Portulaca

Family. Portulacaceae.

Origin. South and North America. The plants are found in tropical regions of the Northern Hemisphere. In their natural habitat, bushes often settle in damp places, near flowing rivers and along the shores of lakes. For growth, soils with a high sand content are selected.

What looks like. Portulaca is a wonderful miniature flowering annual. The genus has about 200 species. The root system consists of several thick, short shoots.

The bushes have brown, erect or creeping shoots up to 30 cm high. The shoots often branch closer to the base.

The leaves are up to 2.5 cm long, thin or thick, spoon-shaped, cylindrical or fleshy in cross section, often needle-like. The edges of the leaf blades are entire. In floriculture, 2 species are known - large-flowered purslane and garden purslane.

In summer, large, bright flowers of the widest range of colors are formed on the tops of the stems - white, cream, yellow, orange, pink, red. Varieties with double buds or flowers of two contrasting tones have been bred. Flowering is very abundant, but in cloudy weather the flowers remain half-open.

Each flower remains open and attractive for only one day, but the buds constantly replace each other. When grown in the garden, it often forms a dense grassy carpet.

After flowering, round seed pods are formed, which dry out and turn brown when ripe. The walls of the pods eventually crack and open like a gate - this feature gave rise to the scientific name of the plant - "portula" or "gate".

Height. The height of the bushes does not exceed 20 - 30 cm. 

When blooms

It blooms all summer and autumn, until the frosts come. The first to bloom are the bushes grown from seedlings - buds can decorate the plants already in June. When planted with seeds, flowers often form only in July on bushes aged 2 - 3 months.

Timely pinching of wilting buds can extend the flowering period and prevent unwanted self-seeding. Interestingly, the flowers open only in good weather - in cloudy and rainy weather they often remain closed.

Medicinal properties and contraindications

The medicinal properties of purslane became known to ancient Roman and Greek doctors - it was used in medicine by Galen and Hippocrates. The flower was mentioned in the works of Pliny and Theophrastus. At that time, it was believed that it could resist snake venom.

In Egypt, the plant was used as food. The green mass was crushed and taken internally for diseases of the bladder and digestive organs. People believed that by applying the paste to the skin, it would help get rid of such defects as warts and acne, and also relieve swelling of the eyes.

In Arab countries, shoots and leaves were widely used for kidney and liver diseases, as well as in the early stages of diabetes.

Currently, the medicinal properties are also recognized, and the flower is often used in medicines used in the treatment of various parasites. In folk medicine, the plant is used to strengthen the heart and increase blood pressure. The juice of the leaves is believed to have wound-healing properties.

Contraindications for use are high blood pressure, heart disease, increased nervousness and excitability. The herb should not be given to children, and should not be used during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Procurement of raw materials

In order for plants to retain the maximum amount of useful substances, they must be properly collected and stored. To harvest leaves and then use them as medicinal raw materials, it is worth choosing the moment when the first buds appear on the vegetable portulaca bushes.

The entire above-ground part is cut off and placed in a warm, ventilated place to dry for several days. After drying, the leaf blades are separated, collected into fabric bags or paper bags and stored in a dry and cool place. Such raw materials can be used within 1 - 2 years after collection. 

Only young shoots and tender upper leaves, which are cut off before the flowers form, are suitable for culinary use. This cutting can be done several times a season - the tops grow back each time. Pruning is carried out with a sterile instrument, leaving only 3 - 4 cm of growth above the ground surface. Fairly young specimens, 15–20 cm in height, are suitable for cutting.

Cooking recipes

Fresh young leaves and tops of shoots are added to salads as a seasoning, salted or pickled, prepared for the winter. This appetizer is perfect for hot meat dishes, but should not be used in combination with potatoes and vegetable salads of cucumbers and tomatoes. The fresh leaves taste like sorrel or spinach. 

Pickled leaves for the winter. Young shoots and leaves are cut into pieces 5-6 cm long and washed thoroughly in running water. Prepare small jars with a volume of 0.5 - 1 liter - wash and sterilize. Prepare the marinade as for cucumbers - add 2 tablespoons of salt and 3 sugar, 2 tablespoons of 6% vinegar per liter of boiling water. The shoots and leaves are immersed in boiling water for a few seconds and the water is allowed to drain. Garlic cloves and bay leaves are placed at the bottom of the jars. Fill the jars with shoots and pour marinade, cover with lids and roll up.

Garnish of young portulaca shoots. Shoots and leaves are cut, sorted and washed with running water. Heat a frying pan with vegetable oil on the stove and place the shoots in it. Garlic and onions are added to the side dish, a little vinegar, brought to readiness and served with meat. 

Planting and care

In harsh climates, purslane is grown as an annual species, as it does not tolerate harsh winters well. Well-lit areas of the garden are suitable for a permanent location - when grown in partial shade, the shoots will stretch out, and flowering will be less abundant. Preferably, nutrient-poor soils with sufficient sand content are suitable for growing.

With insufficient drainage, the bushes quickly rot and die. For the same reason, heavy loams are not suitable for planting - sand and leaf humus must be added to such soils, which will give the substrate a loose, moisture-permeable structure. The flower should not be planted in flooded lowlands and other places where moisture remains after rain. It is best to choose a small hill for growing.

How and when to plant

Portulaca can be planted in two ways: directly with seeds in open ground in the first half of May, when the night frosts subside. Flowering of such specimens will occur in the second half of summer. To speed up the formation of buds, you can plant seeds for seedlings in the first half of April at home. If there is good artificial lighting, seeds can be sown earlier - for example, at the end of February - the first half of March.

Seedlings are planted in open ground only in June. Each planted bush should have 12 - 15 leaf blades. Before planting in the garden, seedlings are hardened by taking them outside every day and leaving them there for 2 hours during the day. Gradually, the time spent in the fresh air is increased and after 7 - 10 days the plants are completely ready for planting.

Prepare a plot of land - dig up the soil and make small planting holes ready to accommodate the root system along with a lump of earth. The distance between the holes is maintained at about 15 - 20 cm. The seedlings are transplanted into the holes and watered abundantly. During the week, make sure that the soil on the site does not dry out.

When sowing seeds in open ground, the first shoots appear from the ground after 10 - 15 days. As the bushes develop, they are thinned out, leaving only strong and healthy specimens.

Soil

In order for the plants to remain strong and healthy, it is very important to choose the right soil. Purslane does not like a lot of moisture in the soil - add components such as perlite, vermiculite or river sand to the substrate. These components will improve the structure of the soil, make it looser and more permeable. The sand content in the finished soil can reach 20 - 30 percent of the total volume. Peat should not be added to the soil - it slows down the germination of seeds and retains moisture in the soil. The mixture can be prepared on the basis of garden soil, leaf and turf humus. When growing seedlings or at home, you can use soil for cacti and succulents, for flowering species.

Watering and fertilizing

After transplanting, seedlings need regular watering. Over time, purslane becomes more and more resistant to slight drought. Sufficient moisture is contained in the shoots and thick fleshy leaves. In large-flowered purslane, moisture evaporates slowly due to the small, needle-like, pine-like leaves.

Watering should be done with warm rainwater or well-settled tap water. Morning and evening hours are best for watering - when solar activity is already low and will not harm wet leaves. Watering is carried out after the top layer of soil dries out.

Vegetable purslane is watered more often when used in cooking - overdrying the soil will lead to the shoots acquiring a very pungent taste. After watering, it is worth slightly loosening the soil and removing weeds.

Feed moderately - only when grown in a substrate poor in nutrients. For abundant flowering, you don't need a lot of fertilizers - on the contrary, this will make the bush loose and more susceptible to fungal diseases. You can feed it only once per season with ammonium nitrate, urea or well-rotted organic matter - cow manure or humus.

How to transplant

Most often grown as an annual and does not need replanting. If necessary, if the flower will overwinter indoors, the pots are prepared in early autumn. Fill the containers with soil and move the bushes so as to keep the root ball as intact as possible.

In the winter months, the air temperature for such bushes is maintained at 15 - 18 degrees Celsius, which allows them to rest and gain strength for subsequent flowering in the spring and summer of the following year. If the flower is kept at normal room temperature, then artificial lighting is used so that it remains strong and does not lose shape.

Wintering in open ground

When grown in harsh climate conditions, the plants die. To save the flower, it is dug up and taken to a warm room for the winter. In the southern regions, wintering in open ground is also possible. In general, it is not advisable to build additional shelter for the bushes - they produce a sufficient number of seeds, and often form self-seeding.

Reproduction

There are 2 ways to propagate portulaca - seed and growing from cuttings. Using seeds, it is easy to obtain a large number of plants in a short period of time. The disadvantages of this method include the fact that some varieties do not retain external characteristics. Cuttings allow you to get bushes that completely copy the parent specimens.

Growing from seeds

Portulaca reproduces with seeds very easily. You can use self-collected seeds for sowing, but for this you need to properly prepare and store them. Interestingly, freshly collected seeds have a very low germination rate - it increases only after the planting material is six months old.

In general, the formation and maturation of seeds occurs quite quickly - in just 2 weeks after pollination of the flower. If the air temperature is kept within 15 - 17 degrees, then the maturation of seeds can take up to 1 month.

To prevent the seeds from falling out on the ground on their own, still green seed pods are wrapped in a bandage or gauze. Ripe brown pods are separated from the shoots - the seeds are poured out on a sheet of paper and left to dry in a warm and ventilated room.

The planting material is stored in paper envelopes in a dry and cool place, and if these simple rules are followed, good germination is maintained for 3 years.

How and when to sow

Seeds are sown in spring - in open ground or in early March in pots and containers at home. Purslane often forms self-seeding - when grown in the garden, it will be difficult to get rid of such a bush.

For sowing, seedling boxes with drainage holes and a transparent plastic lid are prepared. Small expanded clay is placed on the bottom of the boxes or foam balls are poured - these materials will serve as a drainage layer. Fill the container with a substrate with a low peat content. The surface of the earth is leveled and thoroughly moistened with water from a spray bottle.

Since the seeds are very small, they are simply lightly pressed into the surface of the earth or covered with a very thin layer of soil. For uniform sowing, the seeds are picked up with the tip of a damp toothpick or wooden skewer. You can also pre-mix the seeds with a small amount of river sand.

The seedlings are covered with a cap or glass to create a greenhouse effect. The seedlings are left in a room with good indirect lighting and an air temperature of about 23 - 25 degrees Celsius. In general, higher temperatures contribute to a more complete and rapid germination of the planting material.

The boxes can even be left on the radiator until the first sprouts appear. The cover is removed daily, aired and condensation is removed from the surface. The soil is kept uniformly moist by spraying from a spray bottle. If this agricultural technology is followed, the first sprouts can be seen after 1 - 2 weeks - with their appearance, the cover is completely removed.

Caring for seedlings

If there is not enough light, the shoots stretch out and weaken, it is worth organizing additional lighting with LED or fluorescent lamps. The lamps are turned on in the morning and evening hours, increasing the duration of daylight to 12 - 14 hours. At night, they must be turned off.

When the seedlings have formed 2 - 4 true leaves, the bushes are planted in separate small cups with drainage holes. When picking, it is worth using the same soil composition in which the seeds were sown. It is permissible to place 2 - 3 specimens in each cup.

Picking is carried out by transshipment, transferring the bushes together with the earthen lump on the roots. If the shoots have stretched out due to lack of light, you can deepen them a little when picking.

The seedlings are left in a brightly lit place without access to direct sunlight and evenly watered with warm water. 7-10 days after picking, you can carry out the first feeding with nitrogen fertilizers in a very low concentration.

Cuttings

With the help of stem cuttings, it is possible to preserve double, beautifully flowering specimens. Cuttings are carried out in late spring or early summer. Stem cuttings from the top of the shoots are cut with a sharp sterile pruner or knife. The lower leaves are removed from the cuttings and the bases of the shoots are dipped in powder for rooting.

Prepare small cups with drainage holes and well-moistened soil, half consisting of river sand. The cut site is dried in the open air for several hours and the bases of the cuttings are immersed in the soil to a depth of about 1 cm at a slight angle.

The plants are covered with a plastic bag to reduce moisture loss and left in a warm and well-lit place without direct sun. The fact that the first roots have appeared underground can be judged by new, young leaves and shoots - rooting was successful.

Roots also form well in barely damp river sand or even in a simple glass of water. Add an activated carbon tablet to the rooting water and change it every 5 days.

Care at home

Temperature conditions and lighting

Portulaca tolerates the strongest summer heat well and does not like cool conditions - below 10 degrees Celsius. If the air at night cools down significantly, the leaves begin to fall off. Low temperatures slow down or even stop development.

The bush welcomes brightly lit places with access to direct sunlight for 6-8 hours a day. When grown in partial shade, flowering will be less abundant or will not occur at all.

Soil and fertilizing

The soil must have excellent drainage and contain a large amount of river sand. Portulaca is not picky about the quality of the soil mixture and can be successfully grown in a substrate poor in nutrients. 

During the growing season, monthly fertilizing with fertilizers at half concentration is sufficient. With a large amount of nutrients, the bushes begin to "grow fat" - they abundantly grow leaves to the detriment of flower formation. Fertilizers are applied only from spring to autumn, immediately after abundant watering. If the nutrient solution gets on dry roots, it can cause a chemical burn.

Purpose

It can be grown on a windowsill as a groundcover species or as an ampelous flower - in a hanging basket. Suitable for landscaping balconies, loggias and terraces.

Watering and air humidity

Indoor portulaca is watered regularly, drying the soil to 1/3 of the depth between waterings. It is advisable to use bottom watering, as water droplets that fall on the buds spoil their appearance. Thin cylindrical leaves evaporate a minimal amount of moisture, so watering should be limited. For watering, use softened water at room temperature - for example, bottled, rain, melted. To reduce hardness, you can add regular baking soda to tap water - a teaspoon per 2 liters of water.

The bush easily tolerates dry air and does not need spraying.

Pests and diseases

Bushes that receive timely watering and care are very resistant to diseases and pest attacks. Most often, weak shoots are affected. With an excess of nutrients, green mass grows abundantly to the detriment of flowering. Frequent and abundant watering, high air humidity and insufficient air movement can lead to the appearance of fungal diseases.

Of the harmful insects, the flower can be annoyed by root nematodes and aphids. 

Varieties and types:

Portulaca oleracea

The second name of this species is dandur; in appearance, the plants resemble the well-known Crassula. This perennial species is a small herbaceous perennial up to 30 - 40 cm high with thick shoots and fleshy green leaves. It is grown as a seasoning, eaten fresh and pickled, and added to hot dishes.

The leaf blades are green, glossy, entire, rounded. The edges of the leaves are often colored reddish. The flowers are small, axillary, golden yellow, reaching 1 cm in diameter.

When growing in open ground, it is better to choose a place where self-seeding plants will not interfere with other crops. You can cut off the ground part immediately after the flowers form.  

It is this type of portulaca that has pronounced medicinal properties. The composition of garden portulaca includes such useful substances as carotene, vitamins C, D, group B, potassium and sodium, calcium and magnesium. Microelements included are zinc, manganese, copper and nickel, as well as iron. The leaves contain alkaloids, organic acids, cardiac glycosides, mucus and norepinephrine, and various antioxidants.

The green ground parts of the flower are used in cooking, and since only the shoots of young plants are cut, sowing the seeds of vegetable portulaca is carried out several times a season with a difference of 2 - 3 weeks. Over time, the leaves and stems become too rough and tough.

The taste of fresh leaves is sour, with a pungent aftertaste, burning, but with a pleasant aroma. In mature plants, the burning taste is enhanced - such leaves are added to hot dishes. 

Portulaca grandiflora

Herbaceous plants 20 - 30 cm high with branched stems - erect or lodging. The bushes have thin, sessile, needle-like leaves arranged alternately. During the flowering period, the main decoration of plants are large flowers - simple or double, reaching a diameter of 4 - 5 cm.

The flowers have thin, round, soft petals, painted in bright shades. The buds can be white, yellow, pink, orange, red. Currently, varieties with striped petals have been bred. In appearance, the flowers of this species resemble rose hips or roses.

Terry portulaca Happy Trails

A distinctive feature of this variety is the early onset of flowering - the first buds form on plants at the age of 1.5 months. The flowers are large, brightly colored, with numerous petals and a golden center. Lodging stems up to 45 cm long allow the bushes to be used as attractive hanging plants. 

Portulaca Extravaganza terry

The height of the bushes of this variety often does not exceed only 15 cm. The plants have fairly thin, abundantly branched stems, at the tops of which large double buds appear during the flowering period. The flowers are brightly colored, reach a diameter of 6 cm and fully open only in sunny weather. 

Portulaca Pun

The mixture consists of attractive, large-flowered plants with double, large buds. The height of the bushes reaches 15 cm, which allows them to be placed even in small flower pots for growing at home or for use in balcony gardening. 

Portulaca grandiflora Stopwatch

One of the smallest varieties - the height of an adult bush often does not exceed 10 - 15 cm. A distinctive feature of this variety is the early onset of flowering - on average 10 days earlier than other plants. The flowers are wide open, double, and painted in very bright shades.