With its radiant and rose-like blooms, Portulaca is an absolute garden gem. These resilient and easy-to-care-for flowers come in a delightful array of vibrant colours, transforming any space into a lively oasis.
Planting Calendar
Portulaca are best planted during late spring/summer when they are available in garden centers.
Prepare
Portulaca flourishes in hot and arid environments, making it an excellent choice for adding vibrant colors to garden beds, rockeries, or pathways. Its ability to withstand drought also makes it a perfect fit for pots, containers, and hanging baskets placed in sunny locations.
Position
Plant in a position that is in full sun, to get the best show of flowers.
Soil
When planted into the ground Portulaca must have a free-draining soil that is rich in organic matter. To improve the organic content in your soil, break up the soil and add Kings Compost and Kings Sheep Pellets then mix together well. When growing in containers, plant into Kings Container mix. This mix contains Saturaid, which helps with moisture retention in the soil.
Plant
When planting into the ground, gently tap the plant out of its pot. Dig a hole twice the depth and width of the plant’s root ball. Mix Kings Compost into your existing soil at a 50/50 ratio, add Kings Sheep Pellets, then mix together. Backfill the hole with this soil, so that when planted the top of the plant’s roots sit level with the surrounding ground. Firm the soil down gently and water in well with Aquaticus Organic Garden Booster. In heavier clay soils, where drainage is likely to be an issue, plant onto a raised mound and sprinkle Gypsum Clay Breaker into the bottom of the hole, this helps slowly condition the soil and help to break down the clay. When planting into containers plant into Kings Container Mix, as this has water retention crystals in it, which will help in keeping the soil moist.
Care
Watering
Portulaca can tolerate periods of dryness, but will do better when given a good water a couple of times a week during the hotter months of the year. To much water will cause the plants to collapse.
Feeding
When planted in the ground liquid feed every month with Aquaticus Organic Garden Booster, from Spring through to the end of Autumn, this encourages root growth and increases the microbial activity in the soil. Monthly applications of Kings Sheep Pellets will help with soil conditioning and plant health. If planted into a containers feed with Kings Liquid Fast Food along with monthly applications of Aquaticus Organic Garden Booster this encourages strong roots and a healthy immune system.
Protecting
Protect from slugs and snails by applying slug bait around the base of the plants.
Pruning
Prune back lightly after flowering to encourage new growth.
Expert Tip
Every few weeks nip back the flowering tips, this will encourage more flower buds to form.
Frequently Asked Questions
My Portulaca don't have many flowers why is this.
It is important to have your plants in plenty of direct sun. The sunniest spot in the garden is best to get plenty of flowers. When planted in too much shade they will have few flowers.