Almost four months ago I planted a cutting of Moses In A Cradle (Tradescantia spathacea ?) in a pot.

At the time of planting, it was about 6" tall. It's kept right near a window that has a southernly exposure, but because of outdoor window awnings, the light isn't direct or very strong. I water it deeply about once a week, when the soil at the top of the pot feels dry. This plant has grown to a height of about 15", and it's very leggy. It's like a stem with leaves (no more than 3 or 4" long) about every two or three inches on a long stalk. It can't support itself, so I put a dowel in the pot to keep if from falling over.

I've kept Moses In The Cradle in the past, and they were wonderful compact plants that never got leggy.

Could you please tell me what I'm doing wrong, and how I can fix it?

Thank you for whatever help you can offer.

Hi and No kidding, you're the 5th beatle??

Could you please show us another shot of that plant from the top? I'm thinking it doesn't really look like my 'Moses in the Cradle' at all, and you might actually have something else altogether. Mine don't ever stand up straight like that. They're sort of a low, creeping plant that puts out shoots along the ground and rosettes of leaves on those shoots .

Here are mine - I have them growing in dappled sun, deep shade and all light levels in between. They're weeds here -very forgiving. I yanked a couple up so you can see the fleshy shoots that travel along the ground and put up leaves.



If what you have is the same as these, I think you should let it lie down along the ground, in maybe a wide, shallow pot. They like damp leaf litter, so it might want more water/humidity, too.

Hi & welcome! Your plant looks like it may be this one, purple heart/purple queen: Purple Heart (Tradescantia pallida)

The pics should give you an idea of its' habit, not the same type of upright entity as T. spathacea. If so, it needs as much sun as possible & looks its' best (IMVHO) in as much direct sun as possible. That results in the darkest purple, most compact growth, more flowers.