Wandering Jew - Beautiful fast growing creeper

How to grow Wandering Jew

I came across this creeper at a restaurant nearby my home. There were lovely baskets of wandering jew hanging all over this place. I did not know its name, and

hence asked the caretaker/gardener there. He told me in Hindi that it is called the "Chipkali" bel which means Lizard Creeper in English. The plant in noway

resembled a lizard. I was perplexed about the name but I had no choice than to believe what the caretaker said. I searched for the plant in various nurseries

but could not get it.

This is show it is planted in the restaurant.

When I went to that restaurant next time, I asked the caretaker for a twig. I took that single twig home happily and planted it in one of the vacant pots. In only a month, 

the plant was all over the place. It grew unimaginably fast and spread itself all over the pot. The plant however is very brittle. It breaks very easily. You can put 

the broken twig back into the soil and it will grow again. 

I have the following variety of Wandering Jew. However, there are many more beautiful varieties that I am in search of especially the one which is green and purple in colour.

I also have a different variety which has pink stem and light green leaves. Some varieties have bigger leaves while some have small leaves. The small ones mostly have

single color green leaves. The plant is also called as "Inch Plant". 

The Wandering Jew is a legend which basically follows that a Jewish man was cursed to walk the earth forever, therefore like this plant the Jew will eventually go everywhere. 

The "inch" plant name probably comes from a combination of the stem's ability to grow about an inch every week, and also because only an inch of this plant is needed to propagate itself.

The plant can thrive outdoor as well as indoor in indirect sunlight. It's best to keep it near the window if placed inside. 

It's scientific name is  Tradescantia fluminensis which is all green. Tradescantia Zebrina is the variety which is variegated and comes in different colours. 

Given it's vigour, this plant can live on even with a small one inch twig making it difficult to eradicate. 

How to grow Wandering Jew or Inch Plant?

Wandering Jew can be easily grown by planting a small twig in soil. Cut off a dozen long legs and bury the cut ends in fresh  soil. Keep the soil moist and within a few weeks, you’ll see new growth.

Watering

It does not like its feet wet in water. Water normally. Do not drench the plant in water

This is a good plant to start indoors and grows very quickly making your surroundings green. The best way to plant it is in hanging baskets. Its vines fall beautifully from the baskets. 

Good luck!!