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well known by the vernacular nameBolivian Wandering Jewor mouse inch plant life , Callisia repens(kal - LIZ - ee - uh REE - penz ) is a member of the spiderwort ( Commelinaceae ) family . Native throughout South America , the Caribbean , and Central America .
However , it has gained some popularity in the United States as aperennial ground coverin the southernmost neighborhood and as an annual or indoor plant in cooler areas .
Callisia Repens grow the turtle vine in full sun or partial shade
The Bolivian Jew plant has a variety of other nickname , most of which have magnetic variation .
These usual public figure admit :
An easy to rise plant , dwarf wandering Jew is similar in visual aspect to bothTradescantia fluminensisand the striped inch works ( Callisia elegans ) .
Callisia Repens grow the turtle vine in full sun or partial shade
They can be differentiated by the leaves , unripe with imperial espial and purple underside on the wandering turtle vine , unripened with white bar and purple underside on the striped inch plant , and glossy green leaves ( sometimes with white stripes ) with a light-green bottom .
Bolivian Wandering Jew Quick Care Tips
Another related to species called royal succulent ( Callisia fragrans ) has heavy leaves in comparison to the others .
The flower also tell wandering Jew from several other standardized species . Tahitian espousal veil ( Gibasis pellucida ) has loose , stalked clusters of efflorescence . The hairy vagabondage Jew ( Commelina benghalensis ) , native wandering Jew ( Commelina diffusa ) , and zebrina ( Tradescantia zebrina ) all have blue or pinkish flowers .
Dwarf Bolivian Wandering Jew Care
Size & Growth
The Callisia Repens plant life is a trailing plant with an overall height of between 4 ” and 12 ” inches and long , creep low growing stems which elongate up to 2 ’ groundwork .
The stems have frequent branching from which small source maturate . Its small , alternating leaf are densely packed , shrinking in sizing the further out from the plant life ’s nub they get .
Flowering and Fragrance
The small white flowers bloom throughout summertime into fall , sprouting in sessile clusters in the ramification of the upper folio . These epicene flower clusters are odorless and tend to seem in pairs .
The flowers have three blanched petals and up to six stamen with fluid filaments . diminutive oblong semen capsules containing four rough brown source emerge after fertilization .
Light & Temperature
Callisia Repens plants prefers full sun to partial ghost . memory access to smart light helps keep the plant healthy and reduce the risk of it becoming straggly .
Outdoors , this vine works fare well in USDA hardiness zona 10 to 11 . However , cuttings can overwinter indoors in colder clime .
Meanwhile , it may also be grow as a houseplant in a sunny blot that never drops below 60 ° degrees Fahrenheit .
Watering and Feeding Callisia Repens
Dwarf Jew plant welfare from regular lacrimation to ensure the soil remain moist during the grow season . episodic misting of the foliation also helps to keep leaves from drying out and developing brown marks .
Avoid overwatering and allow the surface of the turtle vine grime to dry out during the winter .
During summer , a morsel of liquid plant food every 10 to 14 daylight will encourage dense leaf .
Soil & Transplanting
When used as potted plants or in a fall basket , turtle vine does best in a standard potting mixing or a peat mixture . A similarly , constitutive - rich soil make well when planting in a garden .
Grooming And Maintenance
While the turtleneck vine requires very little maintenance overall , pinching the stem tip will serve the turtle vine remain succinct . Additionally , they may become leggy after two year . At that point , you may prefer to supervene upon them with a cutting .
How To Propagate Callisia Repens
While Callisia Repens may propagate through seeds , the easiest method is to use 2 ” in stem cut in springtime or former summer .
position the cuttings where you wish well to originate the plant life and softly cover up with soil . If kept moist , the cut will take root , and new leafage will begin present in only a few days .
Callisia Repens Pest or Disease Problems
Bolivian Callisia repens is resistant to most pests , although low humidness will attractred spider jot , who care to build their webs along the stem tips . Misting the foliation stool the plants less attractive to these pestilence .
Both cats and pawl may get a red , itchy rash when come into contact with the plant . Additionally , this plant is known to curb Ca oxalate crystals , which may pose a trouble when ingested by most darling .
While not deliberate invasive in the US , the Bolivian Jew plant has make problems in Australia and a few other nation . It may also be conceive a weed when allowed to develop wild .
Suggested Callisia Repens (Bolivian Wandering Jew Vine) Uses
Dwarf Bolivian cheat Jew makes a bang-up hang up plant . It can be used indoors as a houseplant or outside as a slow , gym mat - same solid ground cover .
These beautiful plants are also a great addition to fairy gardens .
Reptile owners sometimes use the turtle vine to feed their pets , especially tortoises . When given in mitigation , it is regard comparatively safe despite the presence of atomic number 20 oxalate .
