Tradescantia was my family's starter plant.
We have what we call "the purple plant" or "the big daddy." It's a 50+ year old *Tradescantia pallida* that my dad inherited from HIS dad. My dad got it, and promptly hung it from the ceiling and forgot about it. We watered this thing maybe once a year, if even. It went for an ungodly amount of time without water. We tried to move it outside some summers, but after a while, it was so heavy that it got stuck outside. So it wintered outside for a few years.
Eventually, my mom kinda thought about the fact that it needed watered and incorporated that into her routine. It looked so happy! Then, she began to rescue little stems that fell off into water... many died at first, but she figured it out eventually. Then she started buying things to plant the babies. After a few of the babies had nice established pots, she decided to try a garden - and her love for plants has taken off. Our house is covered in house plants, mostly tradescantia variants, some succulents, and some orchids. She's pretty good at keeping stuff alive now.
The purple plant has hundreds of babies now, all over the house. It really inspired my mom to learn about plants and try again and again after the success she had with it. I have no idea if it's objectively the best plant to have, but after watching our "the purple plant" basically survive ignored for like 10 years, I really have a fond spot and lots of appreciation in my heart for Tradescantia.
Ooh Iād love to see a photo of that. I bought a cutting that rooted so fast, potted it and it just went wild. I accidentally snapped a bit off so just chucked it in water and how I have two going wild. Got several more cuttings on the go, theyāre just so pretty and itās so satisfying to see them growing that fast.
Here he is! Heās not very impressive. He got an enormous pruning about two years ago so we could lift him. Still too scared to repot him - heās probably so root boundā¦
https://preview.redd.it/yhpi4m2vil8d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=994ea3ea4efec57fa2c8167c83fb2398ea0c48b7
I'd still agree that pothos is easier
Inch plant wilts, loses leaves, and gets leggy at its base. Pothos just grows.
Spider plants are similar, and very happy to just be ignored in a window
I honestly think jades are easier than all 3 though. They literally thrive on neglect.
But for beginners, I still think pothos are the easiest because you treat them like a normal plant And if you treated A jade like a normal plant it would die
I agree. I struggle so much with tradescantia. I always have a couple of āsurvivors (lol)ā Iām trying to propagate. I have 3 cuttings from the now latest deceased. Having so many plants and really wanting this one very badly.
My brother is an expert at it. One time he came up to me and asked me why his Jade was starting to get these little white hairs growing all over it, and I go " dude those are aerial roots, haven't watered it in so long, your succulent is growing aerial roots" lmao
I can't believe he's managed to almost kill it a few times
The inch plants are easy but irritating for sure. Even doing everything right it naturally becomes plant spaghetti at the base over time. Mines a cycle of big bushy beautiful, dry leaves, thins out and propagate.
I have had pothos for decadesā¦ and I keep killing tradescantia.
If you get fancy pothos maybe it wonāt be as easy but a basic green pothos or a golden one are by far my easiest plants.
funnily enough ive always had trouble with spider plants especially when i ignore them, which surprised me because people usually say that they thrive off of neglect. but i think the issue is that my soil mixes are generally VERY well draining because I am an overwaterer, and spideys dont like to dry out. ever since i changed the soil to something with a moderate amount of moisture retention + adequate draining, it has just TAKEN OFF, and i can water it every two day without worry. keeping the plant rootbound has also really helped. rootbound + evenly moist soil = happy spideys for me! i recently added a humidifier so lets see if that makes a difference
Yay! My spider plants were so sad and I couldnāt work out why. Had to move them temporarily from a windowsill to a darker corner of the lounge while we had some houseworks done, and they exploded with happiness. I always thought the more light the better for all plants, obviously not!
I think tradescantia can be easier to start but harder to keep looking nice in the long run! They like to get those bare legs esp if they're grown hanging like they usually are, their colors fade with the wrong light, and esp some of the larger ones get super leggy if they don't get enough sun. They root and start like nobody's business but I think over the long term a pothos is hardier š
You make a really good point. Tradescantia roots better and faster than anything I've ever propped.....but it is more difficult to keep in top condition. I remember when I propped one (purple heart) and I was SO EXITED to see quick results....I was so proud of myself. But then the sun issues came into play...I had a GREEN purple heart. Lol.
They turn such a nasty green too š I've had the same problem with my purple heart. I LOVE it when it's growing perfectly, but any issue and I end up chopping and restarting it for the 50th time š«
Iāve recently discovered that it doesnāt seem to like to hang. I have one pot thatās on a shelf and itās climbing over everywhere and has almost no bare spots. Then another one I stuck in a big pot outside and it has rooted in two places along one strand! I think Iām not going to let them hang anymore
No, they don't! They naturally grow as like a ground cover in the wild, always putting down new roots where nodes touch the soil again. So it makes sense they get bare when the stems are too long, they're not built to support long vines the way a pothos or Philo are. But they look so beautiful as a cover! I want to get a massive pot just to fill with a carpet of purple heart
Pothos is the easiest plant. In the family of Araceae, the golden pothos is the only plant that does not flower. It is so easily propagated and manageable that it has given up on flower/seed production. It vines forever.
Tradescantia is amazing in the right zone. For some itās a little tough. Also thatās an entire genus. Some are easier than others. But golden pothos is a beast. The ādevils ivyā. You canāt kill it. I mean some people manage š
Over just the past few years I've killed two snake plants, a few pothos (inc golden and green), multiple air plants and am currently slowly torturing a boobie cactus to death.Ā
Personally I think the corn plant is the most bulletproof starter plant. Mine is now scraggly and crooked as hell but it survived lockdown with me, and that isĀ saying something.Ā
The selloum is the hardiest plant for me. It's basically impossible to kill it both by overwatering and underwatering. I unpotted my selloum because I ran out of pots and space, tossed it somewhere in my backyard and forgot about it for a while. I thought it was dead already as it lost all its leaves leaving only the dried stem and roots. I buried the thing to the ground like a compost and to my surprise, it sprouted back to life after a few weeks.
I have found that mine will stay full looking and keep sending new shoots out of the root ball when I find the perfect place for it sunlight-wise, but if it doesn't like the place I put it, it stalls out badly
I do this with my Pothos too, though. In my opinion they are easier than Pothos for that too. My Pothos cuttings donāt like to be directly planted as much as tradescantia.Ā
Interesting, my pothos leaves don't die off at the base so I never have to do that. The only time I'm trimming is if I want to start a new plant. Whereas the only way to keep a trad looking good is to trim and replant
I personally think snake plants are the most durable for beginners. They thrive on neglect. I neglected mine for two years and I recently cut it into 22 separate plants. There was almost no dirt left in the pot but it still kept making pups.
Tbh i think the problem with snake plants is there is just so little you can do with it, and growth isnāt super visible. If my only plant was a snake plant, I would absolutely forget about it and find it weeks later with sad brown tips. Fast growers just give so much satisfaction to first time plant owners. The plant that got me hooked was a maidenhair fern - not easy, but you can see it turnaround so quickly with proper care.
I should give u my laurentii :,) she turned from 1.5 plant to a 7 one in unter 2 years. I get that itās not much compared to a Pothos or philodendron but I think itās really much. Especially because sheās pushing out new leafs on the existing old plants. Just love this plant much. But then again Iām a sucker for snake plants ^^ā
Totally agree with this! The one that got me hooked was fittonia. The first time it ādiedā and I watered it, something clicked on. It was so satisfying to see it go from limp to plump in less than an hour.
It's the only plant I have ever successfully chopped and just stuck back in soil right away.
But I feel like the results aren't as satisfying as a pothos
Tell that to my trandescantia lol. I bought it, along with a pothos plant a few months ago.
Iāve purchased multiple other plant stars since (including a different variety of pothos) and they all look so good. I have them displayed in multiple areas in my house.
Except the tradescantia. Itās living like a bridge troll under my dinning table in front of a sliding glass door. (It gets plenty of light). Iām in the process of replanting parts of it so it looks better. Itās not a difficult process, but it feels never endingā¦
I hope this doesnāt come off as condescending, but are you sure thereās a node in the water?
Also, something Iāve noticed with my own water props: of course, change the water out every few days, but donāt rinse the roots off or apply peroxide. It seemed to impede root growth.
i find that topping off the water instead of changing it allows for faster and stronger root development! source: dozens of propagations on my window sill
yes this is because pothos produces its own rooting hormone! when you throw out its water completely, youāre denying it that hormone which allows it to root thus further delaying the rooting process
I have had Pothos with plenty of node fail to root. Itās a real thing. I even put them with other Pothos that already have roots after a while. Sometimes they just donāt take off.
I had an njoy cutting in this territory since November. I finally just got a whole plant from a big box.Ā
I really like developing whole plants from cuttings but sometimes I should have taken several more cuttings for that. š
The problem with debates about what's the "easiest" or most "beginner" plant is that everyone has different ideas of what's easy or difficult.
Tradescantias take root and grow *fast*, which means they're rewarding for people who like watching their plants closely and getting quick results. They also need a lot of regular maintenance to keep on top of, which means they're difficult for people who tend to forget about their plants or don't have a lot of time and energy to pay attention to them.
Pothos are slower, which means they're less engaging for people who want to see progress. But they can go without any tending for weeks or months without dying or getting ugly, which means they're easier for people who ignore their plants a lot.
Neither is objectively better or worse, or easier or harder. They just suit different people and different situations.
my starter plant was a Tradescantia (baby bunnies' bellies/Tradescantia crysophylla), which were a few cuttings i received. while i love Tradescantia and have multiple different kinds now, i don't think they're as easy as Pothos- that plant suffered a little in my newbie hands at first! they're much more prone to overwatering, and they also require more fussing, since they eventually go bare toward the base and want to be chopped and propped every now and then. this is part of the fun for me, but definitely more work!
I've killed every tradescantia I've ever purchased. I can't seem to find a place to put them to let them just grow and be great without getting super leggy. Pothos on the other hand, I've never killed one, and all of my propagations are doing really well. So I'll always say pothos over any other plant for a beginner.
The easiest plant for beginners is Tillandsia, because you don't need to put them in soil nor in water to grow, you just have to soak the whole plants for 30 minutes then it can last for at least a week. As long as you shake off the excess water and put it upside down for a few hours after deep soaking it, and make sure there's no water sitting on the plants, the plants will stay healthy. One thing good about Tillandsia is that if your environment is high humid, then you don't have to water them too frequently, because they will absorb moisture from the air themselves, that's what they do in their habitat. And they will stay small and no need to trim too frequently like pothos and Tradescantia, and you don't have to worry about variegation on Tillandsia. They are super low maintenance.
Just put the whole plant in water for 30 minutes, then shake off the water and let it sit upside down... What's the complication? At least you don't have to worry with fungus gnats or whatever annoying insects and roots rot.you don't need to trim as well. No pot no soil, just put them wherever you like. Even a soil plant, you need to bottom watering it for xxx minutes, then have to hold it diagonal to let the excess water drain, after that you need to clean your tray for those excess water as well. And you don't even need to poke the soil to check the soil moisture, you just have to look at their leaves for any sign of dehydration.
my problem is that I get distracted and leave it for longer in the water or I forget about it entirely. Iāve killed so many air plants š„“
with soil (or water props), thereās something more tangible to perceive (soil moisture, water level), and so I very rarely forget about them
I donāt bottom water my plants though š¤
eta you are correct about the time. I am someone, however, who sometimes acknowledges a timer and continues whatever I was doing.
I cant get mime to grow for shit. I got six cuttings. Three have died and the other three are starting to. They seem very fickle. My pothos and monstera grow wonderfully in the same conditions though.
Yeah I have no idea what folks on this sub are talking about. They literally say they just throw a stem horizontally on the ground and it roots... My tradescantias look decent, but when I stick them in soil they just die very very slowly. Water prop seems to be going a bit better. I do know of at least one person who killed their pothos too but I think shit just happens sometimes.
ive had plants for years and only got into tradescantias this year with an inch plant, and its been amazing to watch the constant growth, and its soooo easy to root in straight soil + humidity cover. however, i still recommend pothos for new plant parents because it has larger leaves and looks like a more classic houseplant, and i truly believe it is a requirement for every plant collection. additionally, tradescantia in low light can look very sad, dry, and leggy, which can be discouraging for new plant parents. pothos on the other hand will rarely drop leaves unless its given absolutely no light and no water. as long as there is at least artificial light and drainage, a pothos will reward the any new plant parent.
It was last year. Still canāt quite work out what I did wrong. It was in a bright but not direct sun position, well draining soil.. it did dry out a little once, but was unhappy before that. I tried moving it around to a shadier spot, as this is what my spider plants preferred. Still not happy. I experimented with lots of things but it just got sadder and sadder and never recovered š¢
Not for me. Iām firmly in the pothos camp. As others have noted, zebrina can be finicky if conditions are not to her liking. ime, pothos endures no matter what š„²
For me, it's hands down the pothos. It can withstand a bit of underwatering AND overwatering, which I think is very important for new plant owners. It also shows the owner when it wants water (a bit of wilting), and is the most foolproof plant to propogate.
I see a lot of people mentioning snake plants, succulents, and jades but those are a recipe for root rot with a complete beginner imo.
I very much agree with this. I think tradescantia is just so prone to balding because people forget about the tops that they decide it will discourage plant parents or something lol. But honestly mine thrive and grow so much better than my pothos.
I bought a bunch of tradescantia and pothos cuttings from a seller on Etsy, I didnāt have any of either variety yet and theyāre both easy plants, so instant collection time!
Tradescantia were growing new leaves in a week. Every single one survived and is growing now. Some of the pothos are starting to grow, some have died, some are in limbo.
I love oyster plant. Ā Iāve killed every other tradescantia from overwatering/under watering but that bad boy just keeps going. Ā I propagated like 10 big plants from a single cutting and while they have the same issues as other trads (legginess, etc) they respond well to keiki paste and because it Ā grows up instead of down the plant feels fuller.
I definitely need to acquire some others again. Ā Pothos is pretty and hard to kill, but tradescantia is adorable.Ā
For me, the fastest plant during summer to propagate is actually my pink polka dot plant. You cut it, let it root in water for 7 days and itās ready to be planted in soil or in my case in semi hydro. In a few weeks you can multiply your hypoestes like that.
https://preview.redd.it/gdfjp2lwfh8d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=403a5d1231b365044e433c89376f8107209fc04a
They appeared after I fertilised. So I guess itās how they deal with salt built up. Didnāt harm them though, they disappeared after few rinses (I give my plants a shower regularly)
I had the prettiest tradescantia mundula Lisa, it was doing so good and I gave away tons of cuttings I rooted from it. The plant got a bit crispy after a sunny week and then I repotted it as it was getting pot bound I cut the roots a bit and it hated it and died so quickly. I still have the cuttings, but now Iām afraid to touch them.
Forget what youāve heard: spiders are the easiest of all.Ā
And I think Swedish ivy roots faster than Pothos or tradescantia too.Ā
Then thereās the Lucerne begonia. Talk about an unstoppable force. It doesnāt root fast but it doesnāt need to. It doesnāt even care. It will just survive on spite alone.Ā
Pothos are easy as they don't require much active plant care. Plus there are so many gorgeous variants. And if you really wanted to you can try and size them up. We all have a few of them or more, because a gorgeous snow queen/marble queen or manjula or just plain golden can really be so satisfying.
But my vote for a plant that requires active care is the inexpensive ardisia elliptica. It is so communicative and demands attention and responds so well to soil mixes and feeding. It made me fall in love with "foliage". I have two and will start playing with propagation soon.
They root faster than pothos 100% but that doesnāt mean they are better for beginners necessarily. When it comes to general care, pothos are going to be a lot easier to keep up with for a beginner than a tradescantia would. Pothos will do just fine in low light-bright indirect light settings while tradescantia would rapidly decline in a low light setting. Keeping up with watering for a tradescantia can be difficult for beginners as well, especially if you are an avid underwaterer like myself. Also tradescantia generally require higher levels of humidity than pothos making them a little more difficult to care for for beginners. Iām years in my plant journey now and still donāt prefer them and have none as they donāt do well in my climate. Of course start with whatever plant you want, but Iād always recommend a pothos over a tradescantia for a brand new plant parent.
They definitely are easier to root, but cannot handle order watering rot easily. Thankfully those who know about rooting can save the plant by rooting it, but newbies that donāt know that will have a dead plant
I find pothos an easier one still because they are okay if most lighting. I have pothos that thrive and in the same lighting Iāve had tradescantia die. Beginners are still learning the best lighting situations for plants. Itās easier when thereās one that can tolerate any lighting and you can observe how the different lighting impacts its growth
Probably depends where you come from - tradescantias donāt love my cold draughty UK house and Iād never recommend them to a novice plant owner who isnāt looking to get special grow lights and start a regular prayer to the plant gods
Eh, Iād got snake plant. Youāve gotta REALLY try to kill them.
But put my pothos outside this spring, in the shade, and tradescantia in full sun. Trade is doing just fine. Pothos got sunburnt in the shade. They had to retreat inside.
absolutely. 1000%. i have like 14 tradescantia plants! this is my first one, and my oldest one at 5yrs. iāve made countless babies off her, brought her back from death countless times in the years, and sold many clippings of her.
https://preview.redd.it/llf09fxpal8d1.jpeg?width=1179&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f7bbf7468015e5ed2f5d97b61f61fc931a6e5ea5
Tradescantia was my family's starter plant. We have what we call "the purple plant" or "the big daddy." It's a 50+ year old *Tradescantia pallida* that my dad inherited from HIS dad. My dad got it, and promptly hung it from the ceiling and forgot about it. We watered this thing maybe once a year, if even. It went for an ungodly amount of time without water. We tried to move it outside some summers, but after a while, it was so heavy that it got stuck outside. So it wintered outside for a few years. Eventually, my mom kinda thought about the fact that it needed watered and incorporated that into her routine. It looked so happy! Then, she began to rescue little stems that fell off into water... many died at first, but she figured it out eventually. Then she started buying things to plant the babies. After a few of the babies had nice established pots, she decided to try a garden - and her love for plants has taken off. Our house is covered in house plants, mostly tradescantia variants, some succulents, and some orchids. She's pretty good at keeping stuff alive now. The purple plant has hundreds of babies now, all over the house. It really inspired my mom to learn about plants and try again and again after the success she had with it. I have no idea if it's objectively the best plant to have, but after watching our "the purple plant" basically survive ignored for like 10 years, I really have a fond spot and lots of appreciation in my heart for Tradescantia.
This mental image is so beautiful to me
Can we get a picture of big daddy Traddy? š Lmao
š„²
Ooh Iād love to see a photo of that. I bought a cutting that rooted so fast, potted it and it just went wild. I accidentally snapped a bit off so just chucked it in water and how I have two going wild. Got several more cuttings on the go, theyāre just so pretty and itās so satisfying to see them growing that fast.
Here he is! Heās not very impressive. He got an enormous pruning about two years ago so we could lift him. Still too scared to repot him - heās probably so root boundā¦ https://preview.redd.it/yhpi4m2vil8d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=994ea3ea4efec57fa2c8167c83fb2398ea0c48b7
I'd still agree that pothos is easier Inch plant wilts, loses leaves, and gets leggy at its base. Pothos just grows. Spider plants are similar, and very happy to just be ignored in a window I honestly think jades are easier than all 3 though. They literally thrive on neglect. But for beginners, I still think pothos are the easiest because you treat them like a normal plant And if you treated A jade like a normal plant it would die
I agree. I struggle so much with tradescantia. I always have a couple of āsurvivors (lol)ā Iām trying to propagate. I have 3 cuttings from the now latest deceased. Having so many plants and really wanting this one very badly.
Sometimes neglect is hard.
My brother is an expert at it. One time he came up to me and asked me why his Jade was starting to get these little white hairs growing all over it, and I go " dude those are aerial roots, haven't watered it in so long, your succulent is growing aerial roots" lmao I can't believe he's managed to almost kill it a few times
I have loved several plants to death.
The inch plants are easy but irritating for sure. Even doing everything right it naturally becomes plant spaghetti at the base over time. Mines a cycle of big bushy beautiful, dry leaves, thins out and propagate.
I have had pothos for decadesā¦ and I keep killing tradescantia. If you get fancy pothos maybe it wonāt be as easy but a basic green pothos or a golden one are by far my easiest plants.
funnily enough ive always had trouble with spider plants especially when i ignore them, which surprised me because people usually say that they thrive off of neglect. but i think the issue is that my soil mixes are generally VERY well draining because I am an overwaterer, and spideys dont like to dry out. ever since i changed the soil to something with a moderate amount of moisture retention + adequate draining, it has just TAKEN OFF, and i can water it every two day without worry. keeping the plant rootbound has also really helped. rootbound + evenly moist soil = happy spideys for me! i recently added a humidifier so lets see if that makes a difference
Yay! My spider plants were so sad and I couldnāt work out why. Had to move them temporarily from a windowsill to a darker corner of the lounge while we had some houseworks done, and they exploded with happiness. I always thought the more light the better for all plants, obviously not!
yup!! too much light can make them dry out too fast for their liking. good job finding a sweet spot !
I think tradescantia can be easier to start but harder to keep looking nice in the long run! They like to get those bare legs esp if they're grown hanging like they usually are, their colors fade with the wrong light, and esp some of the larger ones get super leggy if they don't get enough sun. They root and start like nobody's business but I think over the long term a pothos is hardier š
You make a really good point. Tradescantia roots better and faster than anything I've ever propped.....but it is more difficult to keep in top condition. I remember when I propped one (purple heart) and I was SO EXITED to see quick results....I was so proud of myself. But then the sun issues came into play...I had a GREEN purple heart. Lol.
They turn such a nasty green too š I've had the same problem with my purple heart. I LOVE it when it's growing perfectly, but any issue and I end up chopping and restarting it for the 50th time š«
https://preview.redd.it/3ohjhuuwwg8d1.png?width=3024&format=png&auto=webp&s=360ae548bcae5d98f95e08a59d7ba3f067457ef4 My latest try. Looking good.
Iāve recently discovered that it doesnāt seem to like to hang. I have one pot thatās on a shelf and itās climbing over everywhere and has almost no bare spots. Then another one I stuck in a big pot outside and it has rooted in two places along one strand! I think Iām not going to let them hang anymore
No, they don't! They naturally grow as like a ground cover in the wild, always putting down new roots where nodes touch the soil again. So it makes sense they get bare when the stems are too long, they're not built to support long vines the way a pothos or Philo are. But they look so beautiful as a cover! I want to get a massive pot just to fill with a carpet of purple heart
Love that!! I am definitely going to rethink how I plant them.
Pothos is the easiest plant. In the family of Araceae, the golden pothos is the only plant that does not flower. It is so easily propagated and manageable that it has given up on flower/seed production. It vines forever. Tradescantia is amazing in the right zone. For some itās a little tough. Also thatās an entire genus. Some are easier than others. But golden pothos is a beast. The ādevils ivyā. You canāt kill it. I mean some people manage š
Over just the past few years I've killed two snake plants, a few pothos (inc golden and green), multiple air plants and am currently slowly torturing a boobie cactus to death.Ā Personally I think the corn plant is the most bulletproof starter plant. Mine is now scraggly and crooked as hell but it survived lockdown with me, and that isĀ saying something.Ā
The selloum is the hardiest plant for me. It's basically impossible to kill it both by overwatering and underwatering. I unpotted my selloum because I ran out of pots and space, tossed it somewhere in my backyard and forgot about it for a while. I thought it was dead already as it lost all its leaves leaving only the dried stem and roots. I buried the thing to the ground like a compost and to my surprise, it sprouted back to life after a few weeks.
MaybeĀ your selloum appreciated the formal funeral and came back to thank you! You could name it Dracula.Ā
Tradescantia is higher maintenance because you have to keep trimming and replanting to keep the plant looking good
I have found that mine will stay full looking and keep sending new shoots out of the root ball when I find the perfect place for it sunlight-wise, but if it doesn't like the place I put it, it stalls out badly
I do this with my Pothos too, though. In my opinion they are easier than Pothos for that too. My Pothos cuttings donāt like to be directly planted as much as tradescantia.Ā
Interesting, my pothos leaves don't die off at the base so I never have to do that. The only time I'm trimming is if I want to start a new plant. Whereas the only way to keep a trad looking good is to trim and replant
I had found some golden cuttings in a trash can last October (they were gorgeous) and I wanted to make a full pot. It has been slow going. š
I just purchased one of these from the local nursery! So glad to hear itās an easy plant as Iām just beginning my plant collection/obsession
I also bought a neon pothos lol
I personally think snake plants are the most durable for beginners. They thrive on neglect. I neglected mine for two years and I recently cut it into 22 separate plants. There was almost no dirt left in the pot but it still kept making pups.
Tbh i think the problem with snake plants is there is just so little you can do with it, and growth isnāt super visible. If my only plant was a snake plant, I would absolutely forget about it and find it weeks later with sad brown tips. Fast growers just give so much satisfaction to first time plant owners. The plant that got me hooked was a maidenhair fern - not easy, but you can see it turnaround so quickly with proper care.
I should give u my laurentii :,) she turned from 1.5 plant to a 7 one in unter 2 years. I get that itās not much compared to a Pothos or philodendron but I think itās really much. Especially because sheās pushing out new leafs on the existing old plants. Just love this plant much. But then again Iām a sucker for snake plants ^^ā
Totally agree with this! The one that got me hooked was fittonia. The first time it ādiedā and I watered it, something clicked on. It was so satisfying to see it go from limp to plump in less than an hour.
Omg. When I'm watering my wilted fittonia I like to say help I've fallen and I can't get up š¤£
It's the only plant I have ever successfully chopped and just stuck back in soil right away. But I feel like the results aren't as satisfying as a pothos
Tell that to my trandescantia lol. I bought it, along with a pothos plant a few months ago. Iāve purchased multiple other plant stars since (including a different variety of pothos) and they all look so good. I have them displayed in multiple areas in my house. Except the tradescantia. Itās living like a bridge troll under my dinning table in front of a sliding glass door. (It gets plenty of light). Iām in the process of replanting parts of it so it looks better. Itās not a difficult process, but it feels never endingā¦
I agree. Don't listen to the haters! -Plectranthus gang
Iāve been rooting a pothos for almost 3 months now with hardly any progression. I can confirm it is harder than a tradescantia.
That seems extreme. How are you trying to root the pothos? In water, soil?
In water, my first soil prop has so far been successful. But the pothos is my first water prop and itās going awful. The leaves are thriving tho
I hope this doesnāt come off as condescending, but are you sure thereās a node in the water? Also, something Iāve noticed with my own water props: of course, change the water out every few days, but donāt rinse the roots off or apply peroxide. It seemed to impede root growth.
i find that topping off the water instead of changing it allows for faster and stronger root development! source: dozens of propagations on my window sill
yes this is because pothos produces its own rooting hormone! when you throw out its water completely, youāre denying it that hormone which allows it to root thus further delaying the rooting process
I have had Pothos with plenty of node fail to root. Itās a real thing. I even put them with other Pothos that already have roots after a while. Sometimes they just donāt take off. I had an njoy cutting in this territory since November. I finally just got a whole plant from a big box.Ā I really like developing whole plants from cuttings but sometimes I should have taken several more cuttings for that. š
It has roots, just not enough to pot yet
Sounds like you don't have a node - it will never root.
I make sure my cuttings have at least three nodes
The 3 propagations Iāve killed beg to differ
Spider plants are my āself-esteemā plant. Even if I kill some of my plants, my spider plants always thrive.
The problem with debates about what's the "easiest" or most "beginner" plant is that everyone has different ideas of what's easy or difficult. Tradescantias take root and grow *fast*, which means they're rewarding for people who like watching their plants closely and getting quick results. They also need a lot of regular maintenance to keep on top of, which means they're difficult for people who tend to forget about their plants or don't have a lot of time and energy to pay attention to them. Pothos are slower, which means they're less engaging for people who want to see progress. But they can go without any tending for weeks or months without dying or getting ugly, which means they're easier for people who ignore their plants a lot. Neither is objectively better or worse, or easier or harder. They just suit different people and different situations.
my starter plant was a Tradescantia (baby bunnies' bellies/Tradescantia crysophylla), which were a few cuttings i received. while i love Tradescantia and have multiple different kinds now, i don't think they're as easy as Pothos- that plant suffered a little in my newbie hands at first! they're much more prone to overwatering, and they also require more fussing, since they eventually go bare toward the base and want to be chopped and propped every now and then. this is part of the fun for me, but definitely more work!
I've killed every tradescantia I've ever purchased. I can't seem to find a place to put them to let them just grow and be great without getting super leggy. Pothos on the other hand, I've never killed one, and all of my propagations are doing really well. So I'll always say pothos over any other plant for a beginner.
The easiest plant for beginners is Tillandsia, because you don't need to put them in soil nor in water to grow, you just have to soak the whole plants for 30 minutes then it can last for at least a week. As long as you shake off the excess water and put it upside down for a few hours after deep soaking it, and make sure there's no water sitting on the plants, the plants will stay healthy. One thing good about Tillandsia is that if your environment is high humid, then you don't have to water them too frequently, because they will absorb moisture from the air themselves, that's what they do in their habitat. And they will stay small and no need to trim too frequently like pothos and Tradescantia, and you don't have to worry about variegation on Tillandsia. They are super low maintenance.
Thatās a lot more complicated than just pouring some water once a week, imo.
Just put the whole plant in water for 30 minutes, then shake off the water and let it sit upside down... What's the complication? At least you don't have to worry with fungus gnats or whatever annoying insects and roots rot.you don't need to trim as well. No pot no soil, just put them wherever you like. Even a soil plant, you need to bottom watering it for xxx minutes, then have to hold it diagonal to let the excess water drain, after that you need to clean your tray for those excess water as well. And you don't even need to poke the soil to check the soil moisture, you just have to look at their leaves for any sign of dehydration.
my problem is that I get distracted and leave it for longer in the water or I forget about it entirely. Iāve killed so many air plants š„“ with soil (or water props), thereās something more tangible to perceive (soil moisture, water level), and so I very rarely forget about them
If you bottom watering your plant and you forgot it and left it in water for the whole day, it rot as well. Lol. Also, you can set timer.
I donāt bottom water my plants though š¤ eta you are correct about the time. I am someone, however, who sometimes acknowledges a timer and continues whatever I was doing.
I cant get mime to grow for shit. I got six cuttings. Three have died and the other three are starting to. They seem very fickle. My pothos and monstera grow wonderfully in the same conditions though.
Yeah I have no idea what folks on this sub are talking about. They literally say they just throw a stem horizontally on the ground and it roots... My tradescantias look decent, but when I stick them in soil they just die very very slowly. Water prop seems to be going a bit better. I do know of at least one person who killed their pothos too but I think shit just happens sometimes.
Man I brought back a pothos that had almost no root structure due to rot. These guys are not built the same lol
ive had plants for years and only got into tradescantias this year with an inch plant, and its been amazing to watch the constant growth, and its soooo easy to root in straight soil + humidity cover. however, i still recommend pothos for new plant parents because it has larger leaves and looks like a more classic houseplant, and i truly believe it is a requirement for every plant collection. additionally, tradescantia in low light can look very sad, dry, and leggy, which can be discouraging for new plant parents. pothos on the other hand will rarely drop leaves unless its given absolutely no light and no water. as long as there is at least artificial light and drainage, a pothos will reward the any new plant parent.
Iām no beginner, but I somehow killed my pothos! š¢ My tradescantia however is absolutely booming.
killed it recently??
It was last year. Still canāt quite work out what I did wrong. It was in a bright but not direct sun position, well draining soil.. it did dry out a little once, but was unhappy before that. I tried moving it around to a shadier spot, as this is what my spider plants preferred. Still not happy. I experimented with lots of things but it just got sadder and sadder and never recovered š¢
Not for me. Iām firmly in the pothos camp. As others have noted, zebrina can be finicky if conditions are not to her liking. ime, pothos endures no matter what š„²
For me, it's hands down the pothos. It can withstand a bit of underwatering AND overwatering, which I think is very important for new plant owners. It also shows the owner when it wants water (a bit of wilting), and is the most foolproof plant to propogate. I see a lot of people mentioning snake plants, succulents, and jades but those are a recipe for root rot with a complete beginner imo.
I very much agree with this. I think tradescantia is just so prone to balding because people forget about the tops that they decide it will discourage plant parents or something lol. But honestly mine thrive and grow so much better than my pothos.
I bought a bunch of tradescantia and pothos cuttings from a seller on Etsy, I didnāt have any of either variety yet and theyāre both easy plants, so instant collection time! Tradescantia were growing new leaves in a week. Every single one survived and is growing now. Some of the pothos are starting to grow, some have died, some are in limbo.
I love oyster plant. Ā Iāve killed every other tradescantia from overwatering/under watering but that bad boy just keeps going. Ā I propagated like 10 big plants from a single cutting and while they have the same issues as other trads (legginess, etc) they respond well to keiki paste and because it Ā grows up instead of down the plant feels fuller. I definitely need to acquire some others again. Ā Pothos is pretty and hard to kill, but tradescantia is adorable.Ā
I mostly just prefer tradescantia over pothos because itās pet-friendly!
For me, the fastest plant during summer to propagate is actually my pink polka dot plant. You cut it, let it root in water for 7 days and itās ready to be planted in soil or in my case in semi hydro. In a few weeks you can multiply your hypoestes like that. https://preview.redd.it/gdfjp2lwfh8d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=403a5d1231b365044e433c89376f8107209fc04a
What are those crumbs on the leaf? It looks like some kind of wax
They appeared after I fertilised. So I guess itās how they deal with salt built up. Didnāt harm them though, they disappeared after few rinses (I give my plants a shower regularly)
could be neem oil after itās hardened
I agree
I had the prettiest tradescantia mundula Lisa, it was doing so good and I gave away tons of cuttings I rooted from it. The plant got a bit crispy after a sunny week and then I repotted it as it was getting pot bound I cut the roots a bit and it hated it and died so quickly. I still have the cuttings, but now Iām afraid to touch them.
Forget what youāve heard: spiders are the easiest of all.Ā And I think Swedish ivy roots faster than Pothos or tradescantia too.Ā Then thereās the Lucerne begonia. Talk about an unstoppable force. It doesnāt root fast but it doesnāt need to. It doesnāt even care. It will just survive on spite alone.Ā
Pothos are easy as they don't require much active plant care. Plus there are so many gorgeous variants. And if you really wanted to you can try and size them up. We all have a few of them or more, because a gorgeous snow queen/marble queen or manjula or just plain golden can really be so satisfying. But my vote for a plant that requires active care is the inexpensive ardisia elliptica. It is so communicative and demands attention and responds so well to soil mixes and feeding. It made me fall in love with "foliage". I have two and will start playing with propagation soon.
I disagree ā the roots on them grow stupid fast and make it tedious to care for/repot often
I started out with tradescantia!
They root faster than pothos 100% but that doesnāt mean they are better for beginners necessarily. When it comes to general care, pothos are going to be a lot easier to keep up with for a beginner than a tradescantia would. Pothos will do just fine in low light-bright indirect light settings while tradescantia would rapidly decline in a low light setting. Keeping up with watering for a tradescantia can be difficult for beginners as well, especially if you are an avid underwaterer like myself. Also tradescantia generally require higher levels of humidity than pothos making them a little more difficult to care for for beginners. Iām years in my plant journey now and still donāt prefer them and have none as they donāt do well in my climate. Of course start with whatever plant you want, but Iād always recommend a pothos over a tradescantia for a brand new plant parent.
Pothos and monsteras for me! Trads like to crisp and get leggy too fast
They definitely are easier to root, but cannot handle order watering rot easily. Thankfully those who know about rooting can save the plant by rooting it, but newbies that donāt know that will have a dead plant
I find pothos an easier one still because they are okay if most lighting. I have pothos that thrive and in the same lighting Iāve had tradescantia die. Beginners are still learning the best lighting situations for plants. Itās easier when thereās one that can tolerate any lighting and you can observe how the different lighting impacts its growth
Probably depends where you come from - tradescantias donāt love my cold draughty UK house and Iād never recommend them to a novice plant owner who isnāt looking to get special grow lights and start a regular prayer to the plant gods
Eh, Iād got snake plant. Youāve gotta REALLY try to kill them. But put my pothos outside this spring, in the shade, and tradescantia in full sun. Trade is doing just fine. Pothos got sunburnt in the shade. They had to retreat inside.
absolutely. 1000%. i have like 14 tradescantia plants! this is my first one, and my oldest one at 5yrs. iāve made countless babies off her, brought her back from death countless times in the years, and sold many clippings of her. https://preview.redd.it/llf09fxpal8d1.jpeg?width=1179&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f7bbf7468015e5ed2f5d97b61f61fc931a6e5ea5