The wandering jew companion plants have various interesting characteristics that make them beneficial – this can be taken advantage of by planting plants such as begonias and impatiens as companion plants. Such benefits could be to the wandering Jew plant, humans, and the environment.

Companion Plants for Your Wandering Jew

This article will help you take advantage of the benefits that are appealing to you by listing different wandering jew companion plants that are at your disposal.

A Comprehensive List of Wandering Jew Companion Plants

The wandering jew companion plants are quite many, but they include the following: creeping Jenny, purple pixie leropetalum, begonia, coleus, impatiens, and pothos.

The wandering Jew, also known as the inch plant, is a gorgeous plant that is mainly grown in gardens and homes to enhance aesthetic appearance. 

The emerald green, deep purple, and silver color combinations on this plant cannot pass unnoticed – even better when grown with the right combination of plants around it. Please note that the scientific name of the wandering Jew is Tradescantia zebrina, though it is often confused with Tradescantia pallida.

1. Spider Plant

The Air Purifying Spider Plant

Benefits
  • Has anti-inflammatory attributes
  • Has insecticidal characteristics
  • Non-toxic upon consumption so it is safer if you have pets and small children
Uses
  • To filter the air, thereby purifying it
  • To improve humidity in its vicinity
Distinguishing characteristics
  • Produces white flowers that are small
  • Stems grow up to 2 feet in height
  • Have thick roots that are fleshy, thereby allowing the plant to endure eras of inconsistent watering
Care
  • Irrigate once every week in summer and allow the soil to dry between waterings in winter
  • The growing medium should be soil-based and well-draining
  • Thrives well under bright, indirect sunlight

The spider plant is so called due to its appearance, which imitates that of a spider. Other common names for this plant are spider ivy and ribbon plant. These plants have relatively long life spans that can stretch up to between 20 and 50 years.

2. Snake Plant

The Low Maintenance Snake Plant

Benefits
  • It’s an easy-care plant
  • May assist in boosting mental health
Uses
  • Filtering the air by removing pollutants such as toluene, especially when grown as indoor plants
  • Can be used as a remedy for allergies
Distinguishing characteristics
  • Leaves appear like swords and are approximately 2 feet long
  • Have stiff foliage that grows upright, wit gorgeous yellow and white striping variegations
  • Have no stems
Care
  • Ensure a good drainage system so that the plant is not exposed to waterlogged conditions.
  • Add fertilizers once every month in the period between April and September.
  • Can survive both the full sun and low light

Snake plants are also referred to as the sansevieria because of their scientific name, which is, Sansevieria trifasciata. Based on Feng Shui teachings, this plant is believed to attract prosperity, good energy, and money.

Therefore, the plant is not only beautiful in appearance, but it is also associated with good things.

3. Begonia

The Versatile and Eye Catching Plant

Benefits
  • Leaves can treat diarrhea, skin diseases, and respiratory infections
  • Has light air-purifying properties
Uses
Distinguishing characteristics
  • Appears bushy and has fleshy stems
  • Produces single or double flowers that have pink, white, or red colors, though bicolor versions also exist
  • Leaves are waxy, with color ranges between dark green and bronze
Care
  • Soils should be well-draining, relatively water-retaining, and rich in organic matter
  • Exposure to bright light triggers flowering
  • Irrigate after about three days, on average 

It is vital for you to note that despite its beauty, the begonia is toxic to humans and pets upon consumption. The toxins are mainly stored in the tubers of the plant. Therefore, if you are a pet lover and you also consider having this plant in your collection, be sure to keep it out of the reach of children and your animals.

4. Creeping Jenny

Fast Growing Creeping Jenny

Benefits
  • It’s easy to grow
  • Can choke weeds through its fast-growing and creeping nature
Uses
  • Can be used as ground cover
  • Can be used for decorating spaces in hanging baskets
Distinguishing characteristics
  • Leaves are heart-shaped
  • Produce flowers are bell-shaped and yellow, between May and August
  • Has a creeping nature as it grows in damp grasslands
Care
  • Grows well in partial shade or full sun
  • Regularly check the plant for any fungal infection so that you can detect them early
  • Prefers loamy-sandy soils that are nutrient-rich

The creeping Jenny is also referred to as the moneywort and its botanical name is Lysimachia nummularia. This plant, which belongs to the Primulaceae family, has its origins in Europe.

Please note that the creeping Jenny is nontoxic to animals and humans, which makes it a good option if you have pets and younger children in your home. This plant is even easy to propagate, considering that its stems can quickly develop roots, as they grow along the ground.

5. Purple Pixie Leropetalum

Compact Purple Pixie Loropetalum

Benefits
  • Easy to care for because it is relatively tolerant to short periods of drought
Uses
  • Used for adding a decorating punch, especially as a border edger
  • Can be used as a ground cover
Distinguishing characteristics
  • Is a dwarf cultivar
  • Has showy flowers that are pink in color
  • Burgundy foliage remains throughout the year
Care
  • Grows well under full sun, though partly shaded places also work
  • Thrives well in any well-draining and slightly acidic growing medium
  • Irrigate regularly throughout the plant’s growing season

The purple pixie leropetalum exhibits a unique weeping nature. When it grows, it usually doesn’t exceed 2 feet. Please note that this plant has a compact nature so there is no need to prune it.

6. Coleus

Colorful Plant for Your Garden

Benefits
  • Has forskolin, which enhances better functioning of the heart
  • Increases blood flow
Uses
  • Used as a bedding plant
  • Used for treating rashes, epilepsy, and asthma
Distinguishing characteristics
Care

This plant is a member of the Lamiaceae family. Some species of coleus contain toxic substances, like the Coleus ampoinicus. Therefore, it is of uttermost importance that you exercise caution when you handle these plants, especially if you have pets and young children around.

7. Pothos

Pothos Trailing Houseplant

Benefits
Uses
  • Used for beautifying spaces
  • Can be used to reduce nitrate levels in tanks that are used for keeping fish
Distinguishing characteristics
  • Leaves are heart-shaped, waxy, and thick, with a dominant green color that has splashes of yellow
  • Mature leaves, are perforated, while the juvenile ones are entire
Care
  • Water every one to two weeks
  • Require moderate light indoors and shady areas outdoors
  • A soilless growing medium or a well-draining soil

The other common names for pothos are arum ivy, taro vine, hunter’s robe, and money plant. This plant is called pothos because when it was first discovered, it was given the name Pothos aureus.

All parts of this plant are toxic because they contain oxalate crystals that can cause irritation upon chewing or biting the plant. The sap of the pothos can trigger eye irritation and dermatitis, which is a skin condition.

8. Impatiens

Impatiens Low Maintenance Plant

Benefits
  • Purifies the air by removing harmful substances like carbon monoxide, benzene, and formaldehyde
  • Used for treating insect bites and bee stings
Uses
  • Used as a bedding plant
  • Used for enhancing aesthetic appearance
Distinguishing characteristics
  • Grows to a height of about 2 feet
  • Have soft leaves, flowers, and stems that are easy to break
  • Leaves have pointed tips and toothed edges
Care
  • Full to partial light is ideal for the growth and survival of the plant
  • Soils should be well-draining and moist, but not waterlogged
  • Requires two to four inches of water every week

Did you know that impatiens is associated with motherly love, though there are some cultures that link the plant with impatience?

This shows that this plant is highly associated with emotions so you can have this plant to keep in touch with your feelings. The impatiens’ origins are in Eastern Africa.

Conclusion

This article enlightened you with information with regard to which plants grow well in the same vicinity as the wandering Jew.

Before you go, let’s have a recap of the main points once more:

  • The wandering jew is a gorgeous plant that can beautify spaces even better when grown together with the right combination of plants.
  • You can use the coleus, creeping Jenny, purple pixie leropetalum, begonia, and impatiens as companion plants when growing the wandering Jew.
  • Apart from their application in enhancing aesthetic appearances, the wandering Jew companion plants have other uses in benefits, including their ability to purify the air from contaminants like toluene.
  • Some of the plants have health benefits; for example, coleus has forskolin, which enhances better functioning of the heart.
  • Most of the plants are easy to grow, with a common preference for soils that are well-draining.

The ideas that are presented in this article give you indoor plant combination ideas for wandering jew plants and their companion varieties. Make informed decisions and enjoy the wandering jew companion planting!

References

https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/spider-plant-chlorophytum-comosum/

https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/begonia/

https://www.uaex.uada.edu/yard-garden/resource-library/plant-week/moneywort-6-24-05.aspx

https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/media/sfylifasufledu/baker/docs/pdf/horticulture/demonstration-gardens/Loropetalum-Purple-Pixie.pdf

http://extension.msstate.edu/news/southern-gardening/2018/spring-demonstrates-advantages-loropetalum

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/pharmacology-toxicology-and-pharmaceutical-science/coleus

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