Give the purple-heart cutting a really good water, then depending on your climate water it every 2 to 3 days. Check the soil regularly and if the soil is drying out quickly then water it more frequently.
On-Going Care
Place the purple-heart cutting outside somewhere it won’t get any direct sunlight but will get indirect sunlight for most of the day. This is to hopefully prevent the plant from drying up before it can grow any roots.
Supply:
- Purple-heart cutting (Tradescantia Pallida 'Purpurea')
- Grow pot
- Potting mix
FAQs
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How Can You Propagate the Purple-Heart Plant?
The purple-heart plant can be propagated by either:
(1) Seeds. This method is very uncommon and harvesting seeds from these plants isn’t very easy.
(2) Cuttings. This is by far the easiest method. I explain how to do this at the top of this page. -
Can Purple Heart Grow from Cutting?
Yes, purple-heart plants can grow from cuttings. Read my how-to guide above to learn more about how to do it.
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How Do You Root Purple Heart Cuttings in Water?
Simply take your cutting from a purple heart plant and place it directly into a vase or jar of water. It will take only a couple of weeks to grow roots, and it can then be transferred to a pot or outside into the ground.
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How Long Does It Take Purple Heart Cuttings to Root?
In my experience, it takes anywhere from 2 to 4 weeks for purple-heart cuttings to grow roots. The climate and weather when you are doing it will have an impact on how fast your cutting grows roots.
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How Do You Make a Purple-Heart Plant Bushy?
When a new stem grows you just pinch the top of it off. This will make it put out more shoots where the stem was pulled off and make a much bushier plant.
Final Thoughts
The purple-heart plant looks great anywhere from being in pots to being a ground covering plant. I hope you have success in your cutting propagation.
