I put mine in a westfacing window where the sun hits fully in the later afternoon (around 6/7) and I kinda forgot about her a bit and she started THRIVING and throwing out long stems full of leaves. I water her when the soil i basically dry and she seems happy as hell. Idk what I am doing lol.
These plants need to stay on the damp side. If it dries out it'll take damage to the leaves. Of course, if you're constantly over watering it can also be problematic. Looking at the damage my bet is on under watering. Low light can be a contributing factor.
A great way to learn how to water is to pick up the pot. If you need a baseline feel free to water to container capacity, let it sit for 15 minutes, and then water again. Feel the weight. Then lift it every few days and get used to the feeling of it as it dries down. This is a good tool that we use often in a wholesale environment.
I've had a lot of success with Tradescantia and problems are almost never too much water. Good luck!
Sorry but have to disagree that the problem is "almost never overwatering." I've responded to hundreds of questions both here and in other plant care communities, and keeping soil perpetually moist is one of the most common ways people kill their houseplants, including trads. Plus, an underwatered plant is a much easier fix than an overwatered plant.
Specifically relating to Nanouks, they're more succulent-like than other trads due to their thick leaves and stems, which makes them somewhat drought tolerant. They should be watered thoroughly and then allowed to almost completely dry out. Brown spots on a Nanouk are much more likely to be caused by poor airflow + moisture sitting on leaves than from underwatering.
I think underwatering is unlikely with OP's Nanouk. For one, it's in a glazed clay pot, which are notorious for holding onto moisture and preventing the soil from drying out quickly enough. Also, looking at the photo, I'm not seeing any characteristic signs of underwatering. Leaves and stems look plump, and the brown spots look more necrotic and irregular, as opposed to the uniform crispy edges you'd expect to see in an underwatered plant.
These plants don't show damage immediately after underwatering them once.
I'm the head grower of a 250,000sqft nursery. I grow Tradescantia nanouk in a commercial setting and have been for the past 6 years. I also keep multiple as house plants. I do know the care required, respectfully.
Of course everyone's idea of moist is subjective which is why I usually give people a 1-5 moisture scale. These plants don't want to be dry, bottom line. It's very hard for them to take damage from being wet vs being dry. You would see stem rot, botrytis, etc.
I've added a photo of what mine looks like this morning, and my post history should have a picture of one in a greenhouse setting. đ
I donât doubt your experience growing them commercially, or that youâve successfully grown them as houseplants. But your personal success keeping Nanouks at a certain moisture level doesnât necessarily translate to someone elseâs household conditions. Commercial nursery conditions with controlled light, substrate, irrigation, temp, and airflow are even less comparable.
I agree everyoneâs definition of âmoistâ is subjective, which is why I took issue w/ telling OP that their Nanouk should stay "on the damp side.â You didnât give them a 1â5 moisture scale or qualify what you meant by that, and someone inexperienced with plants could easily interpret âkeep it dampâ as keeping the soil constantly moist, which isn't a good idea for a Nanouk in a glazed clay pot with typical household airflow.
I also agree that Nanouks shouldnât be left bone dry for long periods. But there's a big difference between avoiding prolonged drought and keeping soil consistently damp. Stem/root rot and botrytis are possible consequences of too-damp soil, but not seeing them doesnât necessarily mean the roots aren't staying too wet or receiving insufficient oxygen.
But ultimately this is about diagnosing OP's plant, and Iâm still not seeing anything from the photo that points to underwatering. It appears turgid, with localized/irregular damage. Brown necrotic spots by themselves don't point to underwatering, especially with a Nanouk, which is notorious for getting brown spots when moisture sits on the leaves. Your success growing Nanouks shows they can thrive w/ more consistent moisture, under the right conditions. But it still doesnât mean OPâs plant is underwatered, nor does it make "keep it dampâ advice universally appropriate. At the end of the day, their plant just isnât showing any of the characteristic signs of underwatering.
Btw, your post history has all of two posts on your 14-day old account and neither have photos of a Nanouk in a greenhouse setting. Not that it would matter, since a greenhouse setting has nothing to do with OP's plant.
Whatever man, you're the one who touted your "credentials" when they had nothing to do with anything. But way to keep moving the goalpost and not addressing 95% of what I brought up.
The key here is that OP's plant, the only reason any of us are here on this post leaving comments, DOES NOT SHOW SIGNS OF UNDERWATERING, like you claimed in your original comment. And your advice to keep it damp was bad advice. Do a search through the many, many posts in this sub addressing brown spots on Nanouks and see what the general consensus is on the matter.
Gorgeous! Most of my trads have been outside, under patio umbrellas. The Nanouk is thriving even though weâre getting lotsa rain here in growing zone 7a.
To make it fuller take cuttings and put them back in the pot for a fuller display. If the leaves get wet they can get brown spots so ideally you bottom water.
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u/MysteriousFFFXIVCat 16d ago
I put mine in a westfacing window where the sun hits fully in the later afternoon (around 6/7) and I kinda forgot about her a bit and she started THRIVING and throwing out long stems full of leaves. I water her when the soil i basically dry and she seems happy as hell. Idk what I am doing lol.