Portulaca

The genus Purslane (Portulaca) includes about 200 species of annual and perennial herbaceous plants, including succulents. In horticulture, only one species has become widespread - the large-flowered purslane (Portulaca grandiflora), native to South America. This is a perennial creeping plant with a height of 20 cm, grown in culture as an annual. It is more commonly used in stony gardens and borders. The leaves are fleshy, small, cylindrical, green or slightly reddish. The flowers are cup-shaped, simple, consisting of 5 fused petals, or double, of medium size (diameter 2.5-3 cm), having various colors: white, cream, yellow, bright orange, pink and red with various shades. Especially appreciated varieties with double flowers, such as 'Double Mix'. The name of the variety 'White-flowered' speaks for itself - the plant has white flowers. Flowers of the variety 'Splendens' have a purple hue. Cultivars with two-colored corollas are known. Garden purslane (P. oleracea) is a hardy weed with a creeping fleshy stem. Green sessile (without petiole) shiny leaves have an egg-shaped shape. Yellow flowers bloom in summer. To eradicate this weed, special measures are needed, and simple weeding is ineffective.

The genus Purslane (Portulaca) includes about 200 species of annual and perennial herbaceous plants, including succulents.

In horticulture, only one species has become widespread - the large-flowered purslane (Portulaca grandiflora), native to South America. This is a perennial creeping plant with a height of 20 cm, grown in culture as an annual. It is more commonly used in stony gardens and borders. The leaves are fleshy, small, cylindrical, green or slightly reddish. The flowers are cup-shaped, simple, consisting of 5 fused petals, or double, of medium size (diameter 2.5-3 cm), having various colors: white, cream, yellow, bright orange, pink and red with various shades. Especially appreciated varieties with double flowers, such as 'Double Mix'. The name of the variety 'White-flowered' speaks for itself - the plant has white flowers. Flowers of the variety 'Splendens' have a purple hue. Cultivars with two-colored corollas are known.

Garden purslane (P. oleracea) is a hardy weed with a creeping fleshy stem. Green sessile (without petiole) shiny leaves have an egg-shaped shape. Yellow flowers bloom in summer. To eradicate this weed, special measures are needed, and simple weeding is ineffective.

Cultivation

Large-flowered purslane is grown in border plantings and rockeries, in a sunny place, where, due to good germination, it is annually renewed by self-seeding. This plant is often grown in flowerpots in the open air. For good growth, you need a fertile, loose soil of medium mechanical composition, very well drained. Plants suffer from excessive compaction of the soil and stagnation of irrigation water. The soil before sowing is fertilized with manure and full mineral fertilizer (30-50 g of complex fertilizer per 1 m2). In a temperate climate, purslane is sown in spring - in the middle or at the very beginning, after the emergence of seedlings, the plants are thinned out, leaving a distance of 15-20 cm. If the soil is not very fertile, 10-20 g of complex fertilizer per bucket is added to the water for irrigation every 20-30 days.

Large-flowered purslane is grown in border plantings and rockeries, in a sunny place, where, due to good germination, it is annually renewed by self-seeding. This plant is often grown in flowerpots in the open air. For good growth, you need a fertile, loose soil of medium mechanical composition, very well drained. Plants suffer from excessive compaction of the soil and stagnation of irrigation water. The soil before sowing is fertilized with manure and full mineral fertilizer (30-50 g of complex fertilizer per 1 m2). In a temperate climate, purslane is sown in spring - in the middle or at the very beginning, after the emergence of seedlings, the plants are thinned out, leaving a distance of 15-20 cm. If the soil is not very fertile, 10-20 g of complex fertilizer per bucket is added to the water for irrigation every 20-30 days.

Location

Purslane is sown in the most illuminated place, otherwise the plant will not bloom.

Temperature

Large-flowered purslane is a heat-resistant plant. When the temperature drops, there are also no problems, since the species is grown as an annual.

Watering

Water regularly-immediately after sowing and throughout the growing season, especially in hot and dry periods, while avoiding stagnation of water.

Care

Periodically remove damaged parts.

Reproduction

In warm weather in spring, in April-May, seeds are sown immediately to the place chosen for growing. As soon as the shoots can be grasped with your fingers, they are thinned out. If the spring is cold, the seeds are sown in containers, spreading directly on the surface of the soil. The room temperature is maintained at 15-16 °C. Grown seedlings are transplanted into cups or cellular containers, and in May, together with the lump, they are planted in a permanent place. Varieties are propagated vegetatively, by cuttings. In summer, they easily take root.

Diseases

In general, representatives of the genus Purslane are resistant to diseases and pests. Occasionally, plants are affected by the fungus Albugo portulaceae, which leads to the appearance of spots on the leaves and deformity of shoots. The damaged parts are removed, and then treated with one of the copper-containing fungicides.

Acquisition

Seeds are purchased in late winter or early spring, carefully checking the integrity of the sachet and the expiration date. In flower nurseries and horticultural centers, you can also find seedlings in cups. Choose compact plants with no signs of decay.