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Tradescantia somaliensis
The best for the plant would be partial shade.
Always water a few days after the substrate has dried out. In winter, limit watering.
The plant can withstand temperatures as low as -1.1 °C in the short term. However, the plant is not hardy.
If there is not enough light, the stems may pull out unhealthily between the leaves. Then it is a good idea to prune. If there is too much sunlight, the leaves turn orange.
Tradescantia somaliensis is also known by the technical name Cyanotis somaliensis and the cute folk name Furry Kittens. It is an endemic succulent plant native to northern Somalia.
The leaves tend to be lanceolate, olive green and almost hidden under long white hairs that give the plant a soft and cute appearance. The leaves grow up to 15 cm long and 1.5 cm wide. The succulent has long, fleshy stems from which grow offsets, similar to those of bromeliads. The plant grows to a height of 12 cm and has a creeping or trailing habit.
In summer, small, pale purple flowers with distinctive golden stamens appear on the succulent. The flowers grow in racemes and enliven the overall appearance of the plant.
Tradescantia is also an ideal choice for hanging containers. It can also be grown in terrariums or indoor fairy gardens. In too much sun, its leaves turn more orange in colour. Fertilize at your discretion, e.g. with succulent and cactus fertilizer. If the plant does not get enough sun and grows too tall or becomes leggy, it can be cut back without worry. Tradescantia somaliensis is a cute hairy plant that stands out nicely when growing alone.