Oyster Plant Care: Tips For Growing Tradescantia Spathacea (Rhoeo)

In the winter, water about once every two weeks.

Dwarf Oyster Plant

A nice, slow-spreading plant, oyster prefers a part sun to part shade location to look its best.

It’s ideal under small palms like the pygmy date palm pictured, or it can be used as border plants for beds.

With its subtly attractive texture and color, dwarf oyster has a neat appearance in a dense bed and works well in formal or casual landscapes.

The dwarf is now the most common oyster plant sold, an improved cultivar of a taller (1 to 2 foot) one which was once often used as a landscape plant but is rarely seen now, partly due to its invasiveness.

There is a showy variegated form called ‘Tricolor’ with leaves of pink-fuschia, green and white.

The sap of this plant contains toxins and can cause skin irritations on people and animals. If you have sensitive skin, wear garden gloves when handling.

Plant specs

Dwarf oyster is a slow to moderate grower that grows in any light but does best in part shade to partial sun.

The variegated variety needs partial shade.

These plants only get about 8 inches tall. They do best in Zone 10 and areas of Zone 9B that border Zone 10, especially in a protected spot.

Plant care

If the area is very dry, add top soil to the hole when you plant. Otherwise, no soil amendment is needed.

No trimming is necessary, other than edging to keep it neat and tidy. You may need to thin the bed out every couple of years – removing older plants to let young ones fill in.

Dwarf oyster plant is considered drought-tolerant once it’s established. This plant will do best with regular irrigation and enough time between waterings for the soil to go dry.

Be sure the planting area drains well. In a partly shaded area, the soil takes longer to dry out, and these are succulent ground covers that won’t take “wet feet.”

Fertilize twice a year – in spring and late summer – with a good controlled-release fertilizer.

Plant spacing

You can place these groundcovers 1 to 2 feet apart. Come in from walks and drives a foot or more.

Because the plant stays low in height, it can be planted fairly close to other plants – about 1-1/2 to 2 feet – as long as the larger plants won’t eventually block out the little oyster’s light.

These plants will work in containers, though if you have sensitive skin handling them (you’re more likely to come in contact with a container plant) may be an issue.

GOOD SNOWBIRD PLANT? YES

Other groundcovers you might like: Dwarf Ruella, Purple Queen

Oyster Plant Care: Tips For Growing Tradescantia Spathacea (Rhoeo)

The oyster plants, Rhoeo spathacea, [ROH-ee-oh] [spath-ay-SEE-uh], displays boat-shaped bracts holding little white flowers.

The oyster plant comes from the warm, humid regions of Central America where it’s commonly found growing in the shade of taller plants.

Rhoeo spathacea is native to Guatemala, Belize, and Southern Mexico.

These tropical plants are also naturalized in North America in Louisiana and South Florida where it’s considered an invasive species.

The beautiful oyster plant has become a popular choice for its simple yet bold appearance.

The variegated sports has unique foliage featuring three colors with stripes of green, pink, and white on top and purple underneath.

The distinct foliage gives Rhoeo spathacea several of its common names:

• Rhoeo tricolor
• Tricolor oyster plant
• Boat lily
• Moses in a boat
• Moses in the cradle

Part of the Commelinaceae family, Rhoeo spathacea also has several synonyms, including Tradescantia spathacea.

Oyster Plant Quick Care Tips

• Botanical Name: Tradescantia Spathacea Rhoeo
  Common Name(s): Moses-in-the-Cradle, Oyster Plant, Boat Lily
  Synonyms: Rhoeo discolor, Tradescantia discolor
  Family and Origin: Commelinaceae family, native to Guatemala, Belize and Southern Mexico
  Growability: Easy to grow
  Grow Zone: USDA zones 9-11
  Size: Grows up to 1-2′ feet tall and wide
  Flowering: Produces small white flowers in the summer
  Light: Prefers bright, indirect light but can tolerate low light
  Humidity: Tolerates low humidity but prefers higher humidity levels
  Temperature: Thrives in temperatures between 60-85°F
  Soil: Well-draining soil with organic matter
  Water: Water when the top inch of soil is dry, do not overwater
  Fertilizer: Fertilize once a month during the growing season with a balanced fertilizer
  Pests and Diseases: Susceptible to spider mites and mealybugs, can also develop root rot if overwatered
  Propagation: Propagate through stem cuttings or by division
  Plant Uses: Used as a houseplant or in outdoor landscaping as a ground cover or border plant.

Tradescantia is from the well known wandering Jew plant family.

No matter what you decide to call it, make sure these foliage plants get the right amount of humidity and shade.

Moses-In-The-Cradle Care

Size and Growth

The dwarf oyster plant isn’t a big plant.

It rarely grows more than 18″ inches tall, making it easy to manage.

As mentioned, the oyster plant produces tri-colored leaves.

The tops include stripes with light colors while the bottoms feature a dark purplish color.

The leaves grow directly from the base of the plant without tall stems or branches.

Flowering and Fragrance

Rhoeo Oyster plant flowers also grow directly from the base, but most people choose to grow this plant for its striking tricolor and sometimes, green leaves.

The flowers are small and hard to notice as they grow close to each other at the base.

The little white petals appear on cradle-like bracts and last for many months but don’t produce a noticeable fragrance.

Light and Temperature

The best outdoor growing conditions include USDA hardiness zones 9 to 11.

In the summer, oyster plant grows well in temperatures in the low 70s.

During the colder months, keep the plant in a location that stays above 60° degrees Fahrenheit.

Outside of the recommended hardiness zone 10, the plant likely needs to overwinter indoors.

Avoid setting the plant in drafty spots or areas with much wind.

Rhoeo plants enjoy part sun and part shade.

When grown indoors, place in a north-facing or east-facing window to avoid giving the plant too much bright sunlight.

In the winter, move the plant to a window without direct sun, such as a part sun and part shade east-facing window.

Watering and Feeding

Water the drought tolerant oyster plant thoroughly about once per week but avoid overwatering.

If water stands in the dish below the pot, it’s getting too much water. Feed with a houseplant fertilizer throughout the active growing season.

In the winter, water about once every two weeks.

Don’t use fertilizer in the winter.

Watering is important, but humidity is the greater concern.

Use frequent misting with a spray bottle to keep the plant moist, especially during the dry winter months.

Soil and Transplanting

Moses, in a boat, grows best in very porous potting mix. Plant in a pot with a drainage hole for faster drainage. To create the right conditions, mix leaf mold with light humus.

Transplant this low maintenance plant every two to three years but don’t move up to a larger pot unless repotting a younger plant.

If the pot is too big, the root system will take too much of the nourishment, stunting the development of the attractive leaves.

Grooming and Maintenance

Oyster plant doesn’t require grooming, but some growers like to clean up the fallen leaves.

How To Propagate Rhoeo Spathacea

Propagate the oyster plant using cuttings or seed.

To propagate with cuttings, use these simple steps:

• In the early spring, cut the top of the plant off. This encourages the plant to produce side shoots.
• Cut the shoots off after they reach two to four inches.
• Plant the cuttings in well-drained potting soil. To create the right medium, mix equal parts standard soil, leaf mold, and sand.
• Cover the cuttings with plastic or glass and set in a warm but shaded location.
• After about two months, the new shoots should appear.

To try propagating from seed, pollinate the flowers and then harvest the seeds in September or October.

Germinate the seeds throughout November and December for sowing in the spring.

Oyster Plant Pests and Diseases

Mealybugs (tiny white bugs on plants) and other pests may appear.

Treat these infestations with insecticide or try washing them away with a spray bottle or hose.

If the leaves appear dead or brown, the plant is likely getting too much of full sun.

Move it to a shadier spot or a window that gets less sunlight.

Neck and root rot is another concern. It occurs when the plant receives too much water and not enough humidity.

Cut back on watering and increase misting with a spray bottle.

NOTE: Handling the oyster plant may cause skin irritation.

Uses For Moses In A Cradle

The dwarf oyster plant doesn’t like high light, making it an excellent option for placing underneath taller plants.

They also look great on their own on a stand, shelf in a small pot or as container plants.

Rhoeos Spathacea makes a great plant for hanging baskets, window boxes and garden ground cover.

For the best results, grow it with others of its kind as grouping multiple plants helps to keep the humidity levels up.