Moses-in-the-cradle

Moses-in-the-cradle: how do you recognise it?

Habit

Compact, stiff rosette about 40 cm tall and wide, on a short stem; forms offsets over time.

Leaves

Lance-shaped, 15–30 cm, firm and fleshy-leathery; dark green above, purple-red underneath.

Flowers

Small white flowers between two boat- or basket-shaped purple bracts, in the leaf axils.

Roots

Fibrous and shallow: it likes a sturdy pot that is not too big.

Plants: March–April

Why grow it?

• Tough and easy: tolerates dry air, some sun and the odd forgotten watering.
• Striking foliage: dark green above and purple-red underneath, in a sturdy rosette.
• Flowers with quirky little white blooms in purple boats.
• Stays compact (about 40 cm): ideal for a windowsill or plant table.
• Makes its own offsets, so it is easy to expand.

Moses-in-the-cradle: where does it grow best?

• Plenty of light with a few hours of sun keeps the rosette compact. Strong midday sun behind glass can scorch the leaves.
• Warm, 15–25 °C; the minimum is 13 °C.
• Light, well-drained potting compost, for example compost with a third sand or perlite; slightly acid to neutral.
• Moderately moist: let the top layer dry between waterings. Tolerates dry room air.
• Allow about 40 cm of space all round; it also fits on a low table.

Light

Sunny or bright, out of direct sun

Potting soil

Multi-purpose compost or airy, humus-rich compost

Acidity

Acid or neutral

Watering

Moderately

Size

0.4 m tall, 0.4 m wide

Temperature

Minimum 13 °C

Goes well with

• Aloe: Likes the same bright, dry spot with a little sun.
• Haworthia: A compact succulent for the same sturdy pot and the same care.
• Spider plant: A tough houseplant with long, variegated leaves as a soft contrast.
• Stonecrop (Sedum): A succulent that also tolerates drought, for a shared dish.

Moses-in-the-cradle: when and how to plant it?

Plant in March–April.

1. Repot in March–April, when the roots fill the pot; usually every 2 years.
2. Choose a sturdy pot 2–4 cm wider than the old one, with a drainage hole; the plant becomes a little top-heavy.
3. Put clay pebbles at the bottom and fill with light potting compost mixed with a third sand or perlite.
4. Set the plant at the same depth as before; the lowest leaves stay above the compost.
5. Water moderately and let the surplus drain away.
6. Put it in a bright place and wait 4 weeks before feeding.

Care

Water

In the growing season water as soon as the top 2–3 cm are dry, in winter once every 2–3 weeks. Never pour water into the rosette: it makes it rot.

Feeding

From April to September a houseplant feed at half strength every 4 weeks.

Humidity

Tolerates dry room air. Wipe the dust off the leaves now and then with a damp cloth.

Old leaves

Remove the withered lower leaves along the stem with clean scissors.

Gloves

The sap can irritate the skin: wear gloves when repotting, pruning and taking cuttings and wash your hands afterwards.

Tip: Put it in a bright place with a few hours of sun: the rosette stays compact and the underside of the leaves turns a deeper purple. Wear gloves when repotting.

Moses-in-the-cradle: when to prune it?

When: It does not need pruning: remove withered lower leaves all year round and shorten an overlong stem in spring.

How:

• Cut withered lower leaves off at the stem with a sharp knife or scissors.
• A too tall, bare stem can be cut off in April: the top roots as a cutting and the stem often shoots again.
• Remove faded flowers with their bract.

Caution: The sap can irritate the skin: wear gloves and wash tools and hands afterwards.

Pruning calendar and basic rules

Propagation

Offsets

March–July: carefully detach rooted offsets from the mother plant and pot them up separately in light potting compost.

Cuttings

March–July: cut a 10–15 cm top from a long stem, let the wound dry for a day, insert it in sandy potting compost and keep it lightly moist. Roots in 3–5 weeks.

Moses-in-the-cradle: how does it get through the winter?

• Not hardy: the minimum is 13 °C. Keep it at 15–20 °C.
• Water sparingly, once every 2–3 weeks; the leaves should not droop.
• Put it in the brightest spot, but not against a cold window pane.
• Do not feed.

Diseases and pests

• Root rot: Limp, yellow leaves and wet compost after too much water. Let it dry out, repot in fresh, light compost and remove rotten roots.
• Brown leaf tips: Too little water for a long time or too much feed. Water more regularly and trim the tips.
• Long, floppy stems: Not enough light. Move it somewhere brighter.
• Mealybugs and spider mites: White cottony tufts in the leaf axils (mealybugs): wipe off with a cotton bud dipped in alcohol. Fine webbing and speckles (spider mites): shower it and raise the humidity.

Through the year

• January: Rest. Little water, at least 13 °C, as bright as possible.
• February: Little water. Check for mealybugs.
• March: Repot if needed. Start feeding.
• April: Repot, separate offsets. Feed every 4 weeks.
• May: Take cuttings. Feed.
• June: Water more generously. Feed.
• July: A sunny spot is fine. Water as soon as the top 2–3 cm are dry. Feed.
• August: Feed. Look at the flowers and bracts.
• September: Last feed.
• October: Less water. Keep warm, at least 13 °C.
• November: Little water. Bright place.
• December: Rest. Water once every 2–3 weeks.

Edible and useful

Not edible. The sap in the leaves and stems of tradescantia can irritate the skin: in sensitive people it causes itching and redness, and dogs and cats that often brush through or against the plant or chew it sometimes get red, itchy skin, mostly on the belly, paws and muzzle, or an upset mouth and stomach. Hang or place it out of reach of pets, wear gloves when pruning, taking cuttings and repotting, and wash your hands afterwards. In the garden, do not let dogs lie in a bed of spiderwort. Put surplus stems of small-leaf spiderwort in the green-waste bin or on the compost, never in the wild. If any is swallowed, call a poison centre (in Belgium 070 245 245) or your doctor at once.

Did you know?

• The flowers sit in two purple bracts that resemble a little boat or basket, hence the name Moses-in-the-cradle.
• Tradescantia spathacea used to be called Rhoeo spathacea; that name is still on many labels.
• It is related to the trailing tradescantias but grows upright in a rosette.