How to help “wandering Jews” spread ALL over.

(hint: Just add water)

 

What’s a Wondering Jew? True, we know that Jews have wondered in the dessert for 40 years, and they are still wondering around, everywhere, India, Africa, China, Persia, Europe etc. In a way we were born to wonder. That’s right, it is our job to make every corner of the world a bit more special, by adding a spark to every place, by doing Mitzvas, and spreading the light everywhere we go.

Now, meet the Wondering Jew, drum roll please… – not in person form.

 

Fun facts:

It’s a plant!  

 

Plant type: cute, and pretty houseplant

Wandering Jews are loved for their stripes of white, green, silver, and purple colors in their leaves. They have vines that flow from it’s base and are very easy to care for.

The Wondering Jew (plant) has a reputation for being a hard to kill plant. AHA! Just like us. Invinsible.

 

 

How to plant it and grow it?

Here we go. Let’s roll up our sleeves and get in the dirt!

1 CHOOSE A POT

Cuttings should be planted in a container measuring 4 to 6 inches across. Whether plastic or ceramic, the pot should have drainage holes and a drainage tray. While you can use a regular pot, hanging baskets are the best.

2  Take a cutting from another Wondering Jew. (We are ALL connected remember)

And, take the piece in a cup or vase of clean water as soon as possible after taking the cutting.

 

Within a couple weeks, you’ll see small roots forming. Once the roots are about 1 inch long, the wandering Jew is ready to plant.

 

3 PREP SOIL: Unlike other plants (we are unique), wandering Jews don’t require a special type of soil. (We can live and adjust to any environment.) Any type of a high quality soil with peat is great for Wandering Jews.

 

Fill your chosen container with soil to within 1/2-inch of the rim.

 

4 PLANT IT Make a hole deep enough in the soil to fit the roots and a 1-inch section or piece of stem. Put in the cutting and fill in the soil to secure the plant in place.

 

Unlike some plants that will rot if they are planted too deeply, it won’t hurt wandering Jews if you bury a portion of the stem. (We are very determined people.)

 

5 WATER IT

Water the soil until you see water come out the drainage holes. Allow the soil to drain for one hour to keep dripping water from damaging or ruining your furniture or flooring. Wondering Jews start out with lots of water! Remember the Torah is like Water, and that’s what we did in the dessert, study and study the Torah. Then we went into Israel, and now we have to work, not just study. So we still need water and Torah, but we need to balance it with our chores and things that we need to do.

 

6 After an hour, place your wandering Jew in a bright location in a spot that you think will show it off.

 

TIP Prune your plant. Cut the ends so that your plant is more bushy, if you like that.

 

TIP Mist your plant often with a spritz bottle.

 

Sure there are some invaders of Wondering Jews (like Pharoh or Haman),

Aphids tend to be a problem on the stems and leaves.  To get rid of them, pinch off the infected stems and spray the plant with water through a spritz bottle. And, it will come back even stronger in no time…Just like…You guessed it) US!