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The Tradescantia Nanouk is an absolutely gorgeous plant known for its bright green, purple/pink, fuzzy-ish leaves. I’ve been caring for one for about six months now, and I’ve seen them grow a lot in popularity. Today, I’ll discuss Tradescantia Nanouk care and propagation for anyone who owns this cool plant or wants to add one to their collection.
While different types of Tradescantia are native to parts of North, Central, and South America, the Nanouk is actually a cultivar developed in the Netherlands. The Nanouk is a patented plant, a product of a breeding program intended to “create new compact Tradescantia plants with attractive flower coloration and good performance.”
Tradescantia Nanouk has amazing bright green and purple/pink, slightly fuzzy leaves. Little pinkish-white flowers can also appear, but so far I have only seen this once on my plant.
They can be grown both indoors and outdoors, but today I’ll be talking about growing them as a houseplant.
Where Can I Find a Tradescantia Nanouk?
Nanouks are not as common as other Tradescantias and I think your best bet for finding one at a reasonable price would be on Etsy. Check out this beautiful Tradescantia Nanouk from one of my favorite Etsy shops!
You might find some listings online describing them as “rare.” Perhaps they’re harder to find in some areas, but I’ve actually seen them around a lot. In general, be careful when people describe plants as rare. I’m not saying this is always the case, but there are some sellers who do that to drive up the prices of their plants. Although the one I linked to describes it as “rare,” I do believe this one is reasonably priced.
How do you care for a Tradescantia Nanouk?
Light
Bright, indirect light is best for the Tradescantia Nanouk, however, I am growing mine in low light. With lower light, the bright colors will also fade a little, so keep that in mind. Do not put this plant in direct light or the leaves can burn.
For help determining where to place your Tradescantia Nanouk, check out my easy guide to natural light for indoor plants.
Why is my Tradescantia leggy?
On the topic of light, a common reason for leggy plants is lack of light. You can see the significant difference between the first and second picture in this post (which was when I first got it and what it looks like now).
When I first got my plant it was super compact, and now, it’s leggy! If you don’t like this look, try adding more light.
I originally wrote this post when I was growing my Nanouk in low light (so some of this post might still refer to that), but I recently moved it under a grow light and it’s doing better—it’s less leggy, brighter in color, and has a lot more branching. For more grow light help, check out my post on grow lights for indoor plants.
(And if you’re in a hurry, my current favorite grow lights are the following:)
In addition to adding light, you can also pinch off the leggy growth to encourage new growth, or stick the cuttings right back into the pot and allow them to root.
See my pruning section further down for directions on how to pinch your plant and my propagation section for how to propagate your plant directly into soil.
Regardless, understand that Tradescantias have a tendency to grow leggy anyway and will definitely continue to grow this way with a lack of adequate light. If you’re interested in the Nanouk but you have low light, I’d still definitely give this a try. Just have realistic expectations!
I’m sure some might disagree, but I personally like the look of a more wonky, twisty Tradescantia Nanouk that happens with leggy growth, so I rarely cut mine back.
Watering
Tradescantia Nanouk does well with average watering, but keep in mind they don’t like to completely dry out. Water when the top inch or so of the soil is dry and be sure to stick your finger down into the soil to determine the moisture level before watering.
Be careful not to overwater them or they could be at risk of root rot. I’m more conservative with mine since I have it in low light.
Try not to get water in the crevices of the leaves either, which can also cause rot if you let that sit. Since the leaves of this plant are more rigid, it’s easy to get water in there. Just take a tissue or paper towel and gently dab out the crevices.
Humidity
Extra humidity is very helpful to the Tradescantia Nanouk. If the air is too dry they might get a little crispy.
It’s easy to create humidity for your houseplants. You can do this using a humidifier, or a few other methods. Check out my post on creating humidity for easy methods!
Soil
Your Tradescantia Nanouk will be fine in a regular, well-draining houseplant potting mix. I always like to add a handful or two of perlite to increase drainage.
Fertilizing
This plant doesn’t necessarily need to be fertilized to grow successfully, and I haven’t fertilized mine, but maybe next year I’ll try. If you’d like to fertilize yours, you can use a general indoor plant fertilizer diluted by half its strength. Fertilize every two to four weeks in the spring and summer.
Repotting
In the right conditions, Tradescantia Nanouk can grow pretty fast. It usually needs to be repotted once a year, but use your judgment. If your plant is still thriving in its pot, then there’s no need to disturb it!
Repot it in a pot the next size up that has good drainage. Always repot in the spring or summer, if possible.
Pruning
As mentioned earlier, if your Tradescantia Nanouk is growing leggy, you can pinch it back regularly to encourage bushy growth and branching. You can “pinch” a plant by literally pinching, or using clean scissors, to cut off a stem right above a leaf node. In this case, you will pinch above the actual leaf so the leaf should remain on the stem. This helps encourage your plant to branch.
A node is where leaves and roots grow out of the stem, you’ll see lines along the stem of this plant just below the leaves which indicate where a node is.
And, as with any plant, remove any dead or dying leaves once they are able to be gently plucked away from your plant, but you should not be seeing too many of those on the Nanouk.
(March 2021 update: I received a request to more clearly explain where to cut. See in the image how there is a line/ridge on the stem right below where each leaf meets the stem? That indicates a node. Pinch your plant right above the leaf to prune. Cut your plant right below the node to propagate. There is more on pruning in the section above this and more on propagating in the section below this.)
Tradescantia Nanouk Propagation
Tradescantia Nanouk propagation is pretty easy!
If you skipped down to this section, one thing I want to remind you of first is what nodes are: A node is where leaves and roots grow out of the stem, you’ll see lines along the stem of this plant just below the leaves that indicate where a node is. Nodes are where new roots will grow from when you propagate plants.
How to Propagate Tradescantia Nanouk in Water
Use a pair of clean scissors to cut below a node on a stem that has a few leaves. Remove any of the lower-most leaves to leave a few inches of bare stem.
Place the cutting in a jar of tepid water so that at least one node—a few if possible—is below the surface. Make sure no leaves are in the water. Remove them if they are.
Put the jar somewhere that receives bright, indirect light. After about a week you should see tiny roots sprouting. Replace the water once a week or so, when it looks like it’s getting grimy, and top it off when the water level gets lower.
I like to wait until the roots are a few inches long (around three) before transferring the cutting into soil. Within a few weeks, your cutting should be ready to transfer, but it may take longer—patience is key! Once your transfer it, give it a good watering and treat it like a regular plant.
How to Propagate Tradescantia Nanouk in Soil
You can just as easily propagate your Tradescantia Nanouk cutting directly into soil instead of water.
Use a pair of clean scissors to cut below a node on a stem that has a few leaves. Remove any of the lower-most leaves to leave a few inches of bare stem.
Plant your cutting into moistened soil so that at least one node is under the surface, but don’t bury any leaves.
Keep the soil moist, but not wet. Place it in bright, indirect light. You can also put a clear plastic bag over the top of the pot to help lock in beneficial humidity. Just remove the bag for a little each day to let in fresh air.
After about a few weeks, you can test your cutting by giving it a VERY gentle tug. If you feel some resistance, a root system has developed and you can treat it like a normal plant.
Additional Information
Is Tradescantia Nanouk Toxic to Cats and Dogs?
Yes, Tradescantias are toxic to cats and dogs, so keep them out of your furry friends’ reach.
How fast does Tradescantia Nanouk grow?
Some say this plant grows so fast you might need to repot it multiple times in one year. These plants are definitely fast growers, but you probably won’t need to repot yours so often unless you have it in absolutely perfect growing conditions and you feed it regularly (that said, be careful not to overfertilize it).
I can definitely attest that they will grow a lot faster in brighter light. As I mentioned earlier, I updated parts of this post after I put my Tradescantia Nanouk under a grow light which has been a gamer changer for color, fullness, and branching!
Jennifer says
Can I grow it hydrponically?
Julie says
Hi Jennifer – Certainly! Just keep in mind that houseplants typically grow slower in water than in potting mix. It will grow but maybe not to its full potential.
Sarah Rountree says
How many stems are recommended to plant together? Should I do two or more if I want a fuller plant or would they be too crowded?
Julie says
Hi Sarah – It depends on how large your pot is. The pot you see in the photos is about five inches across. You could definitely plant two stems in that. I only have one single plant in mine but at this point it has grown several stems attached to the one plant.
Denise says
Would you mind explaining in more detail how you arrange your grow lights for bright, indirect light for your nanouk? I read your “The Best Grow Lights for Houseplants,” post, but I still don’t quite grasp how to best position the lights. The lights I’m using have 3 bendable goosenecks with a clip, but I’m limited because I have one wall and high ceilings, so I can’t bounce the light. Thank you so much for all your wonderful posts!
Julie says
Hi Denise – I’m sorry if I didn’t go into enough detail on that—I appreciate the feedback! In my grow lights post I wrote that you’ll need to experiment a little because, just as you might need to move your plants around your home to find what kind of natural light they’ll be happiest in, the same is true for grow lights. There is no one size fits all, but I CAN tell you what I’m currently doing with my Nanouk!
I’ve twisted the neck on my grow light to be pointing directly at my Nanouk from the front side. The closest stems to the light source are about 10 inches away (pretty close), the furthest are about a foot and a half. I’ve had the plant here for about two months and it’s pretty happy. The stems that are the furthest away from the light are growing the best. This is the best way I can position the plant at the moment so even though it’s a little close to the light, I’m keeping it there for now. It is sitting under a white shelf, but I don’t believe there is enough light reflection to make a difference in that area. These are the lights I’m using, with only one light actually pointed at the plant: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B085CDPSMR/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
That’s not an affiliate link, I just want to show you exactly what I’m doing. I hope this helps!
Missy says
I have a single nanouk cutting they is growing 3 roots (so far) when will be the best time to plant her in soil? And what kind of soil? Well draining?
Julie says
Hi Missy – That’s great your cutting has roots growing! How long are the roots? I typically like to wait until they are around three inches long before potting them up. Yes, a regular well-draining potting mix is fine. You can check the “soil” section of this post for my recommendations 🙂
Albie says
The top leaves of my plant are turning brown. Would you know what’s the cause and whether it’s still healthy?
Julie says
Hi Albie – Brown leaves can be caused by a few things: underwatering, overwatering, too much light, or too little humidity. To determine the cause, evaluate how often you’re watering your plant. Then, check your lighting situation—direct light can burn the leaves. Last, give it some humidity (which this plant likes anyway). You can check out my post on that for different ways to do that: https://www.sproutsandstems.com/creating-humidity-for-your-houseplants/
Albie says
Thanks Julie! Just started to put a tray of pebbles below hoping to increase the humidity. I only water them when the wooden chopstick comes back dry after poking into the soil. Some of the leaves are also turning yellow..
Julie - Houseplant Aficionado says
Hi Albie – If you’re watering the plant when it’s totally dry, it’s possible the yellow leaves are because the plant is too dry. Keep in mind they don’t like to totally dry out, so try instead watering when the top inch or so is dry. Good luck with your plant!
Chelsea says
Hey there! I’m having some trouble finding a direct answer online. I just bought a Tradescantia Nanouk last night off of Facebook. It’s one stem. There is a total of 5 leaves (and some blooming on top) but two are near the bottom. I immediately potted it (and buried the leaves, although after this I’m wondering I should go back and remove them) and watered just a tiny bit. Im wondering if I should put it in some water until it grows some roots though, and then transfer to a pot. But I’ve also heard that this can be detrimental. I dont mind growing it hydroponically for now. Can it root in a pot or should I grow roots in water and then transfer? I’m hoping that I haven’t already aggravated it so much that it’s not going to make it :(Thanks!
Julie says
Hi Chelsea – I have to say, part of the reason I love getting comments on my posts is because they help me realize what my post is lacking! Because of your comment I’ve added a section about propagating/rooting in soil. Now, to answer your question:
You shouldn’t bury the leaves. It has only been one day so the cutting should be fine. Unbury the leaves and if there isn’t enough bare stem on the bottom to pot the cutting, you can just remove the bottom leaves. You can root your cutting in soil OR water. To root it in soil, make sure at least one node is under the surface (the nodes are the lines you see along the stem, and nodes are where roots will sprout from). Water your cutting and put it in bright, indirect light. Then, keep the soil moist (but not soaking wet). After a few weeks your root system should develop, but don’t worry if it takes a little longer since we are not in the growing season. You can test this by giving the cutting a gentle tug and if there is resistance, your roots have developed. After that, you can treat it like a normal plant 🙂
Diya says
Hi Julie, I just bought a tiny nanouk today – it’s in a 6cm pot and has about 10 leaves. I really want to grow it out, do you have any tips? Should I repot soon, given it’s so small to start with? Thanks!!
Julie - Houseplant Aficionado says
Hi Diya – I don’t always repot plants as soon as I get them but a 6cm pot sounds REALLY small. I’m trying to imagine a plant with ten leaves in a pot that tiny! If it were me, I’d probably repot it. As for the growing tips, I’d give it plenty of bright, indirect light, water when the top inch of the soil is dry, and follow the other tips in this post 🙂 Good luck!
Vera says
Hi!!!! Sorry to bother you. My window is frosted, the sun rise, and set on that direction. Will that be considered indirect? Sorry I am new to plant parenting 😩 Thank you!
Julie - Houseplant Aficionado says
Hi Vera – Interesting question! Honestly, I think the best way to know the answer is to just try it and see how your plant responds after a few days. I’m not sure what degree of “frostiness” your window has (lol), but I would think the plant would probably be OK behind it. If you can see the rays of the sun shining directly on the plant, then it’s too much, but I don’t think that would happen with frosted glass.
Laura says
Hi. Can you attach a picture pointing out where to trim/exact location of a node? Thanks. This posting was very helpful.
Julie - Houseplant Aficionado says
Hi Laura – Thanks for your comment. I added a photo and a small explanation right between the “Pruning” and “Propagation” sections of this post. I think that will help explain it better.
Emily Perez says
Hi I recently bought a small Nanouk Plant how often do you recommend watering it? Not sure when to give it water :/ I’m trying to keep a schedule for it!
Julie - Houseplant Aficionado says
Hey Emily – I recommend following the watering tips in my post—water when the top inch or so of the soil is dry. Rather than following a set schedule, stick your finger down into the soil (or use something like a chopstick) to determine the moisture level before watering.
Beth says
Hi! I’m so happy I came across your post. I have a leggy nanouk and I’m surprised it’s so leggy as it’s out on my balcony in full sun (I live in tropical southeast Asia) all day long. Going to pinch and propagate very soon! My nanouk is putting out lots of flowers so I’m guessing it’s happy? Do I need to pinch off flowers if i am pinching the stem? Thanks!!
Julie - Houseplant Aficionado says
Hey Beth – My Tradescantia Nanouk is pretty leggy too but I actually really like how it looks! Yes, I believe the flowers are a sign of plant happiness (but that doesn’t mean your plant is unhappy if it doesn’t flower). I’m probably not understanding your question, because if you’re pinching off a stem that has flowers, then the flowers would be removed along with the stem? Sorry!! My general advice here would be don’t worry too much about what to do about the flowers.
Katy L says
Hello,
Will my plant continue to grow from the original stem where I cut off a section to propagate ?
Julie - Houseplant Aficionado says
Hi Katy – The original stem will most likely branch out from where you cut it and continue to grow in a slightly different direction.
:) says
Hi, this post was very helpful… I’m new to planting and wanted to buy one of these gorgeous plants but I have a cat and Ive heard it is toxic for them. Will it be okay to still buy one but hang it up high away from them or will it still affect them… like through the air or something😩 sorry if I sound silly hahaha
Julie - Houseplant Aficionado says
Hi there – You won’t have to worry about any toxins in the air, just make sure your cat cannot reach the plant and they’ll be fine. I have cats and I keep all toxic plants up on a shelf they cannot reach 🙂
Kristy says
Hi there, My TN has been growing sideways out of the pot, any tips?
Julie - Houseplant Aficionado says
Hi Kristy – It sounds like your plant is growing towards the light source, which is totally normal. If you want it to grow more upwards then you’ll need to position it in a way so the light is more above the plant.
AKmommy says
Thank you for this site, i appreciate your time. I’ve recently fallen in I love you w Nanouk and my props are awesome… unfortunately, the trimmed stems look awful. I’m used to plants filling out at the trimmed spot but my nanouks seem to just be a barren stub after I trim them. Is that normal or am I failing to properly trim it out? Thank you!
Julie - Houseplant Aficionado says
Hi there – I’m glad you’ve found my site helpful 🙂 Is your Nanouk happy otherwise or is it looking all-around sad? Perhaps there’s something missing in its care routine that’s preventing it from thriving. Are you cutting right above the leaf node where you want your plant to branch? Also, it might take some time for new growth to appear. If I remember correctly it took a couple of weeks last time I propagated mine.
Ethan says
Hi, my Nanouk also has a lot of flowers – every node end is covered with flowers – but I don’t like them. I rather like a Nanouk without flowers, it looks more pinky and neat. How can I make it with no flower? May I just trim them?
Julie - Houseplant Aficionado says
Hi Ethan – I believe brighter light helps the plant flower but I wouldn’t move this plant to lower light just to make it NOT flower. Other than that, I’m not sure how to stop it from flowering. You should be able to just trim them off if you don’t like them.