With autumn the hours of light fall and the plant plant (tradescantia zebrina) changes its face: the leaves with purple and green tones forgive brilliance, they become off and opaque, signal of seasonal stress but with possible remedies.
This is not just an aesthetic detail: the color of the misery plant is the key to its beauty and vitality. Seeing him suddenly disappear gives birth to doubts and questions. Is it normal? Can you remedy? And above all: how to prevent it from going on every year? The answer is yes, and it depends on some simple but fundamental precautions.
Before looking for quick remedies, it is better to understand why this plant reacts to the arrival of autumn. Just as happens to the trees that lose their leaves, Tradescantia also follows the rhythm of the season. But if it is carefully treated, its lively color can remain bright even in the gray months.
Because the plant miserable loses color in autumn
The first reason concerns the natural light. With shorter and less bright days, the plant receives less energy to keep its tones on. It is as if a painter had an increasingly extinguished palette available: the result cannot be the same. Another factor is the temperature. The misery plant is originally from hot and humid climates; When the air becomes drier in the house or the rooms cool, react by losing part of its chromatic intensity. After all, who wouldn’t feel a little loose in an environment too different from their habits?
Finally there is the theme of cultivation care. In autumn there is a tendency to reduce the watering, but if the soil remains too dry or on the contrary excessively wet, the plant suffers from it. A wrong balance can immediately reflect on the leaves, which become more pale and less vigorous.
This combination of seasonal factors leads the plant to lose its charm. However, with small tricks, it is possible to return them color and vitality.
How to remedy and keep the colors alive
The secret to having a Tradescantia zebrina brilliant also in autumn It is to recreate the conditions most similar to its natural habitat at home. No complicated gestures are needed, but constant attention.
First, move the plant near a window on display to the south or east helps to guarantee more light. Alternatively, a cultivation lamp can make miracles in the darkest months. The important thing is that it receives at least a few hours of intense brightness every day.
The ideal temperature should remain between 18 and 24 degrees, avoiding sudden changes. He cannot stand cold air currents: better therefore not to leave it close to windows that are often opened. A stable environment will allow her not to disperse energy.
On the watering front, the balance is essential. The ground must be maintained slightly humid, without stagnation. In autumn, reduce frequency but don’t completely forget to wet it. Environmental humidity also makes the difference: a tray with pebbles and water, placed under the pot, can simulate a more tropical climate.
In addition to these aspects, it is better not to neglect nutrition. A light fertilizer, used every two or three weeks, maintains the strongest and most colorful leaves. We must not exaggerate, but a small nutritional push can make a difference.
Here are some useful tricks to always keep in mind:
- Place it in a bright point, avoiding too strong direct light.
- Maintain a constant temperature between 18 and 24 degrees.
- Water in moderation, without leaving the soil completely dry.
- Increase humidity with a tray of water and pebbles.
- Integrate with a light fertilizer every 2-3 weeks.
Small daily gestures, which over time become a habit, are the real key to preserving the colors of the plant plant.
Secrets for a plant always luxuriant misery
In addition to light, water and heat, there is another often underestimated aspect: the pruning. Eliminating the dry or too long parts stimulates the plant to produce new jets, more vigorous and colorful. It’s a bit like cutting the hair: with some strategic scissor, it comes back stronger and brilliant.
Rethot, every one or two years, also helps to renew the roots and give more space to growth. A compressed plant in a too small vase tends to lose nail polish.
The position should not be forgotten: if during the summer it has been held outdoors, the return to the home must be gradual. A too brusque movement risks stressing it, accentuating the problem of color loss.
Finally, observing the plant every day is the best way to take care of it. Every change in the leaves, every new nuance, tells something about its health. A careful eye can grasp the signals in advance, avoiding that the problem becomes evident.
After all, the misery plant is not so different from those who cultivate it: they need constant attention, small daily gestures and a welcoming environment.
With a little care, he will continue to give his intense shades even when the sky is gray outside.
Photo © Stock.adobe
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