Purslane perennial planting and care. Purslane - planting seeds and caring for a flowering carpet in the open field and on the windowsill

Purslane is a wonderful choice for decorating any flower bed. Plantings with bright lashes of this plant cover the ground with a dense rug and look very impressive. Small non-double flowers are shaped like multi-colored poppies, and terry varieties look like miniature roses.

Features and varieties

Purslane (Dandur) - genus herbaceous plants from the Purslane family. Because of the fleshy creeping stem, the people call the flower "rug". Adult specimens grow up to 30 cm. There are plants with simple and double flowers of white, yellow, orange, purple, red, pink, coffee and two-color color. Dandur can please with bright colors from mid-June to October. With absence sunlight they remain closed all day, but some newly bred terry varieties open even when the weather is cloudy. After flowering, a spherical fruit box is formed with big amount small seeds.

The genus Purslane has united more than 200 species of plants, but only one of them is used in ornamental gardening - large-flowered purslane. This perennial species usually grown as an annual. It has five-petalled single flowers with a diameter of 2.5-3 cm, in some varieties they reach a size of 6 cm. The green leaves resemble fleshy needles, and the creeping stem has a reddish-brown color.

Purslane garden (vegetable) - an annual with flowers collected in inflorescences small flowers white or yellow color and a fleshy stem up to 30 cm long. This weed with medicinal properties, which was used to treat various diseases in the time of Hippocrates. It is applied in traditional medicine and culinary. There are edible types of garden purslane with red and yellow leaves.

Non-decorative wild species of purslane are tenacious weeds, which can be difficult to overcome in the garden. They grow in many regions of Russia and Ukraine, in Central Asia, Transcaucasia and the Far East.

Reproduction methods

You can get a lot of young seedlings of decorative purslane when growing from seeds. The second breeding option is to carry out cuttings of the most interesting specimens. To do this, the flower is transferred to a cool place for the winter, and in the spring, cuttings about 5 cm long are cut. They are planted in prepared soil, removing the lower leaves. With the onset of heat, young plants are planted in open ground.

How to sow purslane?

Seed material is pre-sown in shallow and wide containers from February to April. Use seeds that are from six months to three years old. At the bottom there is a layer of fine gravel or expanded clay.

Peat is not used as a soil - it worsens the germination of purslane seeds.

Prepare the soil from 80% garden soil and 20% sand. The mixture is pre-disinfected. To do this, it is kept in the oven for half an hour at temperatures up to 50 degrees. Then they let the earth cool down, moisten it with settled water and sow the seeds. They are placed at a distance of about 1 cm from each other, pressing into the ground to a depth of 0.5 mm.

Pots with crops are covered with glass or plastic wrap and transferred to a room with a temperature not lower than +22 degrees. Choose a bright and warm place without drafts, regularly moisten and ventilate. The first shoots appear after 3-4 days, and within 1-2 weeks there is a mass appearance of plants. Growing seedlings.

It can be sown directly in open ground when the average daily temperature reaches +20 degrees. In this case, flowering will be later. Small seeds are mixed with river sand and placed on a pre-moistened area to a depth of 0.5 mm. A bed with crops is covered with a film until the seeds germinate. Ventilate and moisturize regularly. The film is removed at an average daily temperature of at least +24 degrees.

When the height of the seedlings is 2-3 cm, they are planted in a permanent place of cultivation. Purslane is placed in 2-3 pieces. in one hole, the distance between plants is 10 cm, and the row spacing is 15 cm. You can plant one at a time. Over time, the creeping stems of the flower will cover the surface of the soil with a dense rug.

Purslane reproduces well by self-seeding. Young seedlings almost always appear in spring on flower beds where the plant bloomed last year. In this case, it will take longer to wait for beautiful multi-colored rugs than with pre-sowing at home.

How to grow purslane from seedlings?

After the appearance of a pair of true leaves, young plants grown from seeds dive. They are transplanted into pots with a diameter of about 7-8 cm. Purslane is deepened into the soil to the cotyledon leaves. Seedlings grow slowly, with a lack of light, heat or moisture, they can get sick and stretch. Drying of the soil is not allowed, watered with warm settled water. It is convenient to do this with a spray gun. With a lack of sunlight, additional illumination is carried out with an ordinary table lamp. This is especially important if the sowing was early.

Transplantation in open ground is carried out in late May or early June, when warm weather sets in. In regions with a cold climate, purslane can be planted outside no earlier than mid-June.

Pre-seedlings are hardened for 1-2 weeks. Pots with purslane are taken out into the street in the daytime, first for 15 minutes, then the time is gradually increased to 5-6 hours. Flowers are planted in open ground, keeping a distance between adjacent specimens - 10-15 cm. Work is carried out carefully so as not to damage the brittle fleshy stem. The first week is watered frequently, then the amount of moisture is reduced depending on weather conditions.

Features of cultivation

You can get a long and numerous flowering of purslane, if you create suitable conditions for its growth and development, follow the rules of care.

• This is a heat-resistant flower that will like the most light, dry and warm place. Light penumbra is acceptable, in shaded areas it will not be possible to wait for good flowering.
• Low temperatures are detrimental to this heat-loving plant. Already at +10, the lower leaves fall off.
• Purslane is a succulent that can tolerate prolonged absence moisture. During the period of active vegetative growth, it is watered with warm settled water every 4-5 days. Water stagnation is unacceptable. In rainy weather, they do not moisturize; when it gets colder, the amount of watering is reduced.
• The flower grows well nutrient soil, and on depleted sandy or clay soil. You can grow purslane in too dense soil, but you need to add sand to the substrate.
• excessive nutrient soil with a large amount of organic matter leads to the active growth of shoots, but there are few flowers. It is useful to fertilize with complex mineral fertilizer 2-3 times in summer. In this case, the purslane will bloom more abundantly.
• The soil is loosened near young plants. Then there will be no opportunity to carry out such work, otherwise you can damage the dense flower carpet.
• After the autumn cooling, the plant dies. You can collect small purslane seeds to next year sow beautiful plant again. They mature in different time, so the seed boxes are torn off in parts. Do this when they turn yellow, but do not have time to crack. Then they are dried on paper. Non-double varieties are easier to grow from self-collected seeds. In terry varieties, the amount of seed material is less, and its germination is worse.

Pests and diseases

Fungal diseases can appear on the plant if the soil is constantly waterlogged. Often this happens if excess moisture is combined with sufficiently low temperatures. In this case, dark spots first appear on the leaves, and then the rot spreads to the roots and stems. Some types of fungus lead to deformation of purslane shoots. The affected parts of the plant are removed and the flower and earth are treated with fungicides.

Aphids and thrips are unpleasant enemies of purslane. Aphids can be detected independently. It feeds on plant sap. It is difficult to notice thrips with the naked eye, it will tell you about their appearance appearance flower: silvery blotches and stripes appear on the stems and leaves of the plant. For pest control use insecticides according to the instructions.

Use in landscape design

Purslane large-flowered - an excellent decoration for alpine slides and flower borders. It is often placed in areas with primroses. After the flowering of tulips, hyacinths and lilies of the valley, the purslane will revive the empty section of the flower bed.

Dandur can be planted in flowerpots or containers, which are used to decorate balconies, loggias and verandas. After a cold snap, containers with plants can be transferred to a warm room to extend the life of the flowers.

Attractive purslane rugs will add variety to the decoration of the flower garden. They will delight lovers of easy-to-care, but spectacular flowers.

Purslane is a light-loving flower, usually grown in annual culture. The best place to land is open, warm and sunny. This low plant, so beloved by both landscape designers and summer residents, will create on the ground blooming carpet at proper care. It can bloom from June until frost. This succulent is grown in flower beds, borders, southern balconies and slopes of alpine hills, and, of course, on windows in the summer season.

Features of cultivation in balcony pots and in open ground

Purslane came to Europe, and then to Russia from the countries of South and North America. In warmer climates, with mild winters, purslane often becomes a weed, propagating by self-sowing. The name purslane comes from the Latin portula - which means "gate". This is due to the fact that the seed box opens in this way: with gate leaves, only very small.

The people call purslane a rug, because it really rarely grows above 15 centimeters in height, preferring to spread along the surface of the earth. In a room, purslane grows well only in very bright light, preferring southern windows and direct sunlight. It can grow in the winter in a room, but with a lack of light it stretches and does not bloom, so it is necessary to use additional lighting, best of all with special fitolamps.

This annual plant with fusiform and branched root. Stem Brown color, branched, fleshy. The leaves are small, shaped like a flattened egg, fleshy. Blooms in June small flowers appearing in stem branches. Each flower stays open for only 1 day, then dies off.

Garden purslane is eaten as a side dish for meat and fish dishes, frying or stewing young stems with the addition of vegetable oil, garlic, vinegar or fried onions. This healthy vegetable easy to grow and rich in trace elements.

But most often purslane is bred as ornamental plant. In the plots, it is planted on sunny alpine slides, as bright spots in a flower bed.

In apartment-type houses, purslane is an excellent solution for hot and southern balconies, where ordinary plants burn out from excess sun and heat. It is better for them to admire close up, and thanks to the strongly branched stems, they are also planted in hanging baskets.

Annual or perennial - which is better?

In an annual culture, large-flowered purslane is most often grown, this decorative flower with a wide variety of colors. They can be white, red, scarlet, yellow, orange, simple and terry.

There are also perennial varieties of purslane, but in the open field, due to the cold and snowy winter, they can be grown in our conditions only as annuals. Ampel varieties of purslane are most often considered perennials, they can be grown in hanging planters, and brought into a warm room for the winter - an apartment or house, limiting food from September to March and keeping the soil moist. In the spring, such a plant begins to be intensively fed and cuttings or simply cut off, stimulating the growth of new shoots or rooting cuttings to obtain new bushes.

In places with warm winter, where the temperature does not fall below +10, purslane hibernates itself.

Garden purslane - stem length up to 60 cm, flowers are small, yellow, of no value. Rich in vitamins A, C, E, PP, contains carbohydrates, proteins, carotene. It quenches thirst well, has a positive effect on mood. IN medicinal purposes It is used to lower cholesterol and blood sugar, with insomnia and liver diseases. Young leaves and shoots are eaten fresh, boiled or canned. Very often, it is the garden vegetable purslane that grows like a weed, propagating by self-sowing.

Air marshmallow and other varieties of purslane

There is a wide variety of ornamental varieties on the market - there are those that require maximum light and those that can bloom in the shade, annuals and perennials, with single flowers and doubles, and even mixtures of varieties, for those who cannot decide. We give a description of the most common varieties, but breeders constantly bring out new ones.

• Long summer - improved version terry purslane, is longer and abundant flowering. Plant height up to 15 cm, blooms only on clear and sunny days, blooming flowers of the most diverse colors, reaching a diameter of 5 cm.
• A cheerful round dance is a terry purslane, the flowers of which bloom even on cloudy days. Flower up to 5 cm in diameter, various colors. Suitable for ampel cultivation, borders, balcony boxes.
• Coral reef is an annual purslane, up to 15 cm high. The diameter of semi-double flowers is 4 cm, the color is coral. It can grow even on the most meager and poor land, on sandy or stony soils with minimal watering.
• Cream F1 - annual variety purslane with double flowers of cream color. Very beautiful, with strong growth vigor, grows better on the poor and sandy soils. Indispensable in ampelous culture.
• Cherry is a terry purslane that blooms only in sunny weather. Plant height 12 cm, spreads well, flowers up to 5 cm in diameter, cherry color. Very photophilous, does not bloom even with the slightest shading. Prefers to grow on sandy and dry sandy soils.
• Pink terry - purslane height up to 10 cm, stems grow up to 30 cm, branches well, forming a dense mat. Flowers up to 5 cm in diameter, double. Good for balconies, pot culture.
• Sunny Princess - a mixture of seeds from the Gavrish agricultural company - includes double, semi-double and simple varieties of various colors, can grow in a sunny, but damp and cool climate. It grows well on poor and stony soils, even without top dressing. Planted in flowerpots, on borders, alpine slides.
• Terry orange - blooms flowers even in cloudy weather. The plant is low, only 10-15 cm, the diameter of the flowers is up to 5 cm, bright orange. Terry. Resistant to pests and diseases. Can be used for pot culture, on sunny balconies in boxes.
• Scheherazade is a large-flowered purslane, non-double, with flowers up to 4 cm in diameter. It opens only on sunny days. Blooms in July. Suitable for growing in containers, pots.
• Happy Traels F1 - yellow, orange, pink or red-white striped double flowers, up to 23 cm high, forms a mat up to 45 cm in diameter. It is better to plant in flowerbeds, slides, in containers.
• Happy occasion - large-flowered, two-color, terry. The color of the petals is white-pink, the stem is light green, up to 25 cm high. It looks very nice in balcony boxes, flower beds, flower beds, but blooms only in sunny weather.
• Pink haze - the flowers are original, terry and semi-double, pale pink in color, very reminiscent of roses. It grows well in width, forming a spot about 40 cm in diameter. It grows well on sandy, rocky and poor soils with minimal watering. Very a good option for ampel landings.
• Tequila Cherry F1 and Tequila White F1 - hybrids with strong growth vigor, grow rapidly, forming a mat up to 40 cm in diameter. They grow even in humid climates, on the poorest soils with little or no watering. Flowers are double, up to 5 cm.
• Purslane Sunny is an annual plant, up to 10 cm high. The flowers are yellow, up to 4 cm in diameter, they open only in sunny weather. It is undemanding to the soil. It is advisable to plant on the southern slopes of rocky hills.
• Air marshmallow- an annual plant that grows to a height of only 10 cm, spreads well. Terry flowers of various colors: pink, orange, red, white, lilac, with a diameter of 4 to 6 cm. Can grow on ordinary garden soil, in border beds, on balconies, in flowerpots.
• Sunglo is a perennial purslane with the most large flowers which do not close even in cloudy weather.

Photo gallery: varieties of flowering purslane

variety Air marshmallow - one of the most popular Long summer - a mixture of terry flowers of various colors Cheerful round dance - a mixture of terry ampelous flowers Variety Cream F1 with a delicate color and large flowers
Cherry variety - blooms only in sunny weather Pink terry variety is low with large flowers Terry orange blooms even in cloudy weather Sunny Princess - a mixture of shades and shape of petals Happy Traels variety is quite a tall plant, it can be of different colors
Sunny purslane - a low annual variety Variety Happy occasion is distinguished by an unusual color Mixture of Scheherazade - non-double petals of different colors Variety Tequila Cherry is distinguished by terry cherry-colored flowers variety Pink haze grows well, ampelous

A large selection of varieties allows you to choose exactly what the gardener likes, both in terms of flower size and color. Although decorative purslane loves the sun, there are varieties that bloom in partial shade.

How to propagate purslane

Decorative purslane can be propagated by seeds and cuttings. In regions where winters are warm and summers are long, purslane can produce full-fledged seeds and sprout itself in spring.

Garden purslane propagates by self-sowing, you can do nothing special.

Propagation of terry varieties by cuttings

Beautiful hybrid varieties purslane cannot be propagated by seeds, as they will not pass on maternal genes, therefore such purslane is propagated by cuttings:

1. A piece of twig, 10–15 cm long, is cut from the plant.
2. Slightly dry the cut and remove the leaves at a distance of 2-3 cm from it.
3. The stalk is placed in water or in wet sand.
4. In dry and hot weather, you can cover the stalk with a transparent bag or spray the stalk with water.
5. Put rooted plants in a bright place.

Usually new roots appear within a few weeks. And they are transplanted in several pieces to a permanent place or in seedling pots.

Sowing seeds for seedlings

To get flowering bushes already in June and enjoy their beauty longer, the seeds are sown for seedlings in mid-March. Light and heat (22 degrees and above) are very important for young plants.

The soil for seedlings is selected light, preferably without the addition of peat, which reduces the germination of seeds. Therefore, it is better to use turf and leaf soil with the addition of ¼ of the washed sand.

The capacity for planting is chosen wide, with drainage holes. Small expanded clay or gravel, up to 1 cm high, must be poured at the bottom of the pot. This is due to the fact that purslane tolerates a lack of moisture more easily than its excess, for proper circulation in the container there must be good drainage.

The sequence of actions for growing seedlings:

1. Pour the earth into a container and moisten well with rain or melt water. If there is none, then you can use water that has previously settled.
2. Purslane seeds are small, like a poppy seed, they are sown so that the distance between them is 1 cm, slightly pressed into the soil to a depth of 0.5 cm.
3. The top of the pot is covered with a film and placed in warm place, with a temperature not lower than 22 degrees, but better - 30 degrees. It is desirable that the pot was in the light.
4. When condensation accumulates on the film, it is necessary to ventilate the greenhouse at least once a day.
5. The first shoots of purslane may appear as early as 7 days. Usually purslane rises together, it is immediately moved to a sunny and warm window sill, the film is removed.
6. Grown seedlings with 1-2 real leaves dive into individual pots. The earth can be sprinkled to the cotyledon leaves.
7. To grow strong purslane seedlings, you need to provide it with an abundance of sunlight, heat and moisture, otherwise it will stretch. You can illuminate the seedlings in the morning, in the evening, and in cloudy weather - all day.
8. Well-growing seedlings require fertilizing at least once a week. At this stage of growth, you can use a universal mineral fertilizer.

Video - how to sow purslane with double flowers for seedlings

Although purslane has good seed viability, there are times when purchased hybrid terry varieties in bags germinate poorly. In order to save expensively inherited plants, it is better to propagate them by cuttings in the future.

Sowing directly into the ground

In regions with in early spring and in the long summer, you can plant purslane seeds directly into the ground:

1. Tender seedlings of purslane can die even with slight frosts, and at +10 0 air they already stop growing, so you should not rush into planting and be sure to cover them with a film at night.
2. They dig up a bed for purslane, upper layer earth is mixed with sand and moistened.
3. Seeds are mixed with sand and scattered over the surface of the soil and lightly pressed.
4. Water regularly as the soil dries up (on sunny days 1-2 times a week).
5. With uneven germination, grown seedlings with 1–2 true leaves dive and sit down. The earth can be sprinkled to the cotyledon leaves.
6. Feed young sprouts 1 time per week, after a month - 1 time in 14 days.

Planting seedlings in the ground

Grown seedlings are planted in a permanent place after the threat of return frosts. The air temperature at night should be more than 10 degrees Celsius. In central Russia, this is the end of May and the beginning of June, in the more northern regions - after June 12, and in the south of Russia - in early May.

Be sure to harden off the purslane seedlings a week before planting in the ground and accustom them to the sun. Hardening can be carried out on the balcony, if it is not possible to take the seedlings to the garden or cottage.

A good seedling is a plant with 10 formed leaves and buds.

Where and in what soil is it better to plant a flower

Purslane loves the sun. He is not afraid of even very hot rays southern regions. Where other plants burn, purslane blooms bright colors. Therefore, the most the best place- the southern slope of the alpine hills, along the paths, curbs or in separate flower beds on the lawn. If you plant a purslane in the shade, then you can not wait for the flowers, but the selected flower variety will also have an impact.

Purslane is undemanding to soil, on well-fertilized soils it grows quickly and occupies a large surface, but flowering may be weak. For proper care, place it in lighter, sandy or even rocky soils where purslane blooms luxuriantly and profusely.

It is desirable that the purslane is not flooded with rainwater.

Care for purslane in the open field

In summer, on hot and sunny days, purslane must be watered, preferably 1-2 times a week with warm water. Purslane is undemanding to feeding, but modern varieties respond very well to mineral fertilizers, which can be applied 2-3 times over the summer.

The first flowers bloom after 6-7 weeks from germination. Each flower lives only 1 day, then closes and dies. While the bush is still small, it is noticeable, but when the purslane grows to the state of a dense rug, the flowers bloom constantly in in large numbers and they don't seem to fade at all.

How to collect seeds

Since a new bud opens every day, the seeds ripen unevenly. Remove the petals from a pollinated flower and observe the seed box. About two weeks after pollination, it will turn brown and open, scattering seeds around it. Don't miss this moment if you want to collect them. Seed ripening takes longer in autumn. harvested seeds remain viable for 3 years, but before sowing, their seeds must lie down for at least 3-4 months.

Collected seeds from terry varieties for the next year can produce simple flowers. That is why it is better to propagate them by cuttings, taking the best plants for the winter.

How can you save purslane in the winter

As a rule, purslane seeds, especially terry ones, are not sown in winter. But in the flowerbeds, where the purslane clearing flaunted the previous summer, young shoots can be found in the spring. Usually they grow plants with simple (non-double) flowers.

1. Dig up at the end of summer mother plant entirely.
2. For the winter, clean in a bright and cool place (temperature about 15-18 degrees).
3. Periodically water, do not feed, which will allow you to save and propagate the variety you like in the spring.
4. After warming, cuttings of 5–10 cm are cut from it and, having cut off the lower leaves, are planted in boxes or pots for rooting.

How to grow purslane in winter

Due to the snowy and frosty winter, the purslane does not hibernate in our open field. Particularly valuable specimens can be dug up and transplanted into a pot; cuttings can be collected from a plant at the end of summer and rooted. In winter, such plants are stored in a bright room at a temperature of +15 ... +18 degrees, but you can also put them on the southern windowsill, lighting up the purslane in the evenings, then it will continue to bloom until spring, that is, grow like a perennial.

Garden purslane reproduces well by self-sowing, so the bed with it is not dug up for the winter.

If the purslane does not bloom

Most common cause the lack of flowering is the wrong choice of planting site, with the absence or lack of sunlight. In this case, the purslane will be frail, the stems are thin, and flowering may not occur.

The second reason for the lack of flowering is too fertile land. Purslane grows green mass, it feels good, it fats and therefore does not give flowers. If you plan to grow a plant there permanently, you can add sand and small pebbles before planting and dig.

Indoor purslane (on windows and balconies)

Purslane can be grown not only in the garden, but also in the apartment. It is better to choose beautiful terry varieties that bloom even in cloudy weather (Pink terry, Orange, Sunglo).

For pot culture, purslane is best grown as a succulent, acquiring the appropriate soil: loose, breathable and without peat. Drainage must be placed at the bottom of the pots.

It can be grown through seedlings, then transplanted into a small container or pot. Moreover, you can plant several bushes at once, and if you take seeds for sowing not of the same color, but with a mixture, then the home flower bed will be very bright and varied.

It is important to remember that this sunny flower and only the southern window sill or balcony is suitable for him. If the windows are on the other side of the world, and you want to grow beautiful flowers, be prepared to regularly highlight the purslane and take extra care.

In the summer months, purslane can be fed once a month for lush flowering, by autumn, top dressing is removed, long stems can be cut, and the pot can be moved to a cooler place.

I chick them and leave them cool, they wake up in the spring. In general, it is possible all year round renew cuttings and keep growing. Only in winter there is practically no flowering.

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In spring, the bush wakes up and blooms with renewed vigor.

Before asking questions about the rules for growing purslane, it is worth determining for what purpose the plant will be used. Purslane unites more than two hundred species and subspecies, and the most popular of them are as follows:

Seeds are available for sale. large-flowered purslane various varieties. The most valuable of them are with amazingly beautiful terry buds.

Purslane of all kinds blooms very profusely, behind this splendor it is difficult to notice that each bud lives only one day. After withering, fruit set occurs, the formation of a box with seeds. It is from these boxes that you need to collect the seeds in time, preventing them from falling to the ground, that is, self-sowing.

On a note! If purslane seeds are not collected, they are sown in the soil, and new plants grow the next summer, which will bloom only at the very end of summer.

The seed collection order is as follows:

• during the growth period, we begin to feed the purslane with a solution of mullein. In total, you need to do 3 fertilization every 2 weeks;
• we wait until the first seed pods appear and open at the purslane, and the stems turn yellow;
• we dig up plants with a root, we shake off the earth. Leaves do not need to be cut;
• in a room with good ventilation, we stretch the ropes on which the purslane will hang. Lay burlap or similar fabric on the floor;
• we hang the dug up bushes so that they hang with seed boxes down.

Thus, the plants will dry out, and the seeds from the opened boxes will fall onto the fabric. It remains only to collect seeds from the fabric and leave them until next spring.

The maximum shelf life of purslane seeds is 3-5 years. After this period, the percentage of germination will tend to zero.

Salad purslane - seeds

Where and when to grow purslane from seeds

If you are lucky enough to live in the southern regions of our country, then you can safely plant purslane seeds immediately in open ground without additional preparations and activities.

Residents of the northern regions of the country and middle lane it is recommended to grow seedlings from seeds, which are later planted in a greenhouse or soil.

What is it connected with? Purslane cannot be called a whimsical plant, but for its abundant flowering, immutable conditions are an abundance of light and heat. These conditions apply to both mature plants and seedlings.

On a note! If frosts occur in your area even in summer period, it is necessary to harden the purslane.

Seeds for seedlings begin to be sown in February and March. But due to insufficient sunlight, artificial lighting of the boxes is required. You can do without additional illumination, but in this case, sowing should be done no earlier than the last days of April.

Important! At temperatures below + 15 ÷ 20 ° C, seedlings develop poorly and even die. And the lack of light will lead to the fact that the seedlings will stretch or lie down. The best germination of seeds is provided at a temperature from +26 to +30°С.

Soil and containers for planting seeds

Purslane, both decorative and used for food, grows well even in poor soil, if proper watering is provided and the right place is chosen. Indoor purslane species planted in compost do not need to be additionally fed and fertilized.

Important! Store mixes for the plant contain peat, which inhibits the growth of purslane. Therefore, the preparation of the soil must be dealt with independently.

Step 1. In the garden or vegetable garden we collect land without knots, grass and stones. We transport it in a dense bag, after which we sift through a large sieve.

Step 2 We weigh the resulting volume of land, after which we take the sifted river sand in the proportion of 5 parts of soil to 1 part of sand. We mix the components well.

Step 3 We put the resulting mixture in the oven for calcination and disinfection. You can also perform the procedure in a water bath.

Proper soil preparation
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Next, we prepare a container where the soil will be filled up and seeds sown. Wash a plastic container well with soap or bake in the oven wooden box. If there are no drainage holes, we drill them in the bottom of the container, the best hole size is 0.5-1 cm.

In a clean container (it is better if the volume is small), we fill in a layer of fine gravel or expanded clay. The layer thickness is a maximum of 1 cm. We fill the soil mixture from above, leave 1 cm from the edge of the side to the ground.

It remains only to water the soil before sowing purslane. We use tap water that has settled for several days, but if it is possible to collect clean snow far from city roads, then we collect it, bring it home and pour the soil with melted warm water.

On a note! Don't use too much cold water for watering seeds and seedlings. It is better if the liquid is at room temperature.

Seeding and seedling care

Purslane seeds are small, dark in color. It is convenient to spread them into the soil with a damp toothpick, keeping a distance of about 1 cm between the seeds. Do not bury the seeds too much in the ground.

If you do not want to speed up the process, you can mix the seeds with pre-calcined river sand, then scatter the mixture over wet soil and lightly press down with a flat spatula. From above, the seeds are moistened from a spray bottle.

Immediately after sowing, the box must be covered cling film or glass and put under the lamps (additional illumination mode: 2-3 hours in the morning and up to four hours in evening time and also during the day in cloudy weather). Be mindful of temperature.

Every day, the film should be removed briefly for ventilation. If the earth dries up, it is again moistened with a spray bottle. It is important not to overdo it with watering.

After about 7-14 days, the first shoots of purslane will appear. During this period, a box with seedlings (without a film) can already be placed on a windowsill or a glazed loggia. It is good if the windows face south. If the seedlings are too thick, it is worth thinning them out a little.

Dive seedlings are performed when the seedlings have two true leaves. Plants are transplanted into small pots or cups with a diameter of about 4-7 cm, trying to shake off not the whole clod of earth from the roots. You can transplant the purslane into a larger box, leaving a distance of 4-5 cm between the sprouts. The sprouts are sprinkled with soil to the cotyledon leaves.

Weekly application will not be superfluous mineral fertilizer, but this step is not required. As a top dressing, ammonium sulfate is used in the proportion of half matchbox for a ten-liter bucket of water.

On a note! The first hardening is carried out after picking. Glasses with plants are put outside for 10-15 minutes daily, the air temperature should not be lower than 10 degrees. Gradually, the hardening time in the daytime is increased to 6 hours.

Planting purslane seedlings

If the frosts have already passed, and more than 7-9 true leaves have grown on the sprouts, you can plant the plants in open ground.

Rules for choosing a place for growing purslane:

• the site for purslane should be open, on a hill;
• there should not be trees and buildings nearby that give shade or partial shade;
• the soil should not be watered, otherwise the roots will begin to rot;
• it is better if the soil for decorative species purslane will be poor, otherwise it will not bloom well, gaining greenery. Garden purslane can be grown on a rich nutrients but not oily soil;
• it is permissible to plant seedlings on alpine slides, in hanging flowerpots, street flower beds, etc.

Table of dates for planting purslane in the soil

Guided by the table, we select the time of disembarkation. We transplant seedlings, carefully removing it with a clod of earth from a box or cup and moving it into holes, which should be located at a distance of up to 15 cm from each other.

On a note! Landing early morning or in the evening, so tender sprouts will take root better.

Water the plant regularly, but not too often so as not to overmoisten the soil.

If the plant has spots on the leaves or the shoots are severely deformed, it is necessary to remove the affected parts, and then treat with fungicides containing copper.

Video - Planting purslane directly into the ground

Video - How to sow purslane

Video - Purslane picking

Purslane terry is an ornamental annual creeping plant with double flowers 2-3 cm in diameter of a wide variety of colors: white, pink, orange, red. This is one of the favorite flowers of many gardeners, which, thanks to its bright, multi-colored flowers, creates in the garden or on suburban area an attractive motley floral rug, which is why many refer to purslane as a "rug".

Purslane terry is ideal for decorating flower beds, borders, creating flower arrangements and alpine slides, it is also used to decorate balconies and garden flowerpots.

Purslane terry, description

Terry purslane is a low-growing creeping plant no more than 20 cm high, with fleshy leaves and light green stems, sometimes with a purple tint, with spindle-shaped, branched roots. Clinging to the ground, the purslane completely covers the area, the flower bed, forming a continuous carpet of exquisite beauty. Purslane leaves are fleshy and needle-shaped. The highlight of the plant is flowers resembling miniature rose or peony, which consist of several balls of petals. Terry purslane begins to bloom in early summer and continues to delight with extraordinary beauty until frost. The variety of colors is simply amazing, a mixture of terry purslane looks especially beautiful and colorful, from which a spotted elegant flower garden is obtained. Flowers open in sunny weather, their flowering lasts only one sunny day, and in place a faded flower new ones appear.

The attractiveness of purslane for gardeners:

• The plant is resistant to trampling. For a long time, it was considered a weed, which was fought in every possible way.
• Unpretentiousness in care.
• The presence of beautiful buds of various colors is the decoration of any site or flower bed.
• Rapid landscaping of the suburban area.

Types and varieties of terry purslane

Large-flowered purslane (Portulaca grandiflora)

Portulaca grandiflora is the most common type of purslane, with over 200 varieties. The most famous are: "white-flowered", which blooms with exquisite snow-white double flowers and "splendens" with bright pink blooms and a pleasant aroma.

The most common varieties of terry purslane

1. Flamenco. The bush is medium in size, reaching a height of up to 15 cm. The stems are long, fleshy and large. The leaves are needle-shaped bright green. It has flowers of various colors.
2. Pun - ornamental bush 15 cm high, resembling a rose bush, with long creeping large stems. The variety has large double flowers of bright juicy tones. Successfully used by landscape designers.
3. Sunglo- ornamental variety with large flowers. The stems are fleshy and large, have a slightly pink tint. The leaves are long, needle-shaped. The peculiarity of the variety is that the flowers remain open in any weather, even cloudy.
4. Mango - terry large-flowered purslane with abundant flowering of coral-orange flowers 5 cm in diameter.
5. Hybrid Cream - a plant with cream flowers that have a darker center, 4-5 cm in diameter.

Purslane terry, cultivation and care

Terry purslane is an unpretentious plant that does not require special attention. The only condition for its growth and constant flowering is a lit and sunny place in your garden. It needs a permanent place for its normal growth. If it is placed in a shaded place, it will not be able to fully grow and develop: the stems will stretch and thin, becoming unattractive.

Watering the plant is carried out once a week, as this drought resistant flower, which dies from excess moisture, water should not be allowed to stagnate in the soil. The plant feels great without water for a long period of time. When watering purslane, keep the leaves dry and water early in the morning. Also, purslane does not need to be fertilized with fertilizers, but from an overabundance in the soil organic fertilizers the green part of the plant grows, and flowering slows down. It has been established that the poorer the soil, the more abundant the purslane blooms. Feels great on sandy and stone soils.

Purslane is undemanding in care, it is enough to regularly remove weeds and thin out seedlings a little so that the bushes are more sprawling and lush.

Propagation of terry purslane

Purslane terry, growing from seeds

Most often, purslane propagates by seeds. Since they are very small, they are simply sown in the soil in early spring and covered with foil to protect against spring frosts. After the first shoots, the film is removed.

Purslane terry, growing seedlings

For colder northern regions recommended to use seedling method breeding in pots.
In February, the seeds are planted in pots. In order for seedlings to sprout evenly, you can mix the seeds with sand (1: 4). It is advisable to put glass on top of the pot and put it in a well-lit place in the house, optimum temperature at least 17 degrees. In a week the first shoots will appear. The soil needs light moisture, you can sprinkle it a little with a spray bottle. To harden the plant and avoid stretching the sprouts, it is recommended to lower the temperature in the room at night. To give room for the growth of young shoots, it is recommended to dive them, and plant the removed shoots in boxes with soil. Seedlings are planted in open ground in late April or early May, when frosts are already excluded. When planting terry purslane, keep a distance of 15 cm between sprouts.

In summer, terry purslane can be propagated by dividing the bushes and transplanted to another place. After pinching off the stalk, lower it into a container of water until the roots appear. Thus, purslane can be planted in decorative flowerpots and balcony boxes. After rooting, the shoot requires infrequent watering.

Diseases and pests of terry purslane

Purslane is a rather unpretentious plant, resistant to common diseases and pests. But, there are cases of plant infection with fungal diseases, which manifests itself in the form of spots behind the leaves and buds. Having noticed the first signs of infection, the affected areas of the plant should be removed and the bushes should be treated with an agent containing copper. Another danger that awaits the plant is the invasion of aphids. When it appears, it is recommended to spray the bushes with soapy water using a spray bottle.

Purslane terry - unusually beautiful and at the same time unpretentious flower, which is successfully used to decorate borders, alpine slides and flower beds. This colorful rug will be a bright spot in your garden that will surely draw attention. Purslane looks great on balconies, in pots and garden flowerpots decorating verandas and summer arbors. In compositions, it looks great with petunias, nasturtiums, marigolds and zinnias. Since purslane is terry undersized plant, in compositions it is recommended to plant it in the foreground. Sometimes purslane can be a great alternative to lawn, providing perfect coverage site.

Purslane terry, photo

Thinking about how to decorate your flower bed next spring! Pay attention to purslane. The shoots of the plant have needle-like leaves, intertwining, cover the ground well, and a variety of colors (red, white, pink, orange, purple) creates a multi-colored meadow. In addition, the plant does not require much time for care.

Growing purslane from seeds

There are several ways to breed purslane. The most popular way is to grow purslane from seeds, as it does not require much time and effort.

Did you know? The name of the purslane flower comes from Latin word"portula" - "gate".

Sowing seeds for seedlings

For those who are eager to see the purslane bloom in June, seedlings are planted in the ground. For seedlings, seeds are sown in February-March. Any soil is suitable for them, the main thing is that it is moisture and breathable. Due to the small size of the seeds, when purslane is planted for seedlings, they are mixed with calcined sand. The resulting cocktail is scattered over the surface of moist soil, without falling asleep, but slightly pressed against the surface of the soil, irrigated with water from a sprayer. Then the pots are covered with polyethylene and transferred to a warm room (the temperature should not be lower than 20ºC). Once a day, the film is removed in order to ventilate and water if necessary.

Important! Do not overuse fertilizers. With a large number of them, the purslane will grow green and stop blooming.

Caring for purslane seedlings will not be a big hassle. Seedlings germinate in 1-2 weeks. When they appear, the cover from the pots or boxes is removed and the seedlings are moved to the windowsills. Watering is continued with a sprinkler. When the second leaf appears on the seedling, the purslane begins to dive. Seedlings dive at a distance of 4 cm from each other, deepening them to the cotyledon leaf. Purslane is planted in a flower garden at a distance of 10-15 cm from each other. Seedlings can be planted after frost (temperatures below 10ºC are critical for purslane).

Sowing seeds in open ground

Purslane is a perennial plant. It can be planted once, and then the grass will self-sow. The plant can grow for years in the same place in the flower bed. Purslane does not require specific care and special soil. Seeds should be sown after the last frost in a sunny location. When purslane is planted with seeds in open ground, the ground is first loosened and a small amount of fertilizer is applied, while the seeds are slightly pressed into the soil to a depth of 1 cm. The gap between the rows is within 50 cm. When two leaves appear on the seedlings, they break through, leaving one plant per 10 cm.

Reproduction of purslane cuttings

Purslane is well propagated by cuttings. For the winter, you need to bring one or more plants from the flower bed into the house. In the spring, part of the branches are cut off from the purslane, rooted in water and transplanted into a flower bed. When purslane is planted with cuttings, it blooms in a month.

Did you know?Purslane has a number of medicinal properties. Its shoots contain vitamins of groups A, B, K, PP, E. It also serves as a source of protein and carbohydrates.

Combination with other plants and use in landscape design

Purslane is great for landscaping. The plant is used for group plantings. Purslane looks great both in front of flower beds and on the southern slopes of alpine hills. In the flower garden, purslane well replaces flowering small-bulbous spring plants.

In mixborders, it is used as a foreground plant. It is often used as a border plant in dry conditions. Having grown purslane in balcony boxes and flowerpots, they transform gazebos, verandas and terraces. The plant looks good with marigolds and nasturtiums.

Purslane serves as an alternative lawn grass because it does not require frequent watering, it does not need to be cut, it does not stop blooming, constantly pleasing the eye with bright colors.

How to care for purslane in the garden

Purslane was introduced from South America are the tropics and subtropics. Therefore, good lighting and moderate watering are extremely important for him. Fertilizers should not be carried away, as they can harm flowering. Water the plant every 5-7 days with water at room temperature. In drought conditions, watering is carried out more often. The soil around the flowers needs to be pushed only at the beginning of growth. Mandatory is weeding from weeds.

When growing purslane indoors in the summer, it is moved to a well-ventilated and protected from rain place.

Important! Good and abundant purslane blooms only in the sun.

When to Harvest and How to Store Purslane Seeds

For breeding purslane from seeds, it must be taken into account that this is only possible for non-double species. Seeds of terry purslane do not germinate well. Seeds are formed and ripen unevenly, therefore, they are collected as they ripen. Seed boxes are plucked after they are purchased yellow unripe to avoid cracking. Dry the collected inoculum by spreading it on paper. To maintain high germination of seeds, they must be placed in a tin or plastic container, tightly closing it with a lid. Storage temperature should not exceed 4-5ºC. Germination is maintained for three years. When seeds are stored at high temperature and humidity, germination decreases.