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Purslane annual garden plant
The annual herb Portulaca is native to South America and belongs to the Portulacaceae family. The posture is rather creeping or prostrate, the small leaves are fleshy oblong or cylindrical in shape and dark green in color. The flowers produced by the Portulaca plant can be single or double, depending on the different species and varieties. There are different colors, shades and shades available, from yellow to purple and white to red. Many species of succulent purslane open their flowers in the morning and close in the afternoon. The flowering period begins in the spring, if the specimens are grown optimally, the production of flowers can also continue in the summer months.
Cultivation of Portulaca plants
Proper soil for growing Portulaca plants consists of fertile soil, mixed with sand and gravel, to ensure good drainage from irrigation. They also adapt to rocky contexts and require a bright and sunny exposure. They fear winter temperatures below ten degrees and must be sheltered and protected from cold currents. Irrigation should not be too abundant and frequent, stagnation of water should be absolutely avoided, in fact, it is easy for rotting to occur that affects the root system of these plants. To maintain and achieve abundant flowering of the Portulaca garden plant, it is necessary to periodically administer organic fertilizer for flowering plants, both in spring and autumn, to be diluted in irrigation water.
Sowing and reproduction of Portulaca seedlings
In the market, seeds of Portulaca plant varieties are readily available. The ideal time to plant is at the end of winter, when temperatures no longer drop below ten degrees. It is necessary to lay out the seeds in containers filled with soil, consisting of equal parts of sand and peat. Soil moisture must be guaranteed for the following weeks, with frequent misting. The containers should be placed in cool and bright places, it is advisable to wait until the new plants have grown sufficiently before planting them. Another technique for propagating the Portulaca plant is cuttings. By cutting obliquely, portions of the stem should be taken to be treated with rooting powder, before planting. The pots contain sand and moist soil.
The species and varieties of Portulaca plants are many and diverse. Among the most widespread and used for ornamental purposes is the species of Portulaca grandiflora with a semiprochado habit. The stems are reddish in color and the bright green foliage is cylindrical in shape. It blooms from June to September, the inflorescences are single or grouped, single or double. A selection of this species is called Portulaca Splendens and is characterized by producing orange or pink flowers with yellow tinges in the center. Another variety is Portulaca Thelusonii which is characterized by its scarlet red bloom. The dark green foliage of Portulaca Sundial Peppermint produces speckled purple flowers that are hardier and longer lasting than other Portulaca succulent varieties.