I have a Wandering Jew plant (Tradescantia zebrina - purple w/ green & silver striping leaves) that is getting a bit out of control. I can send several cuttings per small package or the whole plant for one larger exchange. Make me an offer. I'm not terribly picky.

It's not dead. Pieces of stem that aren't dead (i.e. shriveled and brown) will root easily in water, or just about anything else, and can be replanted in the original pot. (I actually tell customers to just make a hole with a pencil and stick the pieces in: nine times in ten, the pieces will root. One can, of course, also use a different pot.) Any piece of stem over a couple inches long, stuck right-side-up in water, is capable of rooting, though for best results you should use something that was already the growing tip of a vine. Cutting a long vine into two-inch sections and trying to root all of them may or may not work all that well. Soil for wandering Jew (Zebrina pendula, most likely) should be more or less the standard: bagged potting soil for indoor plants will work, though you're better off using soil formulated for cacti or succulents (not that Zebrina is a succulent: regular bagged mix just usually sucks), or mixing standard potting soil roughly 2:1 with perlite or coarse sand. Water wandering Jews when the soil is mostly dry but not completely dry. They need pretty strong light to maintain the purple color; if they're not getting enough light, the newest growth will be small and greenish. The main issue you're likely to have with Zebrina pendula is that it grows very fast, and doesn't take long to drop its lowest leaves. You'll have a more attractive plant if you break pieces off and root them in the original plant's soil on a regular basis. Ivy (Hedera helix, I'm assuming) is a trickier beast, as has recently been discussed, and I haven't had good luck with them and don't attempt them anymore.

Jessie. Cuttings will probably take a little longer to root because of the time of year. If you have extra cuttings try rooting in water. Bottom leaves must be removed otherwise, if they sit in water they rot. Change water every 2nd or 3rd day. Actually, it's a good idea pinching the top two leaves throughout summer to keep compact. Even then, in cold climate/grey day winters, stems tend to get spindly. Most likely, leaves yellowed from over-watering. For the time being, water soil thoroughly when it's mostly dry. This is especially important during dark, winter months. I'm sure you're WJ will look great..Toni

Sorry for the delayed reply, mini vacay this past weekend. Cool score from what sounds like a cool place! Trads can be quite schizo, I look forward to seeing what this one does, if you are inclined to put more pics of it in the future. The logistics of the car have saved my house from some large, would-be impulse purchases too. Probably good I don't drive a van.