Wandering Jew Tribulations

I mentioned that there was a story behind the Wandering Jew (Tradescantia zebrina) that I planted in a hanging basket ("Planted in Pots" section on my Excavated Plant posting).  As I recently moved the plant to my hanging basket pole, I thought I'd tell the tale.

I was shopping at a nearby big box nursery when I spotted a large clump of Wandering Jew that had broken off and fallen to the concrete.  There it lay, its bright purple leaves slowly getting cooked on the hot pavement.  Standing over the abandoned plant portion, I pondered.  "It's just gonna get swept up in the trash at the end of the day.  No one is gonna buy it potless."

But I walked on by and kept moving up and down the aisles.  But my steps soon returned; by now the forlorn plant had been stepped on and kicked over to the side.  Snap decision made, I stooped down and grabbed the straggly branch and stuffed it into the lower pocket of my cargo shorts.  Then I was back to browsing.

But this nursery was not to be my only stop.  Soon I was driving to other chores, and the hours drifted away.  Morning passed into afternoon.  Returning home, I unloaded the truck and immediately dove into several different tasks: some outside in the heat, others sitting at my computer.  And afternoon crept into evening.

Meals came and went.  Tasks and chores and relaxing occurred.  Night arrived as did the time for sleeping.  Dirty clothes went to the hamper and I went under the sheets.  As my conscious mind began to fade towards that sweet oblivion of dream-land, it suddenly (and finally) made a connection.  "Hey dummy - that poor abused plant is still in your pocket."

Oops.  I crawled out of bed and burrowed into the dirty clothes.  Identifying the pocket, I withdrew the bruised and battered foliage.  Bleary-eyed, I sloppily filled a small glass with water and stuck the wilted branch into the liquid.  Lights out and back to my pillow.

Days passed as the plant sat ignored in the utility room, a dim bulb its only companion.  Spotting it as I passed through towards the garage, I noticed it was bravely sending out roots.  Topping off the water, I decided it deserved better (and that if I didn't do something immediately, there was a good chance I'd forget the little bugger again).

Soon, I had the little plant potted into its very own hanging basket.  The growth spurt it put on over the next few weeks was impressive.  It still has a ways to go before it fills the basket, but it is well on its way.

That is one tough little plant.

Planted in Pots:

•  Variegated Japanese Sedge (Carex morrowii 'Aurea Variegata'): Transplanted from ground to better control amount of water its getting (it was drying out).
• Aloe nobilis 'Variegata': Was on my Gotta Get list! Variegated Aloes are not very common - gotta grab 'em when I see 'em.
• Dyckia choristaminea 'Frazzle Dazzle': Was definitely an impulse purchase driven primarily by that name!  A name like that has got to make you smile.

 Experiments:

• Growing Zephyr Rain Lily (Zephyranthes 'Labuffarosea') from gathered seeds