- Flashy Foliage
- Light Preference/Tolerated (Bright Indirect Light, Medium Light, Low Light)
- Below Average Watering Needs
- Mature Height 8-16 Inches
Tradescantia spathacea goes by a few familiar names: Moses in the Cradle, Moses in a Boat, Boat Lily, or Oyster Plant. These names do a great job of describing the way the flowers are cradled inside the leaf joints. The multi-colored leaves add to the year-round interest of this easy-to-grow houseplant.
Best Locations For Growing Oyster Plant
Place Oyster Plant on a table or low shelf as a specimen plant. Average room temperature (65-80 degrees F) and humidity is just fine for this adaptable plant. USDA zones 9-11 can grow this plant outdoors as a ground cover in partial sun to partial shade. All parts of this plant are toxic to pets and humans.
Oyster Plant Sunlight Requirements
Bright indirect light in a south-facing room is perfect and will help keep this plant’s color vibrant. East and west-facing windows are also good places to grow Oyster Plant.
Oyster Plant Care
Oyster Plant is easy to grow and requires little in the way of regular maintenance. Plant this houseplant in loose indoor potting soil with perlite or vermiculite added for good drainage. Do not place the pot in front of drafty windows or doors, and keep the plant away from heating and air conditioning vents.
Watering Oyster Plant
The soil should stay lightly moist between waterings during the summer. Depending on humidity, watering may need to be done 2-3 times a week in the summer. Oyster Plant is semi-dormant in the winter, and the roots do not need as much moisture. Water once weekly in the winter, when the top 2-3 inches of soil have dried out.
Feeding Oyster Plant
Fertilizing is only needed during the spring and summer. Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer once a month in place of regular watering. Be careful not to get fertilizer on the leaves, which can quickly burn.
Oyster Plant Information
| Light Exposure: Bright Indirect Light, Medium Light, Low Light |
| Care Requirements: Easy |
| Watering Requirements: Below Average - Let the soil dry completely, then, water deeply. |
| Pet Friendly: No |
| Kid Friendly: No |
| Air Purifier: Moderate |
| Habit: Clumping |
| Growth Rate: Fast |
| Mature Height: 8-16 inches |
| Mature Spread: 12-16 inches |
| Flowering: Yes |
| Flower Color(s): White |
| Flower Shade/Description: White |
| Fragrant: No |
| Foliage Type: Variegated |
| Foliage Color(s): Green, Purple |
| Foliage Description: Purple Underside and a Green to Metallic Grey Variegated |
| Temperature: 65° - 80°F (18° - 27°C) |
| Humidity: Average (40% - 60%) |
| Common Name: Oyster Plant |
| Other Name(s): Oyster Plant, Boatlily, Moses-In-The-Cradle |
| Scientific Name: Tradescantia spathacea |
| Plant Type: House Plant |
- SKU:
- Tradescantia_Moses.In.The.Cradle-HP
Container Sizes
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on; type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.
4.5" Pot
Also Known As:
4.5" Container
Plant Age:
~ 6 months
Plant Size:
~ 3"-6"
Pot Size:
~ 4.5"H x 3.75"W
Volume:
1.42 quarts
Quart Pot
Also Known As:
Quart
Plant Age:
~ 6 months - 1 year
Plant Size:
~ 4"-8"
Pot Size:
~ 4.75"H x 4.5"W
Volume:
1.50 quarts
2.5 Quart
Also Known As:
2.5 Quart Pot
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 8"-12"
Pot Size:
~ 6.5"H x 6.5"W
Volume:
2.20-2.30 quarts
#1 Pot
Also Known As:
#1 Container
1 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 10"-14"
Pot Size:
~ 7"H x 7.75"W
Volume:
2.26-3.73 quarts
#2 Pot
Also Known As:
#2 Container
2 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 3 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-18"
Pot Size:
~ 9.5"H x 9.5"W
Volume:
1.19-1.76 gallons
#3 Pot
Also Known As:
#3 Container
3 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 2 - 4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-30"
Pot Size:
~9.5"H x 11"W
Volume:
2.32-2.76 gallons
For more detailed information, please click here.
Plant Addicts Guarantee (Included On All Plant Orders)
Plant Addicts always guarantees your plant(s) will arrive happy & healthy. However, plant(s) are being shipped through the mail & sometimes accidents happen. If the plant is dead, has dried out roots or the incorrect item was shipped, just notify Plant Addicts within 3 days upon delivery. We may ask for pictures but will try to make it as easy as possible for you. Please note, plant(s) with damaged branches or wilted leaves will not qualify for this guarantee. Plants are very resilient and will rebound quickly when cared for correctly.
For more information on how to care for your new plants, please click on our guide below.
Guide: How to Care for Your New Plant(s)
Plant Addicts Warranty - 1 Year (Extra Purchase Required)
We encourage all plant lovers to purchase the Plant Addicts Warranty, whether you're a new gardener or an expert. There are many variables outside of anyone's control that can cause a plant to die. Hungry animals, drought, poor soil conditions, over watering, diseases & pests are all good examples of what can cause plants to die. The Plant Addicts Warranty is a 1 year warranty protecting you from all of the unknowns and will replace your plant if something were to happen to it.
The warranty is purchased on a per plant basis and must be purchased at the same time as the plant(s). We will cover 100% of the price of the plant, but the warranty does not cover shipping costs. SImply let us know if your plant has died within 1 year of receiving it and we will get you a new one shipped out as soon as possible (depending on the time of the year and availability). We may ask for photos for documentation purposes, but we try to make the process as easy as possible.
For more information, please click on our page below.
Plant Shipping
Below are some factors we consider when determining when to ship the plants depending on the timing of the order.
Winter to Early Spring
We ship only when it's warm enough to plant in your growing zone.
Sometimes plants aren't completely ready to sell and ship in early spring. We will wait until the plants are ready before shipping so you don't get a subpar product.
For Southern plants we will be able to ship much earlier than plants coming from our northern nursery.
Summer
If there is extreme heat we may delay shipping for a week or several weeks.
We review what areas the plants are traveling through as well as your location.
Fall into Winter
We’ll ship plants out all the way up to the end of the fall planting season!
Winter
Get your order in early to reserve your plants for Spring planting!
Once your plant is shipped you’ll receive an automated email with tracking information.
Click here for more detailed shipping information.
Planter Shipping
Standard Colors: 2-3 business days
Special Order Colors: 8 weeks - this is due to the planter being custom made with the color(s) of your choice
Please Note: On special orders there can not be any cancellations