Portulaca Growing Guide

Portulaca

Portulaca

Crop Rotation Group

Miscellaneous ●

Soil

Any fertile soil with good drainage.

Position

Full sun.

Frost tolerant

None. Portulaca is a warm-season flower.

Feeding

Mix a light application of a balanced organic fertiliser into the soil prior to planting. In early summer, drench plants with a liquid feed to support strong growth.

Companions

Portulaca flowers open during the day, so plant them where they can be seen during midday hours. The low-growing plants are excellent for edging beds or slipping into outer corners. In containers, combine portulaca with taller flowers that like full sun.

Spacing

Single Plants: 20cm (7") each way (minimum)
Rows: 20cm (7") with 20cm (7") row gap (minimum)

Sow and Plant

Start seeds indoors in spring and set out the seedlings after the last frost has passed and the soil is warm. Many gardeners save time by buying portulacas as bedding plants.
Our Garden Planner can produce a personalised calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.

Notes

Portulaca tolerates blazing sun and the delicate blossoms attract honeybees. Colours include red, orange, violet, white and pink. In areas with long summers, portulaca often reseeds itself with seedlings appearing in early summer.

Harvesting

Pinch back plants every few weeks to stimulate the growth of new bud-bearing branches.

Troubleshooting

Excessive rain can cause portulaca to develop root rot problems.

Planting and Harvesting Calendar

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Pests which Affect Portulaca