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Add to My Garden Western Spiderwort
Tradescantia occidentalis
Also known as: Prairie Spiderwort
Western Spiderwort, or *Tradescantia occidentalis*, is a member of the dayflower family. This species of plant is an indicator of radiation. It's normally blue-colored stamens will turn pink in the presence of radiation. It is native to the central and western United States.
Late fall, Winter, Early spring, Mid spring
Planting Time
More Info
Plant Type
Herb
Bloom Time
Spring, Summer, Early fall, Mid fall
Symbolism
Love
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Vascular plants Class
Monocotyledons Order
Spiderworts and allies Family
Spiderwort Genus
Spiderworts Species
Western Spiderwort 
Find your perfect green friends.
Plan your green oasis based on your criteria: plant type, pet safety, skill level, sites, and more.
Distribution Map
Habitat
Prairie, Plains, Meadows, Pastures, Savannas, Open woodlands, Woodlands edge, Opening
Native
Cultivated
Invasive
Potentially invasive
Exotic
No species reported
Questions About Western Spiderwort
Watering 
Sunlight 
Temperature What is the best way to water my Western Spiderwort?
Not only does the Western Spiderwort have certain preferences regarding how much water it receives, but it also cares deeply about how you provide that water. In fact, if you don't use the proper watering technique, you risk harming your tomatoes. The best way to water Western Spiderwort is to apply the water directly to the soil in a slow and gentle manner. You should not pour all of the water into the soil at once, and you should not do overhead watering for your Western Spiderwort. Although you should water slowly, you should also water deeply to ensure that all of the soil in which your Western Spiderwort grows is sufficiently moist.
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What should I do if I water my Western Spiderwort too much or too little?
If you find that you have overwatered your Western Spiderwort and you are concerned about the associated risk of disease, you should intervene immediately. Often the best approach for an overwatered Western Spiderwort is to uproot it from its current growing location. Once the plant is out of the ground, you can allow its roots to dry a bit before planting it in a new growing location. Ensure that the new growing location has soil with good drainage. If you grow in pots, you may also want to move your plant to a pot with more or larger drainage holes. In the case of underwatering, all you will need to do is increase the frequency with which you supply water to your plant.
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How often should I water my Western Spiderwort?
Overall, Western Spiderwort requires a significant amount of water throughout the growing season. To meet that high water need, you'll need to water early and often throughout the spring and summer. During the earlier parts of the growing season, you should water your Western Spiderwort about once or twice per week. As the season progresses, you should increase your watering frequency. You may need to water it twice per day or more during summer, depending on the weather. After your Western Spiderwort have gone through their major seasonal growth phases, you can reduce the frequency of your watering to about once per week until the end of the growing season.
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How much water does my Western Spiderwort need?
Since Western Spiderwort are incredibly popular, with many professional and amateur gardeners growing them successfully, we have a pretty clear idea of how to care for these plants. That understanding includes specific knowledge about the precise volume of water an average Western Spiderwort should receive. Generally, Western Spiderwort will require about 1 - 1.5 inches of water per week. That volume should be dispersed evenly through your weekly watering. As the weather gets warmer, you may need to supply more water, but in most cases, two inches per week is a good baseline amount.
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How can I tell if i'm watering my Western Spiderwort enough?
Underwatering and overwatering can both occur as problems for your Western Spiderwort, and both these problems can manifest with similar symptoms. For example, foliage discoloration and wilting can both result from either overwatering or underwatering. When your Western Spiderwort is underwatered, its leaves will be curling and drooping at the beginning. You will see a bunch of leaves turn less vigorous. Underwatering is also likely to cause stunted growth and poor overall development as both the flowers and this plant require a high amount of water. Overwatering is more likely to lead to disease, including rot. Overwatering may also lead to unpleasant smells rising from your plant's soil. The symptoms of underwatering will show up quicker than overwatering. Overwatering can also be evident in soil conditions. Mainly, if you notice a lot of standing water or waterlogged soils, overwatering is likely to occur.
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How should I water my Western Spiderwort through the seasons?
As alluded to above, your Western Spiderwort's water needs will repeatedly change throughout the seasons. During most of spring and summer, you should water your Western Spiderwort about once every week. As the heat of summer arrives, you should plan to increase your watering frequency to once or twice per day. In the late summer and fall, towards the end of the harvest period, you can reduce your watering frequency to about once per week. After harvest has ended, you can cease watering as your Western Spiderwort has reached the end of its life cycle and will require no further soil moisture.
The maintenance schedule of Western Spiderwort will require you to alter the amount of water you provide depending on the plant's current growth stage. Early on, especially if you grow your Western Spiderwort from seeds, you'll need to provide water often enough to maintain consistent soil moisture, which encourages root development. When the plant becomes old enough to produce flowers, it will likely need even more water. During the fruit development growth stage, your Western Spiderwort will likely need the most water out of any growth period, at times requiring water more than twice per day. Following that phase, the water needs of Western Spiderwort will decline significantly.
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What's the difference between watering Western Spiderwort indoors and outdoors?
Whether you grow Western Spiderwort indoors or outdoors can also play a role in how you water them. Western Spiderwort that grows outdoors may receive water from natural rainfall, which will reduce the amount of supplemental water you should supply. However, it is incredibly rare for rainfall to adequately replace your watering entirely. Plants that grow indoors, along with any Western Spiderwort that grows in a container, will need to be watered more frequently than those that grow in the ground outdoors. If you choose this route, please make sure that the plant gets enough water by checking the soil moisture within your pot often to keep your Western Spiderwort healthy.
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Keep your plants happy and healthy with our guide to watering, lighting, feeding and more.
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About
More Info
Distribution
Care FAQ
Related Plants
Related Articles
Add to My Garden Western Spiderwort
Tradescantia occidentalis
Also known as: Prairie Spiderwort
Western Spiderwort, or *Tradescantia occidentalis*, is a member of the dayflower family. This species of plant is an indicator of radiation. It's normally blue-colored stamens will turn pink in the presence of radiation. It is native to the central and western United States.
Late fall, Winter, Early spring, Mid spring
Planting Time
More Info
Plant Type
Herb
Bloom Time
Spring, Summer, Early fall, Mid fall
Symbolism
Love
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Vascular plants Class
Monocotyledons Order
Spiderworts and allies Family
Spiderwort Genus
Spiderworts Species
Western Spiderwort 
Find your perfect green friends.
Plan your green oasis based on your criteria: plant type, pet safety, skill level, sites, and more.
Download the App
Distribution Map
Habitat
Prairie, Plains, Meadows, Pastures, Savannas, Open woodlands, Woodlands edge, Opening
Map
Native
Cultivated
Invasive
Potentially invasive
Exotic
No species reported
Questions About Western Spiderwort
Watering Sunlight Temperature What is the best way to water my Western Spiderwort?
What should I do if I water my Western Spiderwort too much or too little?
How often should I water my Western Spiderwort?
How much water does my Western Spiderwort need?
How can I tell if i'm watering my Western Spiderwort enough?
Show More ![more]()
Get tips and tricks for your plants.
Keep your plants happy and healthy with our guide to watering, lighting, feeding and more.
Download the App
Related Plants
Related Articles
Most Common Herb
# Useful Tips
Best Perennial Plant to Grow
# Useful Tips
Best Perennial Plant to Grow
# Useful Tips
Most Common Herb
# Useful Tips
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80+ scholars in botany and gardening
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