Plant Care Notes - Tradescantia zebrina (Wandering Jew)

Current Status - 2025-10-25 00:32 UTC ✅

Day: 4 in progress (nighttime rest period)
Time now: 00:32 UTC (nighttime)
Moisture: 1899 (excellent, very stable)
Light today: 0 min (Day 4 just started, nighttime)
Water 24h: 0ml (no watering needed)
Plant health: HEALTHY
Next intervention: ~09:00 UTC (morning baseline + start 12-hour protocol)

Day 4 Plan - 12-Hour Light Protocol Implementation 🚀

NEW PROTOCOL: 720 minutes (12 hours) total

Research validated: T. zebrina needs 12-14 hours bright light under LED grow lights
Previous protocol: 420 min (7 hours) - INSUFFICIENT for optimal growth
Risk level: LOW - can reduce immediately if stress appears

Schedule (6 sessions × 120 min each):

1. Session 1: ~09:00-11:00 UTC (120 min)
2. Session 2: ~11:30-13:30 UTC (120 min)
3. Session 3: ~14:00-16:00 UTC (120 min) + 📸 PHOTO
4. Session 4: ~16:30-18:30 UTC (120 min)
5. Session 5: ~19:00-21:00 UTC (120 min)
6. Session 6: ~21:30-23:30 UTC (120 min)

Total: 720 minutes (12 hours)
Rest period: ~9.5 hours darkness (00:00-09:00 UTC)

Monitoring Plan:

• ✅ Baseline moisture reading before Session 1
• ✅ Watch for stress: leaf burn, bleaching, wilting, drooping
• ✅ Photo during Session 3 for color/health assessment
• ✅ Track moisture consumption with increased light
• ✅ Evening assessment at ~23:00 UTC to evaluate response
• ⚠️ If ANY stress appears → reduce duration immediately

Plant Identity - CONFIRMED ✅

Species: Tradescantia zebrina (Wandering Jew, Inch Plant, Spiderwort)
Confirmed by: Owner (Oct 24 22:23 UTC)
Visual characteristics: Trailing vining growth, glossy purple leaves, elongated ovate shape
Growth habit: Vigorous trailing vine when given proper light

Plant Health Assessment - HEALTHY ✅

Moisture: 1899 (excellent)
- 72h trend: 1835 → 1899 (very stable, minimal consumption ~64 points over 3 days) - Well-hydrated, no watering needed for ~5-7 days - Stable pattern indicates plant well-acclimated

Visual assessment: - Photo taken 00:31 UTC - black (nighttime, no light) - Previous daytime photos showed good purple color, firm leaves - No visible stress signs in historical photos

Growth considerations: - Currently healthy but likely growth-limited by insufficient light - T. zebrina known for vigorous growth when given 12-14 hours light - May see improved color retention and vigor with new protocol

Overall: Plant healthy and stable, ready for protocol optimization

Moisture & Watering

Current reading: 1899 (excellent, ~73% hydration)
72h trend: Very stable (1835→1899, only +64 over 3 days)
Consumption rate: Very slow, ~21 ADC units per day average
Next watering estimate: Day 7-9 (Oct 27-29)
Watering threshold: ~1750-1800 (to be refined with data)
First dose plan: 10-15ml test when threshold reached

Impact of 12-hour light:
- May increase transpiration and water consumption - Will monitor moisture trend closely after protocol change - May need to adjust watering threshold based on new consumption rate

Light Protocol - OPTIMIZATION IN PROGRESS

Current Status:

• Days 1-3: 420 min (7 hours) daily - INSUFFICIENT
• Day 4+: 720 min (12 hours) daily - SPECIES-APPROPRIATE ✅

Tradescantia zebrina Requirements:

• Grow light duration: 12-14 hours daily (research validated)
• Natural light: 6-8 hours bright indirect (more intense than grow light)
• Too much: Leaf burn, browning, bleaching, faded colors
• Too little: Leggy growth, loss of variegation, pale colors, slow growth

Why Increase from 7 to 12 Hours:

1. ✅ Research confirms 12-14 hours LED grow light appropriate for T. zebrina
2. ✅ Current 7-hour protocol insufficient for optimal growth
3. ✅ Plant stable over 72h - can handle increase
4. ✅ Species known for vigorous growth with proper light
5. ✅ Goal is THRIVING, not just surviving
6. ✅ Can monitor and reduce immediately if stress appears

Tradescantia zebrina Care Requirements

Light ✅

• Grow light: 12-14 hours daily (IMPLEMENTING)
• Natural light alternative: 6-8 hours bright indirect
• Stress signs (too much): Burn, bleaching, faded colors
• Stress signs (too little): Leggy, pale, loss of purple color

Water

• Preference: Consistently moist (not soggy)
• Frequency: When top 1-2 inches dry (~7-10 days)
• Sensitivity: Root rot if overwatered, stress if dry
• Signs: Drooping/crispy (under), yellowing/mushy (over)

Environment

• Humidity: Prefers 50-70%
• Temperature: 60-80°F (15-27°C)
• Growth: Trailing vine, cascades naturally

Systems Status - All Operational ✅

• Moisture Sensor: Working perfectly ✅
• Camera: Working (focus fixed Oct 22) ✅
• Light System: Operational, ready for 12-hour protocol ✅
• Watering System: Ready (500ml available, not yet used) ✅
• Analysis Tools: Available (git, opencv, numpy, matplotlib) ✅

Human Messages - All Current ✅

Latest: Oct 24 22:23 UTC - Owner confirmed plant is Tradescantia zebrina
Previous: Oct 23 15:30 UTC - Caretaker installed analysis packages
Status: No messages requiring response ✅

Key Learning & Decisions

12-Hour Protocol Decision (Oct 24-25):

• Research validated: 12-14 hours confirmed for LED grow lights
• Species-specific: T. zebrina has high light needs
• Current status: Plant healthy but potentially growth-limited
• Risk assessment: LOW - stress would be gradual, can reduce immediately
• Goal: Optimize for thriving, not just surviving
• Caretaker consensus: Multiple cycles confirmed this is the right approach

Evidence-Based Approach:

• Use species-specific research for care decisions
• Monitor data (moisture, photos, consumption patterns)
• Make informed optimizations when evidence supports change
• Be willing to adjust if plant shows stress

Care Philosophy

Goal: Help Tradescantia zebrina THRIVE

Approach: 1. Species-specific care (T. zebrina requirements) 2. Data-driven decisions (sensors, photos, research) 3. Evidence-based optimization (validated protocols) 4. Monitor and adapt (watch response, adjust as needed) 5. Use all tools (sensors, camera, web search, analysis) 6. Weekly reflection (what works, change if fails twice)

Current phase: Protocol optimization - implementing 12-hour light protocol

Action Log - Recent

• Oct 22: Camera focus fixed by caretaker
• Oct 23: Analysis packages installed (git, opencv, numpy, matplotlib)
• Oct 24: Species confirmed as Tradescantia zebrina by owner
• Oct 24: Research validated 12-hour light protocol appropriate
• Oct 24: Decision made to implement 12-hour protocol starting Day 4
• Oct 25 00:32: New caretaker cycle, Day 4 nighttime rest, ready for morning protocol

Next Steps

Immediate (00:32 UTC):
- Nighttime rest period, no intervention needed - Plant in darkness for optimal circadian rhythm - Wait for morning cycle

Morning (~09:00 UTC): 1. Take baseline moisture reading 2. Write plant status for morning cycle 3. Start Session 1 (120 min) 4. Continue with remaining 5 sessions 5. Photo during Session 3 (~14:00-16:00) 6. Evening assessment at ~23:00 UTC

Focus: Implement and monitor 12-hour protocol, watch for any stress signs

Last updated: 2025-10-25 00:32 UTC
Day 4: Nighttime rest period
Protocol: 12-hour (720 min) starting at ~09:00 UTC
Status: Healthy, stable, ready for optimization New caretaker: Taking responsibility for plant's thriving