Purslane flowers can be found mainly in the Northern Hemisphere. The genus Purslane has about 100 species. Now these flowers can be found in many flower beds and gardens. They came to Europe back in the Middle Ages and quickly gained popularity. But before they were often planted in the gardens. Purslane will grow where there is a lot of water, and the soil is rich in sand.
Purslane: Description
In our areas, it is possible to grow only an annual plant. Although there are in the culture and perennial purslane flowers. This is due to the severity of our winters. Even under cover, these flowers cannot bear them. Purslades reach a maximum of thirty centimeters in height. Their root resembles a spindle and has quite a few small roots. The stems are brown, hollow inside. From them quite fleshy leaves grow, which in shape resemble a cylinder. During flowering, it seems that the plant blooms continuously, but in fact this is far from the case. Yellow, red, white flowers live only one day and wither with the sunset, but the next morning new ones appear in their place. The flower also has a fruit - a spherical box in which seeds of purslane flowers are stored.
Seed growing
It is believed that it is easiest to grow purslane through seedlings, so it makes sense to touch on this topic. Among gardeners, there are different opinions regarding the cultivation of a particular type of plant, and this also applies to purslane. The fact is that many plant seeds in late February or early March, but in this case, the sprouted seedlings need additional artificial lighting, since they do not have enough daylight. To avoid such a problem, you can simply postpone the landing in April. It is better not to use purchased soil for seed germination, since it contains peat, and it greatly slows the growth of seedlings. It is much better to prepare your own soil mixture. You will need ordinary garden soil, in which you need to add 20% sand. The resulting soil should be calcined in the oven. This is necessary in order to get rid of possible pests.
At the bottom of the container where the seeds will germinate, lay a drainage layer, and lay the prepared soil on top. All this needs to be watered. It is best to use melt water, but in its absence, you can replace the usual, but always defended. Seeds are laid out on the surface no closer than a centimeter from each other. After planting, each seed needs to be slightly pressed to the soil. Experienced gardeners use toothpicks for this. After that, a kind of greenhouse needs to be built over the tank. The seeds will germinate in a warm room, where sunlight always gets. The ideal air temperature is 30 degrees, but if this is not possible, then make sure that it does not at least drop below twenty-two.
Purslane can be planted with seeds in open ground. However, all landing requirements must be observed in order to obtain a positive result. First of all, pay attention to the fact that purslane is a thermophilic plant and requires special lighting. Therefore, the area where you plan to sow seeds should always be exposed to sunlight. Plus, the soil there should not be too wet, stagnation of groundwater is especially contraindicated. In too moist soil, the plant will begin to stretch up, flowering will be very sparse, and you can’t even count on seeds. The landing technology itself is not much different from the greenhouse. However, here the seeds are mixed in advance with sand and only then planted in open ground.
Seedlings
If you manage to create all the necessary conditions, then the seeds will give the first seedlings in two weeks, or maybe earlier. With the advent of the first seedlings, you can clean the greenhouse. Soil at seedlings should not dry out. Moisturize the bottom irrigation methods and use exclusively standing water. Carefully monitor the speed of seedling development. You may need additional lighting.
If the seedlings do not have enough light, then they begin to stretch very much. In such cases, daylight hours should be artificially lengthened. A few hours under the daylight in the morning and evening will be enough. If the sky is overcast, then it is better not to turn off the lamps at all. However, such problems will be avoided by those who plant seeds in April and place containers with seedlings on the south side. There seedlings will always be light and warm.
Do not forget about the dive. With the advent of several true leaves, seedlings are planted. Up to three seedlings can be placed in one pot about eight centimeters in diameter. When transplanting, try to move the earthen ball on the roots intact. Within a week, seedlings will take root in a new place. And after that, you can safely make mineral fertilizers. The next top dressing will be in a week, and so on until the moment when you transplant the seedlings in open ground.
Landing
Purslane flower seedlings grow up when to plant them in the open ground? This can not be done before the beginning of June. This is due to the fact that the May weather is unpredictable and at night the air temperature drops much. And at an indicator of ten degrees from this flower leaves are completely showered.
Think in advance in what place the flower will grow. It should be a sublime and well-lit place. The sun should be here even at night. The fact is that even with a slight lack of sunlight, a purslane may not bloom. As for the hill. This is necessary so that groundwater does not stagnate in the roots. Otherwise, various putrefactive processes may begin. If you want a plant to please you with its flowering, then choose poor soil with a high sand content. On fertile garden flowers Purslane will build up green mass, which is completely useless to you.
Disembarkation technology
Plant seedlings can be safely sent to the open ground only when there are at least twelve real leaves on the stem and even the first buds will already appear. The bush should not be next to another closer than twenty centimeters. Do not forget about daily watering in the first two or three days, this is important. This is especially true in areas where summers are dry. It will be possible to admire colorful flowers only after 1.5, and sometimes two months after planting seeds.
Care Features
For the purslane, landing and care are not too difficult. We can say that this is one of those plants that does not need almost anything. Purslane does not need to be cut, fed, loosened, or weed removed. The only thing that is required from the gardener is regular watering. It should not be too plentiful, since the leaves of the plant contain a sufficient amount of moisture, but its frequency should not change. If there will be little water or it will rarely come, then this will greatly affect flowering. Everything is so simple that, probably, few people can deny themselves the pleasure of growing such flowers in their flowerbed.
Diseases and Pests
As you can see, a purslane, planting and care for which is practically a possibility for every gardener, is an extremely undemanding plant. Caring for it does not take much time and does not require any additional skills. Even terry portulak flowers can be grown on your flowerbed, as the planting and care technique will not be particularly different from varieties with simple flowers. And even in matters of disease and pests, purslane does not cause trouble. This plant is very resistant to various diseases and practically does not attract insects. However, some difficulties may arise.
It is impossible to protect your garden and garden from aphids. When raids of these insects occur, even a purslane cannot escape. The best means of struggle is considered to be Actellik. Usually one treatment of the plant is carried out and the result is monitored, if it does not appear, then the treatment is repeated no earlier than seven days later. It happens that a special kind of fungus appears on the purslane, affecting the shoots (they are strongly deformed) and leaves, on which you can notice the appearance of spots. Damaged parts of the flower will not be saved. They can only be removed, but the rest of the plants are treated with a fungicide, which contains copper.
Purslane Properties
The healing properties of purslane have been known for quite some time. Such great doctors as Hippocrates and Galen spoke about them. In those days, purslane seeds were actively used to cleanse the body, but its leaves were irreplaceable in general, because they could save with a snake bite.
Gruel was prepared from the leaves of the plant and the swollen eyes were greased with it. For pain in the bladder or stomach, this slurry was added to the wine and consumed inward. Arab healers often used purslane in cosmetology. They chopped its leaves and removed various growths on the skin: warts, erysipelas and even treated acne. And modern medicine has not forgotten about purslane. Its antiparasitic properties are used to this day. In addition, even the doctors themselves recommend using the leaves of the plant for those who have a mild form of diabetes. Therefore, it makes sense to grow purslane not only for beauty, but also for medical purposes.
After flowering
As mentioned earlier, Purslane flower pleases the eye for only one day. The next morning, he already fades forever. Therefore, do not be afraid to remove such flowers immediately. The fact is that under them a seed box ripens, and if a wilted bud is not removed, then the seeds will wake up directly to the ground. If the weather is dry and hot on the street, then two weeks after pollination, the seeds will be ready for collection. In wet and rainy weather, as well as in autumn, this process can drag on for a month. It is especially important for every gardener to know that the collected seeds can only be planted next spring. And do not postpone them as a dowry for grandchildren, since they can ascend only within three years after collection.
Garden Purslane in our latitudes will not be able to winter, so do not even try to leave it under cover, even if it is very good. Better collect more seeds. In autumn, the plants are removed and the flowerbed is well dug, preparing it for the next season. A garden purslane is capable of self-landing. Its seeds fall out of the boxes and germinate in the spring.
Landscape design
Purslane is often used to decorate and create flower beds and rabatok. From this plant you can create a very beautiful and bright carpet on a slope and in any open area. The flower also looks good on rocky areas. You can grow purslane not only in the flowerbed. He feels quite normal in pots and containers, which are located on window sills and balconies.
Has a purslane combination with other colors is very good. Especially if these are undersized varieties. However, when choosing neighbors, take into account the peculiarities of growing purslane and other flowers. Indeed, for the purslane, the growing conditions are special. He loves light and warmth, and some other undersized plants, on the contrary, will feel much better in the shade. All these features need to be considered in advance so as not to spoil the flowerbed and not harm the flowers.
Species and varieties
Currently, in culture, you can find 2 species - purslane large-flowered and garden.
Large-flowered purslane is a species that is grown in the garden. His homeland is considered South America. And although Purslane belongs to perennials, in our regions it blooms for only one year. This is due to the difficult climate, which the purslane cannot endure. These are not very tall bushes - up to thirty centimeters, with fleshy leaves. Flowers can be simple or double, different shades. The flowering period begins in June and lasts until mid-autumn.
There are some of the most popular varieties (flowers, depending on the variety, are double or simple):
- Double Mix has double flowers, usually sold as a mixture of several types of seeds.
- Cherry is another terry variety, in height it can reach only twelve centimeters, the flowers have an exceptionally cherry hue.
- Hybrid Cream is distinguished by small terry cream flowers, which have a rather interesting dark center.
- Sanglo - this variety is known for having the largest flowers, which, unlike the others, remain open even on a cloudy day. There are several more similar varieties, but in culture they are used less often.
- Splendex has a very bright, purple-pink color of the petals.
Garden Purslane - a species that in ancient times was actively used for cooking. It has a rather specific taste, slightly sour. However, it quenches thirst quite well, has many useful properties, its leaves contain protein and many other beneficial microorganisms. However, in spite of all its advantages, garden purslane sometimes becomes a real disaster for summer residents. Its seeds can sprout on their own. They just fall into the ground and emerge next spring.
Varieties of garden purslane:
- Macovei is the most popular among gardeners.
- The paradox is edible and has excellent decorative qualities.
- Firefly is a variety with fleshy leaves and tall stems.