Portulaca grandiflora flowers, purslane florets - care from A-Z

Purslane is a real blooming miracle among garden flowers. With a suitable location and dry soil, the plant will open numerous flowers between June and September. But there are also a few mistakes in maintenance that Portulaca is not so quick to forgive. On the contrary, if there are serious mistakes, the flowers die quickly. But with the right background knowledge, the purslane delight the hobby gardener with a wonderful sight.

Characteristics

• Portulaca grandiflora has more than 100 species
• Origin is in Argentina and Uruguay
• is considered an annual, maximally weakly perennial plant
• it is a succulent plant
• Shoots are approx. 20 cm long and grow flat or overhanging
• Growth height is between 10 and 15 cm
• large flowers with a diameter of 4 cm
• Flowers only open when exposed to sunlight
• Flowering time is between June and August, sometimes until October
• round fruits that are inedible and filled with gray-black seeds

care

You can easily add a purslane to your garden if you are ready to take some care. The dryness of the substrate is very important. Portulaca does not like to stand in moisture, the threat of early plant death. The flowers cope better with drought, they are generally very undemanding and have no problems even if there is no fertilizer.

Too many nutrients are more of a burden for Portulaca grandiflora that you can do without. The flowers are not hardy, although under certain circumstances it is possible that the plant will bloom again in the next year. Generally, however, a new sowing is preferred.

Plants with similar requirements as purslane florets are suitable as bedding partners or partners in the tub. Many flowering plants need a lot of water and fertilizer and are therefore unsuitable as partners for portulaca. For example, midday gold or the ice plant would be well suited.

Location

Portulaca needs a warm, sunny and dry location. The midday heat does not disturb the flowers, the plants also thrive splendidly in extremely dry areas. It looks completely different with moisture. If the soil is too moist or if the plant is exposed to rain too often, it can die very quickly and can then no longer be saved.

• Portulaca needs a warm, full sun
• Flowers are only opened when exposed to sunlight
• thrives splendidly in the blazing midday sun
• needs reliable protection from rain

The plant can enjoy a spot in full sun without worry. That alone limits the choice of suitable bed companions. Portulaca does not thrive nearly as well in partial shade as it does in full sun. Most flowering plants, on the other hand, can only tolerate one spot in partial shade.

However, rain protection is absolutely necessary, because too much water from above can very quickly lead to signs of putrefaction. Sometimes the leaves of a large, different plant are suitable, but alternatively a location in the tub under the patio roof can be chosen.

Substrate

The demands of purslane florets are also very low in terms of substrate. However, it must not be too moist, dry soil does not disturb the plant. It is optimal to mix some sand into the selected soil, unless it is a sand-heavy soil.

• Portulaca grandiflora is fine with any dry garden soil
• The substrate must be dry and well drained
• The soil can be loosened with sand, larger quantities are also okay
• poor soil is a good location.

In a very nutrient-rich soil, sand can minimize the nutrient content and improve the soil for the demands of the portulaca. The plant cannot tolerate too many nutrients, but it can easily survive a deficiency.

plants

You can buy them in spring at the latest. These are pre-grown plants that are still quite sensitive. The time for transplanting should be chosen after the ice saints. With a planting distance of 15 to 20 cm, you give the flowers the optimal distance so that they can develop optimally.

When choosing a planter, drainage is essential. A layer of clay granulate or, alternatively, gravel is best, as this allows excess water to run off quickly. Wet soil or waterlogging is extremely difficult for the plants and can kill them quickly.

Watering and fertilizing

Since portulaca is a succulent plant, it can store water and does not need a lot of additional fluid. The plant can draw on its reserves during dry periods. If it is exposed to too much moisture, it is extremely harmful to Portulaca grandiflora, so you shouldn't mean it too well when it comes to caring for it.

Overview of pouring tips

• avoid waterlogging at all costs
• Purslane florets tolerate dryness better than wetness
• the leaves are the first to show lack of water, they begin to hang
• Soil is allowed to dry out between waterings
• there must be no water in the coaster
• Dry periods are not a problem for the plant
• fertilize sparingly every four to six weeks
• suitable fertilizer is flowering plant fertilizer that is added to the irrigation water
• it is better to forego fertilizer than to fertilize too much

Cut

It is not necessary to prune the plant unless it is out of shape. The shoots can sometimes branch better through the spontaneous cut and more shoots arise. As a result, the already abundant flowering becomes even more luxuriant.

It is also worth cutting off the faded flowers to encourage re-formation. It is a bit busy, but the result is a wonderful bloom of flowers that is quite impressive.

Overwinter

As a rule, the plant is annual and overwintering does not make sense. However, in temperate climates with little frost, it is possible that the purslane will return next year. Mostly they would look like themselves and can therefore remain in the bed anyway.

In order to give it a try, you have to cover the bed with sticks to protect the plants from moisture. In the best case scenario, the plant will sow itself and sprout again next year. Portulaca cannot overwinter in the container; frost occurs too quickly.

Multiplication

The plant can be propagated either by sowing or head cuttings. Sowing can be done with the self-harvested seeds, which can be kept for up to four years. For this, however, it is necessary that the seeds are stored frost-free and in the dark.

Sowing yourself made easy:

• Pre-breeding takes place from March
• use seed compost and mix it properly with sand
• peat substrate is unsuitable
• make sure there is sufficient spacing when sowing
• cover the seeds lightly with soil, they are light germs
• cover the vessel with a glass plate or foil
• always keep the substrate slightly moist
• the best temperature is 18 degrees
• the germination period is between 10 and 14 days, after which it is pricked out
• move to the open air after the ice saints

The right substrate is already an important factor when propagating by sowing. If you use a peat substrate or a substrate that is too rich in nutrients, the germination of the seeds may be disturbed. Commercially available seed compost is best, which is reduced in nutrients by adding sand.

The distance is very important when sowing so that the shoots close to the ground do not hinder each other's growth. However, due to the dark color of the seeds, it is not easy to maintain the required distance. Scatter the seeds loosely over the seed tray and distribute them lightly with your fingers or a brush if necessary.

Propagation by head cuttings

As an alternative to sowing, it is also possible to propagate the plant with head cuttings. To do this, proceed as follows:

• Cut the cuttings from the long shoots
• The roots develop quickly in the water glass
• You can cut cuttings at any time during the year
• Alternatively, you can place cuttings directly in a nutrient-poor substrate

Diseases and pests

Although purslane florets look quite delicate, they are relatively robust. They are not susceptible to disease at all, but pests can show up every now and then. There are no particular pests that are explicitly shown in these plants.

Rot damage from moisture

A major risk with purslane florets is damage caused by rot caused by too much moisture. It is almost always the hobby gardener's own fault because he overestimates the water requirements of his plant. As the owner of this type of plant, one should always keep in mind that the substrate should be too dry rather than too wet.

Aphid infestation is possible

Every now and then it comes to an infestation with aphids, which is actually not dramatic. However, since aphids are disease carriers, control is essential. First of all, it makes sense to rinse the plant with water. A spray mix of detergent and water is also helpful.

The chemical club should only be used in an extreme emergency. Natural predators such as hover flies, ladybugs and predatory bugs usually do their job reliably.