How to Propagate Inch (Wandering Dude) Plants in 5 Easy Steps

Inch plants are easy-care tropicals that grow year-round as houseplants or outdoors in warm, frost-free climates. Tradescantia zebrina has showy clasping leaves with silvery-white stripes among purple and blue-green patterning. Deep magenta undersides add dynamic visual contrast. Little hairs on the leaf surfaces give them a sheen in bright light.

Also called wandering dude, the low-maintenance performers lend a soft, trailing effect from hanging baskets and containers. In the landscape, these tender perennials form an accent groundcover in warm months. In addition to their adaptability and ease of growth is inch plant’s readiness to propagate. With creeping stems, each leaf node becomes an opportunity to set roots.

The long stems benefit from regular pinching and trimming, creating easy clippings to form new plants. Take advantage of the opportunity to expand your houseplant collection or gift the bounty; you can easily propagate the stems for more wandering dudes.

Wandering dude has a tendency to get leggy and spindly without regular trimming. It benefits from heavy pruning in late winter or early spring. In addition to heavy cut back is regular pinching of the stem tips to promote a bushier habit with lush foliage. Tradescantia zebrina has a watery sap that causes skin irritation for those with sensitivities. Wear gloves when working with the stems and leaves.

A severe cutback in early spring lets the plant rejuvenate. Roots direct resources to producing new leafy growth rather than maintaining older stems. New growth sets quickly in warm, mild conditions, even with heavier trims.

Pinch the tips of stems in the active growing months to promote branching for fuller plants. To pinch new growth, use your fingers or snips to trim the growth tips. Wandering dude stems are thin, tender, and pliable for easy pinching. Wherever you pinch or trim, new growth develops.

Pruning wandering dude has the added benefit of creating cuttings to propagate. The clipped stems root quickly and propagate easily in a moist potting mix or water.

Cuttings are a viable way to create many plants relatively quickly. Take cuttings in the spring and summer for optimal growth during the active season. Use the clippings after pruning to establish new specimens or to infill the existing pot. To add fullness, tuck the tip cutting into the existing soil and keep it consistently moist.

Take cuttings a day or two after a regular watering session. Stems will be turgid (water-filled) for a strong start. If clipping an outdoor specimen, do so early in the day before transpiration and water loss.

Choose healthy stems, not too young or old, to prevent weakness. Use clean, sharp pruners, snips, or a knife to make precise cuts on stems. The propagation process takes about a month to develop roots and up to two months for sturdy seedlings. New plants will be tender.

• Cut a four-to-six-inch piece of healthy stem just below a leaf node, with at least two sets of leaves in place. The nodes are where the leaf meets the stem and are about one inch apart.
• Remove leaves from the bottom half of the cutting, keeping the upper sets intact. Cut large leaves in half to limit transpiration.
• Keep cuttings moist until ready to pot.
• Optional: moisten the cutting and dip the base of the stem in a rooting hormone. Tap off any excess powder.
• Stick the cutting (up to a few) in a small pot with houseplant potting mix, moist and well-draining. Or, return the clipping to the original pot for infill. Make sure at least one node is beneath the soil surface, and leafy uppers are above.
• Place the pot in a bright, warm location out of direct sunlight.
• Water or mist to keep the soil evenly moist.
• When roots have taken hold and new growth emerges, transplant stems to a larger pot or into the garden. An indicator of roots is when the cutting resists a gentle tug.

Inch plants root readily in water, a space-saving, no-mess way to create a pretty display while observing the process. Tradescantia zebrina even lives indefinitely in water and roots just as quickly or more so in water than in potting media.

To root plants in water, use a small glass jar, vase, or other clear container to hold multiple stems. Glass allows plenty of light for photosynthesis and root development and lets us keep an eye on water clarity and developing roots.

Take cuttings as described above, and stick the new cutting into a jar of shallow water so that the nodes are submerged, but the upper stems and leaves are above the water (submerged leaves can lead to rot). Use room temperature water to avoid shocking the tissues.

If the stems need stability to remain above water, tape or plastic wrap are handy. Use tape strips across the container opening to create a small square for the stem to rest.. Or, plastic wrap stretched across the opening with a slit for the stem holds it in place.

Place the jar in bright, indirect light in a warm spot. Change the water every few days and top off with fresh water as the reserve evaporates. You’ll likely see roots in a week or two, with good root structure developing in three or more weeks.

Grow propagated wandering dude cuttings in water, or transplant them when their roots grow beyond one to two inches. Place the rooted cuttings in moistened potting soil in a small pot and put it in a spot with the same bright, indirect light conditions for rooting.

Another way to propagate inch plants is by layering. In the landscape, stems naturally layer by rooting as nodes maintain contact with the soil surface. It expands the colony while utilizing resources from the mother plant until self-supporting roots develop.

To propagate a potted wandering dude by layering, leave a trailing stem attached to the mother plant while encouraging it to root in a smaller pot nearby. Place a soil-filled pot underneath a node on the stem and cover it with soil. Pin the stem with a bent paperclip or hairpin to keep it in place if needed. Water to maintain even moisture for young roots to develop from the node.

The layering method mimics what occurs in the natural growing environment as the stem continues to absorb water and nutrients from the mother while it roots. After it resists a gentle tug, cut it free from the original plant.

After a few weeks, you’ll see new growth emerge while roots develop. While the cuttings and layers are established, check moisture regularly and give them a soak when the soil surface feels dry.

The tropicals are low-maintenance, but new transplants need consistently moist soils as roots establish in the first growing season. As roots develop, wandering dude can dry out slightly between waterings. Water established inch plants when the surface is dry to the depth of an inch or two. Provide bright light, filtered sun, and partial shade for the best coloration. The tolerant houseplants adapt to varying conditions.

Tradescantia zebrina enjoys warm months outdoors. Bring them inside to overwinter before fall’s first frost. They won’t withstand freezing conditions, and temperatures below 50°F (10°C) slow growth.