Tradescantia Nanouk
Thick, glossy leaves striped in pink, cream and green on chunky trailing stems. A bred-for-shops tradescantia that is sturdier and more compact than the old zebrina, and holds its pink in bright light.
Nanouk is what happens when a tradescantia is bred for a supermarket shelf, and it is better for it. The leaves are thick, glossy and striped lengthways in pink, cream and light green, with purple undersides, and the stems are chunky and upright at first before they trail. It stays fuller and more compact than the older zebrina types and shows less of the bare-stem legginess they get.
It was bred in the Netherlands, patented in 2017, and has since become one of the most sold trailing plants in the world. Care is easy: bright light for the pink, water when the top inch dries, and pinch it back now and then.
Light
Bright, indirect light with a little direct morning sun keeps the pink strong and the growth tight. In medium light it goes greener and leggier. A south or west window a couple of feet back is good; hot afternoon sun through glass can bleach the cream stripes.
Water
Water when the top inch is dry, about weekly in summer and every ten days in winter. The fleshy stems store water, so it forgives a missed week. Soggy soil rots the stems at the base. Drain well.
Soil and potting
A standard potting mix with a third perlite, in a pot with drainage. It grows fast and gets leggy with age, so most people repot yearly and take cuttings at the same time to start a fresh, full plant.
Feeding
Half-strength balanced feed every four weeks in spring and summer.
Propagation
The easiest thing in the directory to propagate. Cuttings root in water in a week and in soil in two. Pinch the tips regularly and push the cuttings back into the pot to keep it full.
In a hot, dry home
Suits a dry home well. It tolerates low humidity and heat, likes the bright light, and stores water in its stems. Keep it out of the direct AC stream and water a little sooner in the hottest weeks. The pink is strongest in the strong, filtered light a desert house has to spare.
Tradescantia Nanouk varieties
Same care, different look. These are the named forms you will see for sale.
- Pink Panther
A similar pink-and-green striped hybrid with smaller, thinner leaves. Same care.
- Pink Passion
Deeper pink, more compact.
Problems and fixes
Leaves going green
Likely cause: Not enough light
Fix: Move it to a brighter window.
Long bare stems
Likely cause: Age and low light
Fix: Cut back hard and re-root the tips.
Stems soft at the base
Likely cause: Overwatering
Fix: Let the top inch dry; take cuttings from healthy tips.
Bleached cream patches
Likely cause: Direct afternoon sun
Fix: Filter the light.
Tradescantia Nanouk questions
Is Tradescantia Nanouk safe for pets?
No. The sap causes mild stomach upset and skin irritation in cats and dogs, and some people get a rash handling it.
Why is it losing its pink?
Not enough light. Brighter light brings the pink back on new growth.
How do I keep it from getting leggy?
Pinch the tips every few weeks and push the cuttings back into the pot. It roots in days.
Plants with a similar rhythm
Moses in the Cradle
- Light
- Medium to direct sun
- Water
- Weekly
- Pets
- Toxic
String of Hearts
- Light
- Bright indirect to direct sun
- Water
- Every 10 days
- Pets
- Safe
