The Rhoeo Oyster plant is a species of evergreen herbaceous perennial in the Commelinaceae family. The Commelinaceae family is often referred to as the dayflower or spiderwort family. Its scientific name is Tradescantia spathacea. The plant is mainly native to tropical regions of Central America, southern Mexico, Belize, Guatemala and the West Indies. Growing in warm, humid regions, the main attraction of this oyster plant is its leaves. So how to take care of Royo oyster plant easily to make your house attractive.
What is Rhoeo Oyster Plant
Rhoeo Oyster is an ornamental, low-maintenance, colourful, bright plant. Which is ideal for home decoration. The long, waxy lance-shaped, glossy leaves of this thick-stemmed and branchless plant form a beautiful rosette. Succulent leaves 4 to 5 cm wide and 20 to 45 cm long are dark green on the upper surface and reddish-purple on the lower surface. With which the tree can be easily identified. Small beautiful white or pink flowers bloom in spring. Which makes the plant more attractive. Banana boat-shaped bracts emerge from leaf axils. And within this bract, the flowers grow in bunches. Which makes this plant more attractive and charming. Oster plants also fall into the angiosperm class. Because its flowers produce seeds.
Common Name of Rhoeo Oyster plant:
- Boat Lily
- Cradle Lily
- Oyster Plant
- Moses on a Raft
- Men in a Boat
- Moses-in-the-Cradle
- Moses in His Cradle
- Moses in the Bulrushes
How to Care for Your Rhoeo Oyster Plant:
Rhoeo Oyster plants are very easy to care for. A few simple guidelines can make this plant very attractive. Use the tips below and make your home attractive easily with this plant.
Soil
The soil should be rich in organic elements for this rhoeo oyster plant. Ideal for this are loam and sandy soils. And grows well in the pH range of 5.5 to 7. But this plant also thrives in rocky and dry soils. In this case, planting in a mixture of soil and leaf compost is best. Choose well-draining soil mixed with compost for planting in the pot.
Light
This rhoeo oyster plant grows in direct sunlight but does not tolerate harsh sunlight. Ideal for this plant is a part sun and part shade location. Choose a location for this plant that gets 3-4 hours of direct sunlight and the rest of the time in bright shade. Again absolutely can survive in shaded areas, but the plant will lose freshness and the leaves will become discoloured.
Water
Oyster plants thrive in even the harshest conditions. They are drought-tolerant plants. So avoid watering them frequently. When the soil is almost dry then water it, is no problem. Many people put water in the dish under the pot. Don’t do that with this plant, it will cause more chances of root rot. Watering twice a month is sufficient during the winter. Because the rhoeo oyster plant is dormant during this time.
Temperature
Rhoeo Oyster plant is a tropical tender perennial plant. According to the UASD zone, this plant is unique in 9 to 11. Temperatures of 55 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit are ideal for these plants to grow. Try placing this in a brightly shaded spot in prime summer areas. Spray little bit of water in the summer every morning. Can be placed outside in winter or mild winter areas. Because the intensity of heat of the sun is less in winter, it does not have a bad effect on this plant. And try to keep this plant in an east or southeast-facing window or balcony in the house with temperatures of 55 degrees F or below. And keep the plant away from cold drafts. Choose this plant as an indoor plant in winter-prone areas or areas prone to frost.
Humidity
Since these plants are tropical, they need moisture to keep their leaves healthy. Use a mist spray if humidity is lacking. It is an effective way to reduce heat stress. Again, if stay these plants are grouped, the humidity is normal. You can also use an electric humidifier if you wish.
Fertilizer
I’ve noticed that oyster plants planted in the garden don’t need much separate feeding. But pot plants need a small amount of controlled-release fertilizer to promote healthy growth. Fertilize your plants once a month during the growing season from spring to summer. Do not use any fertilizer in winter. Because at this time the tree is dormant.
Toxicity
The oyster plant is a mildly poisonous plant. Keep this plant away from children and pets in your home. These plants require special care during care and repotting. And use gloves for this. The sap of this plant comes into contact with your mouth and skin. Then there may be a pain in the mouth and throat and it may cause irritation if it touches the skin. If you come into contact with the sap of this plant, immediately wash the area thoroughly with soap.
Additional Care:
Cutting and pruning
Remove dead and dried leaves to give the rhoeo plant a beautiful look. Also, no more cutting and pruning is required.
Pests Problem
The oyster plant usually does not have any serious pest or disease problems. If your plants are weakened by water or humidity problems mealybugs, scales, whiteflies and spider mites can attack. So always keep an eye on this. And apply to spray neem oil at least once a month. It is optional.
How to Propagate Rhoeo Oyster Plant:
Propagated from Stolon
Oyster plants propagate through the stolon system. Stolons arise from the rhizomes of mature plants. These stolons extend vertically through the soil and form nodes. And this node develops and grows to the surface of the soil. And gives birth to new plants. This process of expansion continues gradually. When roots emerge from the base of the new plants that are 4 to 5 inches tall, cut the new plant from the stolons and transplant them into new containers or other locations.
Propagated from Rhizome
Can also be propagated from rhizomes of mature oyster plants. As the underground rhizome matures, nodes develop from the side of the rhizome and eventually emerge above the soil surface to give rise to seedlings. Roots emerge from the base when the new plant is 4 to 5 inches tall. Then cut the new plant along with the roots and plant it.
Note: – It is better to say here that after cutting the sapling if there are no roots or the roots do not come out properly. In this case, if the plant is left in a container of water for several days, the roots will emerge. This applies to both cases.
Propagated from Seeds
You make a soil bed and collect the seed from the plant. Spread it on the bed and spray water properly. And covered the bed with a plastic bag or container properly. And once the seeds have germinated after some days. Take proper care.
Rhoeo Oyster Plant Varieties:
- Tradescantia spathacea ‘Vittata’
- Tradescantia spathacea ‘Stripe-Me-Pink’
- Tradescantia spathacea ‘Sitara’s Gold’
- Tradescantia spathacea rhoeo ‘Moses-in-the-cradle’
- Tradescantia spathacea rhoeo boatlilly purple ‘Moses-in-the-cradle’
Scientific Evidence of Medicinal Properties:
In pre-clinical trials, Tradescantia spathacea showed anti-cancer (Rosales-Reyes et al., 2008), anti-diabetic (Jesetti et al., 2020) and anti-inflammation (Pérez et al., 1996) in animals.
Traditional Medicinal Uses
Research supports the traditional usage of Tradescantia spathacea to treat cough, bronchitis and sprains. Other uses include treating fever, amenorrhea, headache, rheumatism, strengthen the nervous system and muscles, protect the heart and reduce body pain.
It is important to note that some therapeutic effects from traditional medicinal uses of plants are not currently supported by scientific research.
Caution: Medicinal science does not directly approve the use of this Tradescantia spathacea plant as medicine.
The Rhoeo Oyster plant is one of the best ornamental houseplants. You can choose this plant to add beauty to box windows and balconies. A great option for placing under any bright shady or tall tree in the garden. Best of all, this plant is succulent and hardy, so it can survive floods as well as drought.
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