oyster plant (rhoeo spathacea) advice

I was given a batch of VERY leggy oyster plants which I need to plant. As a novice gardener, I have questions: if I cut off the spiky tops and leave a few inches of root, do I plant them or put them in water to root? Also, how can I use the long roots to propogate more plants..do I cut them in pieces and plant (vertically or horizontally) or put them in water? Would really appreciate some advice. audbender

Oyster plants are very invasive. I threw mine down, they grew & multiply so much I've been taking them out of my beds. They keep come up & I keep pulling them out. My DH is allergic to oyster plants, he gets hives really bad. Anyways you can plant how ever you want to, you'll get lots & lots of them.

If it is the stems that are leggy on your Tradescantia spathacea, it can be made into cuttings, just as you are describing.

I saw it used as a ground cover in Hawaii and thought it was quite striking.

They do have their place in a tropical yard, but every once in a while you just have to get rigorous and rip a bunch out.
In my experience they are virtually impossible to kill.

There are some beautiful new varieties out these days! Check out this golden one.

Now thatia just gorgeous!

I have been trying to rid my yard of rhoeo ever since I moved into my house 16 years ago!!!! I would recommend that it not be used in gardens. It is so invasive.

At Fairchild Gardens in Miami>

I have a bunch that I just keep on taking cuttings from and more keep coming.. Fortunately, this plant is not very invasive where I live and I keep my oyster plants in containers. I gave some to somebody I know as a baby shower gift (not on DG)...wondering how it is doing...