Table of Contents
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The Tradescantia Nanouk is an absolutely gorgeous plant known for its bright green, purple/pink, fuzzy-ish leaves. Today I’ll discuss Tradescantia Nanouk care and propagation and all the secrets to caring for this plant!
The Nanouk is a type of wandering “dude.” 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 this post will talk 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.
Not that 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?
The Tradescantia Nanouk is a low-maintenance but rewarding plant. Its basic care requirements are the following:
- Bright, indirect light
- Well-draining soil
- Watering when the top inch of the soil is dry
Read on for a full guide!
How much light does the Nanouk need?
Bright, indirect light is best for the Tradescantia Nanouk and will keep its pink and purple leaves nice and brightly colored. Do not put this plant in direct light or it could hurt the leaves.
I have grown mine in low light before, but keep in mind the bright colors will fade if it’s kept in low light.
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?
Legginess means longer stretched-out branches with fewer leaves. A common reason for leggy plants is a lack of adequate light.
I will say that although they were bred for compact growth, I’ve found these plants still have a tendency to get a little bit leggy if you’re not careful. You can keep your plant as compact as possible by:
- Keeping it in bright, indirect light (sunlight or a grow light).
- Pinching off the leggy growth to encourage new growth and therefore a bushier plant. You can even stick the cuttings right back into the pot and allow them to root.
I have started keeping my Nanouk under a grow light and it’s a lot happier—it’s less leggy, brighter in color, and has a lot more branching. So, I would definitely suggest adding a grow light! My two current favorite grow lights are below.
How often do you water Tradescantia Nanouk?
Rather than asking “how often” to water your Nanouk, you should water when the top inch or so of the soil is dry. Watering on a set schedule could lead to overwatering and root rot.
To minimize the risk of root rot, be sure to stick your finger down into the soil to determine the moisture level before watering.
As you’re watering, try not to get water in the crevices of the leaves. If you leave the water sitting in there, that could also cause rot.
Since the leaves of this plant are more rigid, it’s easy to get water stuck in there, so just take a tissue or paper towel and gently dab out the crevices. If you’re having trouble with this problem, you might want to give bottom watering a try!
Does Tradescantia Nanouk like humidity?
Yes, this plant does prefer extra humidity. If the air is very dry you might notice some crispy leaves.
It’s easy to create humidity for your houseplants. You can do this using a few methods but I prefer using a humidifier since it’s low maintenance and long lasting. Below is my current favorite humidifier because it can last up to 96 hours!
Temperature
The Nanouk will be just fine in normal household temperatures, so there is nothing special you need to do here. Just keep it away from any cold areas or drafts, such as a windowsill in the winter.
Soil
Your Tradescantia Nanouk will do well in a regular, well-draining houseplant potting mix. And, it’s always a good idea to add a handful or two of perlite to increase drainage.
Fertilizing
This plant doesn’t necessarily need to be fertilized to grow successfully.
However, if you’d like to give yours a boost with its growth, you can use a general indoor plant fertilizer diluted by half its strength. Fertilize every two to four weeks in the growing season (spring and summer).
Convinced this is your next plant? You can buy a Nanouk here!
Repotting Tradescantia Nanouk
Repot your Tradescantia Nanouk when it’s root bound.
If there are roots coming out of the drainage holes, if you see the roots all coiled around the outside of the soil when you remove the plant from the pot, or if your plant has stunted growth, then it’s root bound and time to repot.
In the right conditions, Tradescantia Nanouk can grow pretty fast so a good general rule of thumb is to repot it once a year, but use your judgment. If the plant is still thriving in its pot, then there’s no need to disturb it!
Choose a pot the next size up that has good drainage. Try to repot during the growing season (spring and summer), if possible.
Flowering
The Nanouk occasionally blooms tiny white/pinkish flowers with yellow centers. They are quite adorable!
Problems and Pests
This is a relatively hassle-free houseplant, but like any plant, problems sometimes occur. Below are some Tradescantia Nanouk problems with their common causes.
- Why are my Nanouk’s leaves turning brown?
- Brown and crispy leaf edges are commonly due to underwatering, air that is too dry, or too much direct light. Note that if the leaves are turning brown and soft/mushy, that is likely root rot, which is caused by overwatering.
- Why is my Tradescantia Nanouk dying?
- It’s easy to kill the Nanouk by consistently overwatering. This goes for almost any houseplant. Consistent overwatering will cause root rot, which essentially suffocates the roots. Check out my post on root rot for more help.
- Leggy stems
- As mentioned earlier, legginess (meaning longer, stretched-out stems with fewer leaves), usually indicates a lack of sufficient light. The plant is trying to grow toward more light. For a bushier plant, try increasing the light and pinching off leggy growth.
- Pests
- The Nanouk won’t give you too many pest problems, but like with any houseplant, there’s always a possibility. Potential pests include mealybugs, spider mites, and fungus gnats. While there are more detailed ways to deal with each individual pest, I really like Bonide Systemic Houseplant Insect Control for general pest prevention and control.
Where do I cut my Tradescantia Nanouk?
- If you want to prune/pinch your plant to encourage new growth, cut the stem right above the node and leaf. This means the node and leaf will remain on the plant.
- If you want to propagate your plant, cut the stem right below the node. This means the node should be on the part you cut off.
Nodes are where new growth comes from (branching, leaves, roots, etc.), which is why it’s important to know where they are. You can see in the photo below there are ridges with lines along the stem—those are the nodes.
Pruning and Pinching
How do you make a Tradescantia Nanouk bushy?
You can pinch your Nanouk back regularly to encourage bushy growth and branching. This will create a fuller plant and help with legginess.
You can “pinch” a plant by literally pinching, or using clean, sharp scissors, to cut off a stem right above a leaf node.
As a reminder, the node is where leaves and roots grow out of the stem. On this plant, you can easily see lines along the stem which indicate where a node is.
In addition to pinching, you can prune away any dead or dying leaves.
Can you propagate Tradescantia Nanouk?
Yes, you can propagate Tradescantia Nanouk, and it’s very easy! You can propagate your Nanouk in water or directly into soil. I’ll describe both below.
As a reminder, 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, sharp 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 room-temperature water so that at least one node—a few if possible—is below the surface. Make sure no leaves are in the water.
- 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 around two to three inches long 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 pot up your cutting, give it a good watering and start treating it like a normal 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, sharp 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 of the leaves.
- Keep the soil moist, but not wet, as the roots develop.
- 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 few minutes each day to let in fresh air.
- After 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 Toxic?
Yes, all Tradescantias are toxic to cats and dogs, so keep them out of your furry friends’ reach.
How big do Nanouk plants get?
I have seen Nanouks growing outdoors that have branches nearly two feet long. While smaller Nanouks may grow straight upwards, once they get to be medium size they will grow more outwards and start to get “wonky,” as I like to describe it.
The patent for this plant describes an 18-week-old plant with a height of 8.9 cm.
Unfortunately, I was not able to find a straight answer in my research as to how large a mature plant can actually grow—but height is not something you’ll have to worry much about, it’s all about width for the Nanouk.
How fast does Tradescantia Nanouk grow?
The patent for this plant also describes its growth rate as “low vigor to moderately vigorous growth habit.”
I can definitely attest that they will grow a lot faster in brighter light. As I mentioned earlier, I put my Tradescantia Nanouk under a grow light which has been a gamer changer for color, fullness, branching, and growth rate!
My Tradescantia Nanouk is growing tall
Like any plant, this one will grow towards the light. If you don’t want your Tradescantia Nanouk growing tall, make sure the light source is not directly above it. However, once the plant reaches a medium size the branches will start to grow more outwards instead of upwards on their own.
You can also keep it short by pruning it back to your desired height.
Tradescantia Nanouk Care Summary
- Provide with bright, indirect light
- Water when the top inch of the soil is dry
- Use a well-draining soil
- Provide with humidity
- Keep away from cold areas
- Use an undoor plant fertilizer diluted by half strength every two to four weeks during the growing season
- Repot when rootbound
Convinced this is your next plant? You can buy a Nanouk here!
Here are some of my favorite houseplant supplies:
Full-Spectrum Clip-On LED Grow Light. Why I love it – The clip makes it so easy to put almost anywhere, and the two lights with their adjustable necks make it super versatile. The timer and dimming functions are also so handy.
Stackable Moss Pole. Why I love it – Plants that climb in the wild will benefit from being able to climb in your home, too. But the thing about plants is, they grow! It’s not helpful to have one small moss pole. This pole comes with two stable pieces and once your plant surpasses those, just order another and keep stacking!
Full-Spectrum Stick-On Grow Light Strips. Why I love it – These stick-on light strips work perfectly for my greenhouse cabinet shelves. They would also come in handy if you’re keeping plants in something with a top, like a bookshelf. These lights also have a timer and a dimming function.
Whisper-Quiet 1.7-Gallon Ultrasonic Humidifier. Why I love it – Using a humidifier is one of my favorite ways to provide humidity to my plants. This humidifier lasts up to 96 hours, which means less work for me!
Top-Fill 2.8-Liter Ultrasonic Humidifier. Why I love it – This humidifier is a little more budget-friendly. It’s extremely easy to refill and it can last up to 24 hours!
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!
Jodi says
How do I keep nanuok more compact and not leggy.
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.
Beth says
Mine just kept growing upwards without that cute bunching or flopping downwards – and since the last time I commented, I pinched off the stems and replanted them and my plant was NOT happy with me… all the flowers died and most of the replanted stems rotted 🙁 I saved a couple and started again, but it’s growing really slowly!
Brenda says
I’m trying to propagate my Nanouk in water and it looks like the stem in the water is getting mushy after a week. There are no roots yet. Is that normal?
Julie - Houseplant Aficionado says
Hi Brenda – Unfortunately, propagation is not always a guaranteed success so it’s possible the stem is rotting. First, make sure you have a node under the water. Roots won’t sprout if there aren’t any nodes in the water. Then, be sure to keep the water clean (change it out every few days) and also make sure you’re keeping the cutting in bright, indirect light. Give it another week or two and if you don’t see any tiny roots forming at all, consider trying again with a new cutting. Good luck!
Charlotte says
Hi Julie!
I’ve had my Nanouk for about 2 months now, and up until now it’s been doing great in my socal window; most of the time with indirect sunlight and just some direct in the afternoon. It’s grown flowers and I water appropriately. However, now all the leaves are curling upwards. Could that be because of too much light? I worry that it’s irreversible.
Amanda says
I love your post!
I recently was gifted a piece of one of these gorgeous plants. The stalk was in soil, but I wasn’t sure what to do.
It was a piece that had small roots at the bottom, but I didn’t think they were long enough to support the plant on its own in soil ( the roots are maybe like an inch? Not even?)
Is it okay that I have it sitting in water to wait for the roots to grow longer, or should I put it in soil?
Thank you in advance!
Julie - Houseplant Aficionado says
Hi Amanda – Thanks for the love! You can keep the cutting in water or in soil. Since you moved it to water, I would just leave it there so as not to disturb it too much. If you do choose to put it back in soil, just be sure to keep the soil moist as the roots develop. And the fact that you already have roots is a good sign!
Reshat Kryeziu says
I love flowers the most in the world can you order a , beatiful flower !
Belle says
Question for the stems that remain in the pot after you cut. Mine seem to be leaking some kind of fluid. I’m concerned the plant might have root rot as the stems were looking slightly brown.
Charlotte says
Will very small stems/young new growth root in water? I recently had a some success propagating a tradescantia, but a tiny human yanked out the only stem with visible silver and vibrant purple leaves. It has a bunch of petioles with great leaves (maxing out at an inch, some of them much smaller). Do you think it’s possible to propagate a teeny tiny zebrina from those?
Sandra says
I purchased my plant at the beginning of summer and it had a few leaves with brown spots on them when I purchased it. Now it’s doing wonderful and I’ve been following your advice for propagating cuttings into the soil to make the plant fuller. My question is should I leave the older leaves that have brown areas to fall off on their own or should I remove them by cutting them away from the main stem.