Rhoeo Discolor Tricolor, also known as Moses-in-the-Cradle, Oyster Plant, Boat Lily, or Tradescantia Spathacea, is native to southern Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala. It is perennial outdoors in zones 9-11, and can be used in containers and overwintered indoors in colder climates. Discolor Tricolor also makes a wonderful houseplant. It is extremely drought tolerant and does well in partial shade. It offers pink, green, and cream foliage with an upright habit 12-18" tall. Its small white flower clusters bloom hidden deep in the leaves throughout the year. This unique, low-maintenance plant pairs well in borders or mixed containers with Begonia and New Guinea Impatiens. In tropical locations, where Discolor Tricolor is perennial, it also pairs well with banana trees and dracaena in outdoor gardens.
Discolor Tricolor Selling Tips
Sell Discolor Tricolor to your customers who are looking for a unique, low-maintenance houseplant or a container plant for outdoors. In zones 9-11, offer Boat Lily as an outdoor perennial for borders. Many people ask for low-maintenance houseplants and Rhoeo is a fantastic choice. It's uniquely colored foliage and hidden white flower clusters purify the air and add visual interest to any partly sunny room throughout the year. As a houseplant, the only care required is a watering once every week or so. As an outdoor perennial in warm climates, it requires little more than rain water.
Coach your customer:
1. Plant in areas with well-drained soil and part sun with some afternoon shade. Space plants 18-24" apart.
2. Discolor Tricolor is drought tolerant. Indoors, water once every one or two weeks. Outdoors, rainwater should suffice. If overwatered or irrigated, this plant may develop root rot.
3. Watch for caterpillars and mites.
4. Fertilize with general houseplant fertilizer in spring and summer.
General Growing Tips For Your Rooted Cutting Liner
For best results with Discolor Tricolor, use well-drained soil in part sun with some afternoon shade, low feed (150-200ppmN), and a pH of 5.8-6.4. Plant one plug per 4-inch or gallon pot. We recommend spacing pots four to five inches apart for airflow. Rhoeo does not require pinching. Watch for caterpillars and mites. Do not oversaturate soil to avoid root rot diseases.
Flowering
Discolor Tricolor blooms with small white flower clusters at the base of the 6-8" long leaves throughout the year.
Pinching
This plant does not require pinching.
Spacing
Space containers for adequate airflow and sunlight penetration around the base and foliage of each plant. We recommend 4-5" on center for 4-inch containers.
Height Control
This plant does not need chemical growth regulators.
Pests
Scout for caterpillars and spider mites as part of your commercial greenhouse's Integrated Pest Management program.
Caterpillars feed on foliage, causing stunted growth. If you notice a few caterpillars, remove them by hand and dispose of them. For larger populations, use insecticidal soap or oil and beneficial insects like parasitic wasps, and keep your greenhouse clean and free of debris to reduce attractive habitats for pests.
Spider Mites are tiny pests that cause stippling, yellowing, and webbing on foliage by feeding on plant sap. They flourish in warm, dry environments. Use correct water and fertilizing practices; over-fertilizing can attract spider mites. Proper humidity levels, predatory mites or ladybugs, and insecticidal soaps or oils may prevent or address a spider mite infestation.
Disease
Watch for signs of root rot and take preventative measures in your commercial greenhouse. Provide good airflow, spacing, and light, and use appropriate watering practices.
Root Rot occurs in poorly drained or overly wet soil, which becomes the host for several types of fungi. It causes stunted growth, wilting, and root system decay. Prevention is the best treatment, and you will avoid most root rot problems by using clean, well-draining media, appropriate containers, and good watering practices for finishing seedling plugs. Inspect plants for signs of disease regularly. Repot infected plants in well-draining soil, adjust your watering schedule, provide better airflow, and use a fungicide if needed.
Planting Discolor Tricolor Liners
We recommend planting one rooted plug per 4- or 6-inch container. Use well-drained soil and completely bury the ellepot in the center of the container. Allow the soil to dry between waterings to avoid root rot.
Rooted Cuttings
Cuttings vary in size between different plant families. These rooted starter plants will arrive ready to be transplanted in to your final container. If they are to be used in a landscape application, you will need to establish them in a 4 inch pot or an 1801 before planting outside.
Rhoeo Discolor Tricolor Quick Reference Guide
4 Inch crop time
6-8 Weeks
Bloom Period
Year Round
Color
White
Habit
Upright
Height
12-18 Inches
Light
Partial Sun
Minimum Temp
60
Perennial Zone
9-11
Water Needs
Light
Patented Plant
No
Current
Availability
Current Availability
08-17-2026 (Week 34)
0
08-24-2026 (Week 35)
0
08-31-2026 (Week 36)
0
09-07-2026 (Week 37)
0
09-14-2026 (Week 38)
0
09-21-2026 (Week 39)
0
09-28-2026 (Week 40)
15,000
10-05-2026 (Week 41)
13,800
10-12-2026 (Week 42)
11,600
10-19-2026 (Week 43)
14,700
10-26-2026 (Week 44)
11,000
11-02-2026 (Week 45)
12,500
11-09-2026 (Week 46)
10,200
11-16-2026 (Week 47)
14,400
11-23-2026 (Week 48)
14,100
11-30-2026 (Week 49)
15,800
12-07-2026 (Week 50)
14,900
12-14-2026 (Week 51)
16,000
12-21-2026 (Week 52)
15,700
12-28-2026 (Week 53)
15,500
01-04-2027 (Week 01)
16,000
01-11-2027 (Week 02)
14,300
01-18-2027 (Week 03)
9,500
01-25-2027 (Week 04)
15,800
02-01-2027 (Week 05)
16,500
02-08-2027 (Week 06)
13,600
02-15-2027 (Week 07)
16,300
02-22-2027 (Week 08)
14,700
03-01-2027 (Week 09)
14,800
03-08-2027 (Week 10)
15,200
03-15-2027 (Week 11)
14,900
03-22-2027 (Week 12)
6,500
03-29-2027 (Week 13)
6,200
04-05-2027 (Week 14)
4,600
04-12-2027 (Week 15)
6,200
04-19-2027 (Week 16)
4,500
04-26-2027 (Week 17)
4,500
05-03-2027 (Week 18)
4,500
05-10-2027 (Week 19)
4,800
Rhoeo Discolor Tricolor, also known as Moses-in-the-Cradle, Oyster Plant, Boat Lily, or Tradescantia Spathacea, is native to southern Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala. It is perennial outdoors in zones 9-11, and can be used in containers and overwintered indoors in colder climates. Discolor Tricolor also makes a wonderful houseplant. It is extremely drought tolerant and does well in partial shade. It offers pink, green, and cream foliage with an upright habit 12-18" tall. Its small white flower clusters bloom hidden deep in the leaves throughout the year. This unique, low-maintenance plant pairs well in borders or mixed containers with Begonia and New Guinea Impatiens. In tropical locations, where Discolor Tricolor is perennial, it also pairs well with banana trees and dracaena in outdoor gardens.
Discolor Tricolor Selling Tips
Sell Discolor Tricolor to your customers who are looking for a unique, low-maintenance houseplant or a container plant for outdoors. In zones 9-11, offer Boat Lily as an outdoor perennial for borders. Many people ask for low-maintenance houseplants and Rhoeo is a fantastic choice. It's uniquely colored foliage and hidden white flower clusters purify the air and add visual interest to any partly sunny room throughout the year. As a houseplant, the only care required is a watering once every week or so. As an outdoor perennial in warm climates, it requires little more than rain water.
Coach your customer:
1. Plant in areas with well-drained soil and part sun with some afternoon shade. Space plants 18-24" apart.
2. Discolor Tricolor is drought tolerant. Indoors, water once every one or two weeks. Outdoors, rainwater should suffice. If overwatered or irrigated, this plant may develop root rot.
3. Watch for caterpillars and mites.
4. Fertilize with general houseplant fertilizer in spring and summer.
General Growing Tips For Your Rooted Cutting Liner
For best results with Discolor Tricolor, use well-drained soil in part sun with some afternoon shade, low feed (150-200ppmN), and a pH of 5.8-6.4. Plant one plug per 4-inch or gallon pot. We recommend spacing pots four to five inches apart for airflow. Rhoeo does not require pinching. Watch for caterpillars and mites. Do not oversaturate soil to avoid root rot diseases.
Flowering
Discolor Tricolor blooms with small white flower clusters at the base of the 6-8" long leaves throughout the year.
Pinching
This plant does not require pinching.
Spacing
Space containers for adequate airflow and sunlight penetration around the base and foliage of each plant. We recommend 4-5" on center for 4-inch containers.
Height Control
This plant does not need chemical growth regulators.
Pests
Scout for caterpillars and spider mites as part of your commercial greenhouse's Integrated Pest Management program.
Caterpillars feed on foliage, causing stunted growth. If you notice a few caterpillars, remove them by hand and dispose of them. For larger populations, use insecticidal soap or oil and beneficial insects like parasitic wasps, and keep your greenhouse clean and free of debris to reduce attractive habitats for pests.
Spider Mites are tiny pests that cause stippling, yellowing, and webbing on foliage by feeding on plant sap. They flourish in warm, dry environments. Use correct water and fertilizing practices; over-fertilizing can attract spider mites. Proper humidity levels, predatory mites or ladybugs, and insecticidal soaps or oils may prevent or address a spider mite infestation.
Disease
Watch for signs of root rot and take preventative measures in your commercial greenhouse. Provide good airflow, spacing, and light, and use appropriate watering practices.
Root Rot occurs in poorly drained or overly wet soil, which becomes the host for several types of fungi. It causes stunted growth, wilting, and root system decay. Prevention is the best treatment, and you will avoid most root rot problems by using clean, well-draining media, appropriate containers, and good watering practices for finishing seedling plugs. Inspect plants for signs of disease regularly. Repot infected plants in well-draining soil, adjust your watering schedule, provide better airflow, and use a fungicide if needed.
Planting Discolor Tricolor Liners
We recommend planting one rooted plug per 4- or 6-inch container. Use well-drained soil and completely bury the ellepot in the center of the container. Allow the soil to dry between waterings to avoid root rot.
Rooted Cuttings
Cuttings vary in size between different plant families. These rooted starter plants will arrive ready to be transplanted in to your final container. If they are to be used in a landscape application, you will need to establish them in a 4 inch pot or an 1801 before planting outside.
Rhoeo Discolor Tricolor Quick Reference Guide
4 Inch crop time
6-8 Weeks
Bloom Period
Year Round
Color
White
Habit
Upright
Height
12-18 Inches
Light
Partial Sun
Minimum Temp
60
Perennial Zone
9-11
Water Needs
Light
Patented Plant
No
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