Purslane - annual plant the Purslane family. Translated from Latin, its name means "gate", which is associated with the peculiarities of opening the boxes. Also known as Dandur and "rugs". The latter was obtained due to the fact that many types of plants spread on the ground, forming beautiful grassy carpets. Purslane grows in open ground in the North Caucasus, Altai, Asia and Belarus. The birthplace of this annual is India.
The range of use of the plant is very wide, it is used for medical purposes, cosmetology, cooking and landscape design. Purslane looks great in group plantings and in combination with other plants. Growing and caring will require regular weeding, watering and thinning.
Purslane has about 200 varieties. Some of them have taken root perfectly in our country. It has needle-shaped fleshy leaves, there are terry and non-terry species. The flowers look like roses.
Purslane garden- the most common type middle lane Russia. It grows up to 30 cm high. The leaves and stems are bright green in color and are eaten.
Purslane garden
Purslane grandiflorum- a plant with succulent leaves. Flowers come in various colors: snow-white, red, orange, etc. Flowering, as a rule, begins in mid-June and continues until the very cold. The view is considered decorative. Popular varieties- "Double Mix", "Cream", "Cherry" and "Sunglo".
Purslane grandiflorum
Purslane terry- an annual decorative look, serves as decoration of terraces and flower beds. Flowers have double caps of white, yellow, orange and red. For active growth and massive flowering, the plant needs bright lighting. Its varieties are white-flowered purslane and Splendens.
Purslane terry
Growing purslane is best done through seeds. In March, it is necessary to plant the seeds in a special soil, it is taken from the garden plot, loosened and spilled with water.
Purslane seeds
Planting steps:
Purslane shoots
You can plant seedlings in open ground when the weather settles and warm days come. It is preferable to do this in the morning or evening hours. The distance between plantings should be at least 15 cm. This will facilitate the care of an annual plant, and will enable a beautiful carpet to grow.
Attention! Weak sprouts may die with temperature fluctuations.
Many argue that dandur is completely unpretentious plant which does not require self-care. This is not entirely true. Purslane requires regular watering, the plant should not be allowed to dry out. Watering should be once every 5-7 days, in hot weather- more often. Definitely need weeding from weeds.
Attention! Purslane is undemanding to the composition of the soil, even the most meager areas will suit it. Actively blooms only in sunny places.
In general, growing an annual is not burdensome, but requires periodic intervention.
Reproduction of the plant occurs through seeds, self-seeding is often found. It can also propagate by dividing bushes and cuttings.
purslane sprout
Purslane is not particularly prone to disease. At times, it can be affected by a fungus, outwardly the leaves become spotty. In this case, the affected leaves should be removed and the plant treated with a fungicide containing copper.
Advice. If the dandur was attacked by aphids, then a solution of laundry soap will help you in the fight against it.
Silvery spots on the plant signal the appearance of thrips. Only insecticides will cope with them.
Purslane is eaten
Dandur is truly a versatile plant. Growing it as food is common in the Caucasus. The stems of the plant are used to prepare salads, soups, side dishes and additions to meat and spicy dishes. Characterized by a tart and spicy aftertaste. Those who have tried it say that it is like a mixture of spinach and sorrel.
Purslane is used to treat many ailments. Stems infused with alcohol are suitable for the treatment of psoriasis, arthritis and ulcers, and seeds are used as lotions for lichen. It also helps with insomnia, scurvy, flatulence, eye diseases, dysentery and diabetes. Due to the low calorie content, it can be used in diet food. Treatment gynecological diseases and maintaining potency is also within the power of this miracle plant. The content of a large number of vitamins and trace elements helps to fight seasonal beriberi.
With proper use, purslane can be used as a medicinal plant.
Fresh purslane juice is an excellent remedy for warts, peptic ulcers and problems with the digestive organs.
Has a number of contraindications:
Due to the fact that the plant takes root on poor soils, purslane - perfect option for use in landscape design. They decorate garden plots, used for the design of alpine slides.
Rockeriesshrouded in dandur look neat and at the same time original. Suitable for breeding in mixborders, and purslane should be in the foreground.
Purslane is planted in flower beds, in flowerpots and on Alpine rollercoaster
Terraces, balconies, verandas, arbors and vases are decorated with purslane. The plant goes well in compositions with marigolds, zinnias and nasturtiums.
Purslane - annual, ornamental, treatment plant used in cooking and everyday life. It can be grown on any soil, because it is practically unpretentious in self-care. Growing, the plant forms a lawn that does not need to be cut, but in summer period he will delight you with flowers of various colors.
Purslane attracts attention with its unusual name. If you try to translate it from Latin, you can learn a lot about this plant: "portula" means "gate" which quite definitely indicates the peculiarities of opening the seed box. However, domestic gardeners are not used to this name, so they gave it their own - "rugs".
Purslane is widely represented in warm regions central Europe, North and South America, where it is considered a field weed. Often it is specially grown in gardens and orchards. In the Middle Ages, this plant could often be found in European countries, primarily in England. In the time of Hippocrates, purslane was considered medicinal plant, which helped in the treatment of wounds, with bites poisonous snakes and insomnia. In the Middle Ages, purslane was one of the revered plants among the Arabs.
The genus purslane has a numerous composition, where about 200 species of annual and perennial herbaceous plants are represented.
As ornamental plant the most commonly used is the large-flowered purslane (Portulaca grandiflora), which is native to South America. A feature of this perennial is the presence of a creeping long stem, which reaches a height of 20 cm. It received the greatest application in the design of rocky gardens and borders.
The most beautiful are considered varieties with double flowers. A striking example of this is Variety "Double Mix". Purslane variety "White-flowered" clearly indicates that its flowers have White color. Against its background, the Splendens variety stands out, in which the flowers acquire a purple color.
Today, purslane has gained fame as one of the well-known representatives of container plants. For its cultivation, you can use a variety of containers:
Big variety this plant also demonstrates when used in garden decoration. It can be present in the composition of flower beds, flower beds, complement retaining stone walls, joints concrete slabs in rockeries. It can also be grown on dry soils, where it can be a great alternative to a regular lawn, creating no less problems in care.
In order for this plant to give only positive emotions, it is necessary to take into account some points regarding its cultivation.
Location
Best of all, purslane flowers feel in those areas that have maximum illumination. Otherwise, you can simply not wait for it to bloom. If purslane is considered for growing at home, then it is best to place containers with plants on the south side. However, it grows best in balcony and window boxes, which are provided with constant access to fresh air. But in both cases, caring for the plant will be easy.
Temperature
Purslane large-flowered is one of those plants that are used to growing in hot climates. However, small cold snaps are not able to harm this plant, since it is most often grown as an annual.
Watering
Purslane care involves regular watering. Therefore, after sowing, it is necessary to constantly ensure that the soil is moistened. However, excess moisture can adversely affect its development.
Diseases and pests
Plants belonging to the genus Purslane are resistant to diseases and pests. The fungus Albugo portulaceae can pose a danger to purslane, traces of damage to which are found only in very rare cases. This can be determined by the presence of spots on the leaves and deformation of the shoots. The fight against fungi consists in removing the damaged parts and spraying the plant with any copper-containing fungicidal preparation.
Acquisition
It is recommended to search for planting material already at the end of winter or early spring. In this case, it is necessary to make sure the integrity of the bag and pay attention to the expiration date. If you need ready-made seedlings in cups, then you can contact a flower nursery or horticultural center. Special attention care must be taken to ensure that young seedlings do not show signs of decay.
For the normal growth and development of purslane flowers, it is necessary to provide a long daylight hours. Only in this case it will be possible to count on him beautiful bloom. If you are growing purslane at home, it is best to install containers with plants on windowsills facing south. It is more preferable to use balcony and window boxes for it, since they can be provided big amount direct sunlight.
Favorable conditions for good growth purslane flowers is temperature within 20-26 degrees Celsius. This plant is undemanding to moisture, but if containers-pots are used for cultivation, then watering should be carried out regularly in small quantities. When growing purslane, the owner does not have to deal with such a laborious operation as fertilizing. Therefore, if you plant a plant on not very fertile land, then here the purslane will feel good.
You can also make a greenhouse from improvised materials. For example, it could be plexiglass aquarium. In this case, it is necessary to stretch a plastic film over it or put a plexiglass cover. Next, the aquarium is installed on the most illuminated window. In poor light conditions, you can avoid pulling seedlings with the help of their additional illumination. You can use a lamp for this. daylight or table lamp (40-60W).
Especially plants need additional lighting in the morning and evening hours. If the weather is cloudy outside, then they need to be illuminated throughout the day.
If you plan to sow Not a large number of seeds, it is recommended to use compact plastic pots for this purpose. Their bottom is filled with fine gravel and coarse sand, which will act as drainage. Next, soil is poured there. The composition of the mixture used should be free of peat and organic fertilizers. In the presence of the first component, you can not wait for the seedlings to germinate, and in the presence of the second, the seedlings will grow weak and will not be able to resist fungal diseases.
When preparing an earth mixture, it is allowed to add no more than 20% of sand with a diameter of 0.1 mm to it. fertilize heavy clay soil maybe charcoal. Containers with soil mixture must be placed in a tray previously filled with soft settled water. It is not recommended to use hard water for irrigation, as this leads to a decrease in the percentage of similarity.
After waiting for soil moisture, you can sow. To do this, you need to take a match and place the seeds on the surface of the soil with a pointed end. Next, the grains need to be slightly deepen into the soil by 0.5-1 mm. The distance between the seeds should be at least 1 cm. After sowing, the seed containers should be immediately placed in a greenhouse. If you do not plan to keep them on the window and will not use the backlight, then you need to watch when most of the seeds are free from the shell. At this point, the planting bowls are removed from the greenhouse and placed on the window so that they are as close to the glass as possible.
If you're going to light them up table lamp, then it is recommended to do this even in the greenhouse, after opening the lid. When seedlings are illuminated with a 40 W lamp, it must be kept at a distance of 10-15 cm from the sprouts. In case of using a 60 W lamp the distance is increased to 15-20 cm. If a significant drop in temperature is expected at night, then at this time the crops can be removed in an open greenhouse. In the morning, after additional lighting, they are returned to the window. During the care process, pay attention to the fact that the soil is constantly moistened.
If you are growing purslane in an apartment, and your balcony is located on sunny side, then you can take out your crops there.
Purslane is one of beautiful plants which can decorate any area. Every summer resident can grow it, because for purslane planting and care in the open field involves the same general recommendations, as for many other ornamental crops. Particular attention must be paid to the choice of landing site and creation optimal conditions for the growth and development of plants. Although the purslane is undemanding to moisture, however, in especially dry periods, its need for water may increase. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure that there is no dry crust. Otherwise, it will affect its flowering.
Growing purslane
groundcover flowering plant purslane loved by many gardeners. It is especially popular among the British, who in the middle of the last century grew it as a garden plant. Intertwining purslane stems with small leaves cover the soil and form a colorful carpet on which pink, scarlet orange, yellow, white flowers bloom. The plant has several species and varieties, but in gardens it is mainly large-flowered purslane that is grown.
Even under cover, the purslane plant does not tolerate our winters, therefore it is grown as an annual. They plant it in flower beds, in containers, hanging baskets, pots, decorating not only garden plots, but also balconies.
Purslane flower is different:
Despite the fact that each purslane bud fades by evening, its flowering from June to September is so plentiful that it seems to be continuous.
IN wild nature the plant grows in tropical regions, where there are more than a hundred of its varieties. As a garden and horticultural crop, only four types of flower are grown:
Purslane is a flowering ground plant.
most popular and the best varieties of this type of succulent are considered:
When growing a plant seedling way its flowering will adorn the garden from June until frost. Therefore, many people sow seeds in late February, early March.
However, experienced gardeners advise planting purslane in April, explaining that when planting seedlings early, there is not enough daylight and artificial lighting is required.
It is recommended to sow succulents in prepared independently soil mix. The soil from the store contains peat, which will slow down the germination of seeds. A mixture of garden soil and sand is prepared in a ratio of 4: 1. The finished soil must be calcined in the oven and distributed among seedling containers, on the bottom of which drainage is previously laid.
Before sowing, the soil is moistened with settled water. room temperature. To prevent the soil from being washed away, it is better to do this with a spray bottle.
Since purslane seeds are small, you can use a toothpick to spread them on the soil surface. It is necessary to spread the seeds about a centimeter apart, pressing a little into the soil.
From above, the container is covered with glass or polyethylene and placed in a warm place. The air temperature must be at least +22C. At favorable conditions the first sprouts will appear in 7-14 days.
When growing seedlings, it is necessary to monitor soil moisture and lighting. If the seedlings begin to stretch, then this means that they do not have enough light. In this case, additional lighting will be needed. Plants planted in April will be enough to put on the southern windowsill. The soil should be moistened with settled water.
When two true leaves appear, the seedlings dive. To do this, three shoots are planted in cups with a diameter of 7–8 cm. When transplanting a young plant, it is necessary to ensure that an earthen lump remains on its roots.
Sprouts will take root in a new container for about a week. As soon as this happens, it is recommended to make the first top dressing. For this, complex mineral fertilizers. Such top dressing will need to be carried out every 7-10 days before planting seedlings in flower beds.
In early June, as soon as the positive temperature is established, young plants can be planted in the garden. By this time, 10–15 leaves and several buds should form on each seedling.
The place for them should be well lit, because even in partial shade the purslane will not bloom. In addition, it is better to make a flower bed on a hill. Succulents do not like standing water in the soil. Their fleshy roots can quickly start to rot.
It is not necessary to fertilize the soil before planting. She must be poor. In soil rich in fertilizers, only green mass will grow near purslane, and buds will not form. When planting, the bushes are located 15–20 cm apart from each other.
It is very easy to grow purslane outdoors. Succulents are drought tolerant plants, so they require minimal moisture. In dry, hot weather, they should be watered no more than once a week. You can do this from above or below the root.
Since purslane forms mats, there is no need to loosen and mulch the soil around them. The plant does not need additional feeding.
Purslane is resistant to many diseases. But succulents are afraid of dampness, which contributes to the emergence of fungi. If the plant stopped blooming, the stems began to deform, and the leaves appeared dark spots rot, then, most likely, the flower has undergone a fungal disease.
In this case, the affected shoots are cut out, and the bush and soil are treated with fungicides.
Of the pests, purslane can attack:
Heat-loving purslane in the open field cannot winter. Therefore, in the fall, seeds are collected from it, which can be sown next spring.
After reviewing different photos purslane, it is sometimes difficult to guess that we are seeing the same plant. These are bright flowers with fleshy leaves-needles, and grass that is weeded from the beds. Purslane is a useful and beautiful crop that can be grown both outdoors and at home. In addition, this plant is very unpretentious, so even novice flower growers can handle planting and care.
On bags of purslane seeds it is written: annual. But it is not so. In our climate with harsh winters, the plant lives in the open ground for one season - from spring to autumn. But in the southern latitudes, purslane is a perennial.
A herbaceous plant with beautiful flowers - a native of the subtropics of the South and Central America. Purslane garden, or vegetable, which we consider a weed, is called a cosmopolitan. It grows on all continents.
In many countries, for example, in France, India or the Caucasus, this plant is eaten. Garden purslane is rich in vitamins C, K, E, PP, B1 and B2, carotene and trace elements. In cooking, young shoots and leaves are used, from which salads, stews, marinades are prepared.
In Russia, the edible species is rarely cultivated. But decorative purslane has become widespread. It is often planted in flower beds, alpine slides, in rockeries (a kind of rocky garden) and rabatka (rectangular flower beds along the paths), they are decorated with balconies and terraces. This plant perfectly takes root on any, even the most meager soils, can put up with drought, does not require weeding and top dressing. Its creeping stems grow, forming a dense "carpet" of green villi-leaves with a pattern bright inflorescences. The bud blooms for only a day, so the multi-colored ornament is always different.
Purslane carpet changes colors every day
Flowering purslane lasts all summer - from mid-June to September or October, until frost begins. The only requirement is abundant lighting. Purslane is a child of the sun; in cloudy weather, its flowers do not open. Although varieties are now bred that are tolerant of shading.
Specialists have bred many varieties for open ground, with simple and double flowers of the most whimsical color. However, attempts to grow them at home are rarely successful. The maximum that turns out is to keep the varietal plant at home until next year, and after frosts, plant it again in the ground or cut the bush.
But not so long ago, hybrid varieties of purslane appeared, which are successfully cultivated both in indoor floriculture and in gardening. These hybrids have simple inflorescences. But in the cold season they grow on the windowsill, and in the summer they bloom in the same pot on the balcony or in the garden.
The advantage of perennial purslane is its longevity in one pot, and the minus is modest inflorescences and less lush bloom compared to annual horticultural varieties.
A garden varieties delight with the richness of colors, size and shape of flowers, but they must be grown from seeds or cuttings every spring anew, and then planted in the ground. True, there is a way to grow purslane without problems. Plant a flower bed once, and then let the flower disperse the seeds on its own and do not dig up this place. Purslane will rise by itself, but this option is acceptable in a relatively warm regions. The colder the climate, the longer the seeds of a heat-loving plant do not germinate. This means that the flowers will appear by the middle, or even by the end of summer.
According to some classifications, the genus of purslane consists of almost 200 varieties, according to others - about 100. But the vast majority of them never became cultivated plants. In decorative floriculture, large-flowered purslane and many varieties based on it are common.
Terry varieties are more relaxed in partial shade and bloom well even in the absence of bright sun.
On the basis of large-flowered purslane, dozens of varieties have been created. The most popular of them:
Ampelous purslane is grown both in the garden and at home White-flowered purslane got its name due to the color of terry inflorescences The Air Zephyr has large flowers of different colors The Illusion variety has cherry or pink inflorescences The princely purslane pleases with its white, orange and scarlet flowers The Royal purslane flowers are simple, but very bright Large-flowered purslane has become the base for hybrid varieties The most modest outwardly garden purslane in many countries is a valuable food Splendens is a variety with purple-lilac flowers In the Feeria variety, flower petals are variegated 
The amber coast is distinguished by orange-colored flowers
Purslane vegetable, which many gardeners destroy, considering it a weed, is not only useful, it is used to treat many diseases. Stems infused with alcohol help with arthritis, heal ulcers. Decoctions and infusions are used for insomnia, eye diseases, dysentery and diabetes.
Vitamin green purslane is low in calories, so it is an excellent component of dietary nutrition. Young shoots with leaves are fried, stewed and pickled. In order to retain all the benefits of purslane, eat it fresh.
Purslane garden - an early culture. It is planted directly into the ground from late May to mid-June. Care consists in timely watering. With a lack of moisture, the leaves become rougher. The first harvest of young greens is taken already 3-4 weeks after sowing.
Purslane is propagated by seeds and cuttings. Just now harvested seeds do not germinate, they need to lie down for about six months. And they remain viable for about 3 years. Purslane can be sown directly into the ground when the average daily temperature is at least 20 ° C. In addition, seedlings can be grown.
For purslane seedlings, low containers and light soil without peat are needed.
In warm and good light, purslane sprouts appear after 5-10 days
Purslane is sown directly into the ground in late May-early June. We must wait until the soil warms up to 20-25 o C. Purslane sprouts can die if it gets even slightly colder, not to mention freezing.
Sowing purslane before winter is only in the southern regions. The seeds of a heat-loving plant will not start growing until the soil warms up to 20-25 o C. So in the middle latitudes there is no point in winter sowing, early flowering will still not work.
Purslane can cuttings all summer to renew plantings. Also, this method will help speed up the appearance of the first flowers.
A blooming carpet saves the grower time and effort. Purslane is drought tolerant, loves poor soil and does not require careful maintenance. The only thing a plant cannot do without is the sun.
It is enough to water flower beds with purslane at least once a week if there is no rain. Pour water under the roots or on top of a small divider. The main thing - try not to erode the soil. Plants living in flowerpots or other containers will need more frequent watering. But in any case, underfilling is better than waterlogging the soil. In too rainy weather or with excess water, the purslane suffers.
Mulching and loosening the ground in the flower bed is only necessary at first, until the purslane bushes have grown. The plant quickly covers the soil with its shoots, and weeds do not germinate on such a rug. Additional nutrition is not required for the flower. It grows well and blooms without fertilizing. Purslane very rarely gets sick and is not liked by pests.
If you do not remove wilted inflorescences, it is possible that the purslane will multiply by itself, scattering ripened seeds. And then next spring a flower carpet will grow in the same place again.
If you do not trust the purslane to self-sow, watch the maturation of the seed pods. To see them well, remove sluggish petals from inflorescences. It is important not to skip maturation and "unpacking". Otherwise, small grains will fall to the ground. It is no longer possible to collect them.
The seeds of this plant are often compared to dust because they are so tiny. 10 thousand pieces of purslane seeds weigh only 1 g.
harvest planting material for the future it is better in the height of summer. In the heat, purslane seeds ripen in only 10-14 days. It is necessary to collect them when the box turns yellow, and then dry the crop. With the advent of cool weather (at an average daily temperature of 12–15 ° C), purslane seeds do not ripen. If you did not have time to stock up, take the plant pot home and wait for the seeds to be ready.
Some gardeners complain that purslane blooms modestly or refuses to open buds at all. Most often, the reason for this whim is errors in choosing a place and soil. Purslane will not bloom in a shaded area. The soil for this plant must be poor. Purslane will consider the soil too greasy, which was fertilized even a year ago. He will be happy to build up a carpet of greenery, but he will not bloom. Owners of fertile plots can artificially reduce the nutritional value of the soil by adding sand, vermiculite, expanded clay, or fine gravel.
Purslane almost does not bloom in cloudy and rainy summers. From wet weather, the plant can get sick. Leaves and stems become stained, rot and die. Purslane stops growing. Treatment consists of sanitary pruning. It is necessary to remove the affected parts, and then treat the purslane and soil with a fungicide (Previkur, Soligor, Fundazol or Skor).
Even 5–10 years ago, purslane in our area was considered only a garden annual. Now the ampel variety is grown at home. While the plant is just settling on the windowsill. But more and more flower growers do not want to part with purslane for the winter.
| Season | Lighting | Humidity | Temperature |
| Spring | Bright, with direct sunlight. Plentiful light is especially important for the formation of buds and flowering. The best place- South window. Does not need shading. | Moderate or reduced, 40–60%. Does not require spraying. Painfully refers to excess moisture. But the air is too dry heating appliances purslane is harmful. | Moderate, slightly elevated, 20–25 o C. It tolerates an increase to 27 o C well. fresh air. Place the plant pot on the balcony or in the garden. |
| Summer | |||
| Autumn | With a short light day, add artificial lighting (phytolamps, fluorescent, LED). With a lack of light, the shoots stretch out, the leaves become smaller, flowering does not occur. | It is better to winter the purslane at a cool temperature (15–17 o C, but not lower than 10 o C). In the southern regions, a glazed balcony is suitable for the cold season. | |
| Winter |
Water indoor purslane moderately, always waiting until the soil is almost completely dry. It’s not scary to overdry an earthen lump, it will be worse if excess moisture provokes a disease. For watering, use soft, non-cold water.
It is not necessary to feed a purslane growing in a flower bed, it will take everything from the soil. But what lives in confined space pot, a little nutrition does not hurt. Especially during flowering. You can give him mineral fertilizers for flowering plants every 2-3 weeks. But make the concentration half as much as recommended in the instructions. With nutrition, as with water, a deficit is preferable to an excess.
Indoor purslane can bloom not only in summer, but also in winter, if you provide it with additional lighting and warm content. True, there will not be many flowers. And it is better to give the purslane a cool rest during the winter.
During the winter, the shoots inevitably stretch. Therefore, in early spring, the plant should be slightly shortened. Do not tighten with a haircut, so as not to damage the formation of buds (they appear at the ends of the shoots). By summer, the purslane should grow new branches.
Purslane has long been cultivated as a garden plant and garden decoration. Now it moves from flower beds to window sills and is grown as a perennial. Indoor purslane is almost as patient and grateful as its garden counterpart.
Probably, many people remember from childhood a beautiful creeping plant with narrow and voluminous leaves and delicate flowers a wide variety of shades. Its seed pod opens like a tiny casket and contains grains that are somewhat similar in structure and color to poppy seeds. It got its name from the Latin “portula”, which means “gate”, it was these associations that evoked among botanists two valves with seeds that appear after the flower has faded.
Purslane is an unpretentious plant, it tends to grow quickly and give flowering.
For Russian gardeners, this plant is more associated with a rug that can cover the surface of the earth of the entire flower bed. At the same time, it is unpretentious and grows quite quickly, with proper care and favorable conditions.
Purslane is an unusual plant that can be found in lots experienced gardeners Russia and in the fields of South and North America, as well as in the central regions of Europe. In those regions in the old days, the cultivation of this plant was especially popular, because it was used to quickly heal wounds or as a first aid for snake bites and even as a remedy for insomnia.
A plant species called "purslane" includes more than two hundred plants, some of which exist for no more than twelve months, while others are perennial. A plant called "Portulaca grandiflora" has become especially widespread in various gardens of the world. It was brought from South America and different large flowers that delight amateur gardeners almost all warm time of the year.
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Portulaca grandiflora is the most widespread and unpretentious of its kind.
The length of one stem is, as a rule, no more than twenty centimeters in length. The leaves are narrow, fleshy, dark green, sometimes reddish. Flowers consist of fused five petals and are cup-shaped. Their shades vary within a rather extensive palette: from red to white, while there are also colors such as pink, cream, yellow and even orange.
Growing varieties such as "White-flowered", "Double Mix" and "Splendens" allows you to get especially beautiful flowers. In the first case, they are of a soft white shade, striking in their purity. In the second - terry ones appear. In the third, a green rug pleases with cups of a magnificent purple hue.
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Purslane blooms as long as there is sunlight and the necessary humidity.
In gardens where there is a lot of stone, and also as a decoration for borders, the container plant purslane finds its use. Flowers, the cultivation of which is a very simple matter, delight with their unique beauty almost all the time, as long as there is solar heat and the necessary humidity.
They are placed as open ground on a large piece of land, called a flower bed, and in hanging pots, vases, baskets and balcony boxes.
Due to its special endurance, purslane is sown at the junctions of stone and concrete slabs, and where the soil is especially dry and does not allow creating a green lawn, this plant grows beautifully, creating a full-fledged dark green carpet with bright spots of flowers.
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Purslane perfectly withstands extreme heat and calmly endures a sharp drop in air temperature.
Purslane is a plant whose cultivation implies some features that any gardener must take into account. For example, if you plant it on a lawn, where very little penetrates sun rays then it will not bloom. It can also be grown in flower pot, however, the window sill for it must be chosen one that is located in the south direction of the world. It perfectly withstands extreme heat and calmly endures a sharp drop in air temperature. Therefore, worry about the plant during periods of abrupt change weather conditions not necessary.
And in order to grow a full-fledged plant that will delight with its beauty, you need to constantly water it, especially if the air temperature rises greatly. However, the soil should not be too wet and stagnant water should be avoided in the pots in which these flowers grow.
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Many gardening centers and nurseries offer purslane in seeds. Growing it may be more successful if you purchase ready-made seedlings, which are sold in many of the most common markets at the very beginning of spring. It is sown, as a rule, in March, while various fertilizers should not be introduced into the soil, which are aimed at additional nourishment of the plant, because it feels great even in depleted soil.
Temperature for fast emergence should be high, within 25°C. Therefore, it is best to get a greenhouse or build your own from metal rods and a couple of meters of plastic wrap. Growing a full-fledged plant also implies a certain type of soil. Purslane loves rocky with sand. Then it grows into a magnificent green carpet, which is able to cover a significant part of land plot. organic fertilizers and peat can kill flowers or cause fungal diseases in them, which are quite difficult to eliminate.
