You've probably seen this fashionable plant on your Instagram
feed. Fantasy Venice, also known as Tradescantia Nanouk (Tradescantia albiflora
'Nanouk'), is a particular type of spiderwort plant that has become a must-have
for plant lovers. Its luscious leaves have pink, white, purple, and green
stripes on tall stems. It can develop as a long trailing ivy under the correct
conditions, and little white and yellow flowers will emerge from its pink buds
during the growing season. Tradescantia Nanouk is a fast-growing, robust plant.
This plant was created with the
intention of being colorful, appealing, and simple to grow. Tradescantia Nanouk
is unique among Tradescantia and Zebrina plants in that it is a patented plant
that was developed in the Netherlands in 2012.
Botanical Name: Tradescantia albiflora ‘Nanouk’.
Common Name: Tradescantia Nanouk, Fantasy Venice
Plant Type: Perennial, trailing vine
Mature Size: 3–6 inches high, 12–24 inches long (trailing)
Sun Exposure: Bright, indirect light
Soil Type: Well-draining potting mix, optional vermiculite or peat moss
Soil pH: 5.0–6.5
Toxicity: Toxic to cats and dogs
Plant Care
Tradescantia Nanouk thrives in
bright, indirect light, so a window facing north or east is ideal. Water your
plant when the top inch or two of soil is dry, but don't allow it to dry out
completely. Because north-facing windows receive less light than east-facing
ones, your plant will require less water.
Because Tradescantia Nanouk grows in
a humid climate, it's an excellent choice for a bathroom window, as the steam
from your shower or tub will keep the air moist. You may also create a humid
environment by grouping your Tradescantia Nanouk with other humidity-loving
plants and using a humidifier in the vicinity. Create a humidifying tray
beneath your plant as another alternative.
Because Tradescantia Nanouk is such a
hardy plant, it doesn't need to be fertilized. During the spring and summer
growing seasons, treat your plant with a normal houseplant fertilizer diluted
to half strength every two to four weeks.
Save the stem cuttings from pruning
your Tradescantia Nanouk and use them to propagate new plants.
Best Growing Conditions for Tradescantia Nanouk
Tradescantia Nanouk thrives in
temperatures as high as 75 degrees during the day, with nighttime temperatures
ideally in the mid-50s. You're probably overwatering if you see yellowing
leaves and rotten roots. Wilted leaves, on the other hand, could indicate that
you're submerged.
When potting your Tradescantia
Nanouk, use a regular, well-draining houseplant soil. Adding a few handfuls of
perlite, orchid bark, or coarse sand to the mix will help with drainage. To
protect domestic surfaces, use a pot or container with a hole in the bottom and
a drainage tray.
Your Tradescantia Nanouk will flower
during the growing season if the conditions are favorable (roughly spring
through autumn). It produces small, star-shaped flowers with white, yellow, and
pink highlights.
Types of Tradescantia Nanouk
Many distinct Tradescantia and
Zebrina variations are comparable to the Tradescantia Nanouk. The wandering Jew
(T. zebrina), spiderwort is commonly grown inside and in gardens, is perhaps
the most common. The inch plant (T. cerinthoides), which gets its name from its
tendency to "inch along" as it grows along the ground or trails
downward from a hanging planter, is another popular variant.
The boat lily (T. spathacea) has
similar hues to Tradescantia Nanouk, but instead of vine-like stems, it
develops long, pointed leaves from an upright cluster. T. sillamontana,
sometimes known as cobweb spiderwort and resembling nothing else in the genus,
belongs to the same family. With its fuzzy, geometric-shaped leaves and vibrant
purple blossoms, though, you might not think so.
T. fluminensis, sometimes known as
small-leaf spiderwort, is the most similar to Tradescantia Nanouk in
appearance. It is commonly planted indoors or as a ground cover. This trailing
version has the same pink, white, and green colors as the upright variety, but
has white flowers and leaves with more noticeable green parts.
How to Propagate Tradescantia Nanouk
Tradescantia Nanouk, like its
Tradescantia and Zebrina relatives, is very easy to propagate from the tip and
stem cuttings. Starting cuttings in water lets you monitor root growth, which
is more convenient than starting them in soil. There are numerous ways to
propagate Tradescantia Nanouk. Here's how to do it:
Step 1: Choose
stems with a couple of sets of leaves from the mother plant. These cuttings are
perfect for starting a new plant from scratch.
Step 2: Make
a diagonal cut on the stem near the plant's base with clean, sterilized
pruners. Remove the bottom leaves of the cutting, leaving a couple of sets of
leaves.
Step 3: Half-fill
a couple of jars with water. Fill the jars halfway with water, just below the
leaves, and place the cuttings in them. Simply use a small container filled
with dirt instead of water to propagate with soil.
Step 4: Keep
the cuttings warm in a bright, indirect light source, but keep them out of
direct sunlight. Roots should emerge from the submerged leaf nodes over the
next few weeks. As needed, add extra water.
Step 5: The
cuttings are ready to plant when the roots are at least 2 inches long. Fill a
pot with dirt and four cuttings around the pot's edge, with a fifth cutting in
the center, to form a full-looking adult plant.
Step 6: Care
for your new Tradescantia Nanouk as usual.
Common Growing Problems With Tradescantia Nanouk
Although Tradescantia Nanouk was
developed to be a low-maintenance plant, it is susceptible to common problems
such as root rot and leaf color loss.
- Rotten roots
Water the soil directly to avoid getting water in the space between the leaves, which can cause the plant to rot. Waterings should be done regularly to keep the soil moist and not completely dry.
- Discoloration of leafs
Choose a location that receives
bright, indirect light. Tradescantia Tradescantia Tradescantia Tradescantia
Trade Nanouk plants are most likely getting insufficient sunlight. Try moving
your plant from a north-facing window to the east side of your house. A sunny
bathroom window is usually a good area to restore wilted plants to their former
glory. While this plant can thrive in low-light conditions,
- Potting and Repotting Tradescantia
Nanouk
Since this species is so vigorous,
it’s a good idea to repot your plant once a year or so. Use a container one
size larger than the previous pot, and fill it with fresh potting soil.
Pinching new growth or cutting back your Tradescantia Nanouk will encourage it
to grow fuller and bushier. Since this plant hates having soggy roots, make
sure you choose a new container with holes for drainage.
FAQs
Is Tradescantia Nanouk Easy to Care For?
Yes, Tradescantia Nanouk is an
easy-growing plant, however, you'll need to watch out for root rot (avoid
getting the area between the leaves wet) and loss of leaf color (choose a
growing spot with bright, indirect light).
How Fast Does Tradescantia Nanouk Grow?
With the right growing conditions,
Tradescantia Nanouk is very fast-growing and vigorous. You'll want to repot
once a year on average.
Can Tradescantia Nanouk Grow Indoors?
Yes. A humid environment is ideal so Tradescantia Nanouk thrives near bathroom windows or near a humidifier.
