Purslane (Dandur) - "Lush rugs": planting and care in the open field. Purslane (56 photos): decorative and healing handsome man

Purslane is a light-loving ground cover plant, grown as an annual. Due to its ability to grow and cover the soil with a multi-colored carpet, this plant is often used in landscape design for decorating flower beds, borders and alpine slides. Purslane is easy to grow from seeds and seedlings. The flower is undemanding to the conditions of detention and proper care able to bloom from early summer until the first frost.

Description and popular varieties

The purslane plant (Portulaca) or dandur belongs to the Purslane family. Its homeland is the tropical regions of the northern hemisphere. Purslane is a perennial, but in the Russian climate the plant is grown as an annual, as it is not able to endure the winter even under good cover. There are up to two hundred varieties of this flower in the world. The plant prefers moist sandy soil, so it often settles along the banks of water bodies. It can be seen in gardens and orchards near housing. The name of the plant comes from the Latin word portula, which means "small gate", this is what the purslane seed box looks like after ripening and opening.

The height of the purslane does not exceed 30 cm. The plant has a branched, highly twisted root system, juicy hollow stems and fleshy cylindrical leaves. The flowering period begins in June and ends in September. Flowers may be yellow, dark red or white. The life expectancy of each is only one day, but because of the abundance of flowering, it seems that this process does not stop. In addition to the garden purslane, grown for its decorative effect, there is also a garden purslane, which is essentially a weed plant, but can be used for salads and as a plant with medicinal properties.

Below are the most common varieties of garden purslane.

Purslane pink terry has a height of up to 10 cm with stems up to 30 cm long. This plant branches well and covers the soil with a dense carpet. Double flowers can be up to 5 cm in diameter. This variety is often used to decorate balconies and is grown in pots.

Flamenco purslane bushes are medium in size and up to 15 cm high. The stems of this variety are large, long and juicy. The bright green leaves are needle-shaped. Terry large flowers may have a variety of colors.

Purslane Sonya refers to semi-creeping plants. Shoots stretch up to 35 cm, large flowers have a simple shape. Flowering of this variety continues until frost. Variety Sonya is most often used to decorate alpine slides, rabatok and to create flower borders.

Purslane Scheherazade is distinguished by large non-double flowers up to 4 cm in diameter. The variety begins to bloom in July, but the flowers open only in sunny weather. This variety is often used for growing in pots and containers.

Growing seedlings

Unlike most annuals horticultural crops to grow from seeds, purslane needs a lung sandy ground, not enriched nutrients. Therefore, the soil mixture for growing purslane seedlings must be prepared independently by mixing 3 parts of garden soil and 2 parts of coarse sand. The soil for disinfection is calcined in the oven. Since this process kills not only pathogenic microorganisms, but also beneficial ones, half a month before planting seeds, it is necessary to enrich the prepared soil with beneficial microflora using preparations EM-1, EM-2 or Baikal EM-1.

Step by step sowing seeds is carried out as follows:

1. 1. A drainage layer of expanded clay up to 1.5 cm thick is laid on the bottom of a container with a wall height of 10 cm.
2. 2. The box is filled with prepared soil and lightly pressed down.
3. 3. The soil mixture is sprayed with water from a spray bottle.
4. 4. To sow the seeds, it is necessary to make shallow grooves at a distance of 5 cm from each other.
5. 5. Seeds are placed in furrows at a distance of 1 cm. Since the size of the seeds is very small, for convenience, you can use a toothpick dipped in water.
6. 6. After sowing the seeds, the furrows are sprinkled with sand and sprayed with water.
7. 7. Having installed wooden pegs at the corners of the container, they stretch polyethylene over them, thus forming a greenhouse.
8. 8. The container is placed in a warm, well-lit place. Periodically, crops are moistened and ventilated.

After the emergence of seedlings, it is necessary to ensure that they do not stretch too much. This may be due to poor lighting. In this case, the seedlings will have to be artificially illuminated with fluorescent lamps or ordinary table lamps. They are turned on for several hours in the mornings and evenings, thereby lengthening the daylight hours. In cloudy weather, it is better to leave the lamps on all day.

When the seedlings have a pair of true leaves, they dive in 3 pieces into separate containers, prying them along with a clod of earth. It will take a week for the seedlings to take root after the pick, so a week after the pick, they make the first top dressing, using a complex mineral fertilizer for this. After that, the seedlings are fed every 10 days.

Landing in open ground

It is possible to plant seedlings in open ground only if the warm weather is finally established and there is no likelihood of frost.

Purslane does not tolerate cold weather. If the air temperature drops below +10 degrees, the plant sheds all the leaves.

In addition to weather conditions, it is necessary to take into account the condition of the seedlings. It is believed that the plant is ready for transplanting if it has 10-12 leaves and a few buds.

Purslane can only be planted in a well-lit area. Even a slight penumbra will lead to the fact that the plant will not give flowers, but will only grow. Fertile soil leads to the same result. Nutrients from it will enter the leaves and be stored there as a reserve for a long time.

When planting, purslane bushes are placed at a distance of at least 15 cm from each other in a checkerboard pattern, deepening to the first leaf. This is due to the fact that the root system of plants spreads widely over time. The first 3 days the seedlings are watered daily, especially if the weather is dry and hot. Flowering begins 6-7 weeks after emergence.

The rest of the purslane is unpretentious and does not require additional feeding or weeding. It is also not necessary to loosen the soil and mulch, since the plant grows in a continuous carpet and completely covers the soil. The grown plant independently provides itself with nutrients that are stored for a long time in its fleshy leaves. The flower is very resistant to diseases and pests, so it does not need additional processing from them. Only with increased dampness can appear on the leaves dark spots- traces of fungal infection. In this case, it is necessary to reduce the number of waterings and treat the plants with a fungicide containing copper.

Unpretentious purslane is often used for indoor cultivation and as landscaping on balconies. Planted in pots and boxes, purslane will behave like ampelous plant, picturesquely hanging from the edges. In this case, seeds and seedlings are prepared in the same way as for open ground. Planting purslane seedlings for growing in room conditions possible at any time. In this case, the plant can bloom all year round.

To propagate this culture, you can use cuttings or dividing the bush. Therefore, during the summer, you can separate the shoot or part of the overgrown bush and root it in another suitable place. Purslane reproduces well by self-sowing, so if it is planted in the garden once, then seedlings will appear next year.

Purslane attracts attention with its unusual name. If you try to translate it from Latin, you can learn a lot about this plant: "portula" means "gate" which quite definitely indicates the peculiarities of opening the seed box. However, domestic gardeners are not used to this name, so they gave it their own - "rugs".

Features of purslane

Purslane is widely represented in the warm regions of central Europe, North and South America, where it is considered a field weed. Often it is specially grown in gardens and orchards. In the Middle Ages, this plant could often be found in European countries, primarily in England. In the time of Hippocrates, purslane was considered medicinal plant, which helped in the treatment of wounds, with bites of poisonous snakes and insomnia. In the Middle Ages, purslane was one of the revered plants among the Arabs.

The genus purslane has a numerous composition, where about 200 species of annual and perennial herbaceous plants are represented.

As an ornamental plant, the large-flowered purslane (Portulaca grandiflora), whose homeland is South America. A feature of this perennial is the presence of a creeping long stem, which reaches a height of 20 cm. It received the greatest application in the design of rocky gardens and borders.

The most beautiful are considered varieties with double flowers. A prime example that is grade " Double Mix» . Purslane varieties "White-flowered" clearly indicates that its flowers are white. Against its background, the Splendens variety stands out, in which the flowers acquire a purple color.

Today, purslane has gained fame as one of the well-known representatives of container plants. For its cultivation, you can use a variety of containers:

• outdoor vases;
• hanging baskets;
• window and balcony boxes.

Big variety this plant also demonstrates when used in garden decoration. It can be present in the composition of flower beds, flower beds, complement retaining stone walls, joints concrete slabs in rockeries. It can also be grown on dry soils, where it can be an excellent alternative to a regular lawn, creating no less maintenance problems.

The nuances of growing purslane in the open field

So that this plant gives only positive emotions, it is necessary to take into account some points regarding its cultivation.

Location

Best of all, purslane flowers feel in those areas that have maximum illumination. Otherwise, you can simply not wait for it to bloom. If purslane is considered for growing at home, then it is best to place containers with plants on the south side. However, it grows best in balcony and window boxes, which are provided with constant access. fresh air. But in both cases, caring for the plant will be easy.

Temperature

Purslane large-flowered is one of those plants that are used to growing in hot climates. However, small cold snaps are not able to harm this plant, since it is most often grown as an annual.

Watering

Purslane care involves regular watering. Therefore, after sowing, it is necessary to constantly ensure that the soil is moistened. However, excess moisture can adversely affect its development.

Diseases and pests

Plants belonging to the genus Purslane are resistant to diseases and pests. The fungus Albugo portulaceae can pose a danger to purslane, traces of damage to which are found only in very rare cases. This can be determined by the presence of spots on the leaves and deformation of the shoots. The fight against fungi consists in removing the damaged parts and spraying the plant with any copper-containing fungicidal preparation.

Acquisition

It is recommended to search for planting material already at the end of winter or in early spring. In this case, it is necessary to make sure the integrity of the bag and pay attention to the expiration date. If necessary finished seedling in cups, you can contact a flower nursery or horticultural center. Particular attention should be paid to ensuring that young seedlings show no signs of decay.

For the normal growth and development of purslane flowers, it is necessary to provide a long daylight hours. Only in this case it will be possible to count on him beautiful bloom. If you are growing purslane at home, it is best to install containers with plants on windowsills facing south. It is more preferable to use balcony and window boxes for it, since they can be provided large quantity direct sunlight.

Sowing features

Favorable conditions for good growth purslane flowers is temperature within 20-26 degrees Celsius. This plant is undemanding to moisture, but if containers-pots are used for cultivation, then watering should be carried out regularly in small quantities. When growing purslane, the owner does not have to deal with such a laborious operation as fertilizing. Therefore, if you plant a plant on not very fertile land, then the purslane will feel good here.

• Most favorable time for sowing purslane flowers is March. However, if we turn to the floricultural literature, then there are recommendations on the possibility of sowing earlier (the third decade of February) and more late dates(first decade of April).
• They begin to sow purslane when the daytime temperature stays at around 20-25 degrees, and mini-greenhouses are used for this purpose. In bright sunshine, the temperature in it can rise to 50 degrees Celsius. This only benefits the purslane, as its growth rate increases. If, after planting, the plants are not provided with the necessary amount of light, this will lead to stretching of the seedlings.

Planting in a greenhouse

You can also make a greenhouse from improvised materials. For example, it could be plexiglass aquarium. In this case, it is necessary to stretch a plastic film over it or put a plexiglass cover. Next, the aquarium is installed on the most illuminated window. In poor light conditions, you can avoid pulling seedlings with the help of their additional illumination. To do this, you can use a fluorescent lamp or a table lamp (40-60W).

Especially plants need additional lighting in the morning and evening hours. If the weather is cloudy outside, then they need to be illuminated throughout the day.

If you plan to sow a small amount of seeds, it is recommended to use compact plastic pots for this purpose. Their bottom is filled with fine gravel and coarse sand, which will act as drainage. Next, soil is poured there. The composition of the mixture used should be free of peat and organic fertilizers. In the presence of the first component, you can not wait for the seedlings to germinate, and in the presence of the second, the seedlings will grow weak and will not be able to resist fungal diseases.

When preparing an earth mixture, it is allowed to add no more than 20% of sand with a diameter of 0.1 mm to it. You can fertilize heavy clay soil with charcoal. Tanks with soil mixture must be installed in a tray previously filled with soft, settled water. It is not recommended to use hard water for irrigation, as this leads to a decrease in the percentage of similarity.

After waiting for soil moisture, you can sow. To do this, you need to take a match and place the seeds on the surface of the soil with a pointed end. Next, the grains need to be slightly deepen into the soil by 0.5-1 mm. The distance between the seeds should be at least 1 cm. After sowing, the seed containers should be immediately placed in a greenhouse. If you do not plan to keep them on the window and will not use the backlight, then you need to watch when most of the seeds are free from the shell. At this point, the planting bowls are removed from the greenhouse and placed on the window so that they are as close to the glass as possible.

If you are going to illuminate them with a table lamp, then it is recommended to do this even in a greenhouse, after opening the lid. When seedlings are illuminated with a 40 W lamp, it must be kept at a distance of 10-15 cm from the sprouts. In case of using a 60 W lamp the distance is increased to 15-20 cm. If a significant drop in temperature is expected at night, then at this time the crops can be removed in an open greenhouse. In the morning, after additional lighting, they are returned to the window. During the care process, pay attention to the fact that the soil is constantly moistened.

If you are growing purslane in an apartment, and your balcony is located on the sunny side, then you can take your crops there.

Conclusion

Purslane is one of beautiful plants which can decorate any area. Every summer resident can grow it, because for purslane planting and care in the open field involves the same general recommendations, as for many other ornamental crops. Particular attention must be paid to the choice of landing site and creation optimal conditions for the growth and development of plants. Although the purslane is undemanding to moisture, however, in especially dry periods, its need for water may increase. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure that there is no dry crust. Otherwise, it will affect its flowering.

Growing purslane

After reviewing different photos purslane, it is sometimes difficult to guess that we are seeing the same plant. This and bright flowers with fleshy leaves-needles, and grass, which is pulled out from the beds. Purslane is a useful and beautiful crop that can be grown both outdoors and at home. In addition, this plant is very unpretentious, so even novice flower growers can handle planting and care.

Features of purslane

On bags of purslane seeds it is written: annual. But it is not so. In our climate with harsh winters, the plant lives in the open ground for one season - from spring to autumn. But in the southern latitudes, purslane is a perennial.

Purslane does not tolerate winter, therefore, in conditions temperate climate grown as an annual

A herbaceous plant with beautiful flowers - a native of the subtropics of South and Central America. Purslane garden, or vegetable, which we consider a weed, is called a cosmopolitan. It grows on all continents.

In many countries, for example, in France, India or the Caucasus, this plant is eaten. Garden purslane is rich in vitamins C, K, E, PP, B1 and B2, carotene and trace elements. In cooking, young shoots and leaves are used, from which salads, stews, marinades are prepared.

Russian gardeners weed purslane from the beds, but in many countries it is a valuable vitamin plant

In Russia, the edible species is rarely cultivated. But decorative purslane has become widespread. It is often planted in flower beds, Alpine rollercoaster, in rockeries (view rocky garden) and rabatka (rectangular flower beds along the paths), they are decorated with balconies and terraces. This plant perfectly takes root on any, even the most meager soils, can put up with drought, does not require weeding and top dressing. Its creeping stems grow, forming a dense "carpet" of green villi-leaves with a pattern of bright inflorescences. The bud blooms for only a day, so the multi-colored ornament is always different.

Purslane carpet changes colors every day

Flowering purslane lasts all summer - from mid-June to September or October, until frost begins. The only requirement is abundant lighting. Purslane is a child of the sun; in cloudy weather, its flowers do not open. Although varieties are now bred that are tolerant of shading.

Choice between perennial and annual flower

Specialists have bred many varieties for open ground, with simple and double flowers of the most whimsical color. However, attempts to grow them at home are rarely successful. The maximum that turns out is to keep the varietal plant at home until next year, and after frosts, plant it again in the ground or cut the bush.

But not so long ago, hybrid varieties of purslane appeared, which are successfully cultivated in indoor floriculture, and in the garden. These hybrids simple inflorescences. But in the cold season they grow on the windowsill, and in the summer they bloom in the same pot on the balcony or in the garden.

The advantage of perennial purslane is its longevity in one pot, and the minus is modest inflorescences and less lush bloom compared to annual horticultural varieties.

Garden purslane is not only a riot of colors and long flowering, but also an annual sowing

BUT garden varieties delight with the richness of colors, size and shape of flowers, but they must be grown from seeds or cuttings every spring anew, and then planted in the ground. True, there is a way to grow purslane without problems. Plant a flower bed once, and then let the flower disperse the seeds on its own and do not dig up this place. Purslane will rise on its own, but this option is acceptable in relatively warm regions. How colder climate, the longer the seeds of a heat-loving plant do not germinate. This means that the flowers will appear by the middle, or even by the end of summer.

Purslane embodies the fantasies of flower growers and grows beautifully in one place, scattering on its own

Ampelous, large-flowered, garden and other varieties of purslane

According to some classifications, the genus of purslane consists of almost 200 varieties, according to others - about 100. But the vast majority of them never became cultivated plants. AT decorative floriculture large-flowered purslane and many varieties based on it are common.

1. Purslane garden, or vegetable, - edible plant, but Russian gardeners weed it out like a weed. Thick reddish stems grow up to 30 cm. They spread along the ground. Leaves are oval, juicy. Flowers yellow, small. Young leaves and shoots are eaten. To taste, garden purslane is similar to spinach with a sorrel flavor.
2. Ampelous purslane is a perennial hybrid species suitable for growing at home and in open ground. The plant has fleshy stems that branch well, thick leaves in the shape of an oval. flowers are simple, different shades white, red, yellow, purple. Ampel purslane is planted in hanging baskets and tall flowerpots so that the shoots droop beautifully.
3. Purslane large-flowered - a decorative species, very popular all over the world. In Russia it is grown as annual plant. Blooms from June until frost. This is a ground cover plant with creeping shoots. They are covered with a thick brush of needle-like thick leaves. Large (5–7 cm) flowers, double or simple, are located at the ends of the stems one or three. Flowers of this particular type of purslane are compared with a rose or a peony. In most varieties, the buds close at night and do not open on cloudy days.

Terry flowers bloom even in cloudy weather

Terry varieties are more relaxed in partial shade and bloom well even in the absence of bright sun.

On the basis of large-flowered purslane, dozens of varieties have been created. The most popular of them:

• Royal (with simple and very big flowers different colors)
• Air marshmallow (with short stems and large double flowers);
• White-flowered (similar to Air marshmallow, but with snow-white inflorescences);
• Princely (with white, orange or bright scarlet inflorescences with corrugated petals);
• Splendens (with spectacular purple-lilac double flowers);
• Illusion (with large semi-double flowers of cherry or pink hue);
• Extravaganza (with contrasting strokes and dots on flower petals);
• Amber Coast (with lush yellow-orange flowers).

Photo gallery: what different varieties look like

Ampel purslane is grown both in the garden and at home. The white-flowered purslane got its name due to the color of terry inflorescences. different colors The variety Illusion has cherry or pink inflorescences. The princely purslane pleases with its white, orange and scarlet flowers. The royal purslane flowers are simple, but very bright. large-flowered purslane became the basis for hybrid varieties The most modest outwardly garden purslane in many countries is a valuable food. Splendens is a variety with purple-lilac flowers. The Feeria variety has variegated flower petals
The amber coast is distinguished by orange-colored flowers

A few words about garden purslane

Purslane vegetable, which many gardeners destroy, considering it a weed, is not only useful, it is used to treat many diseases. Stems infused with alcohol help with arthritis, heal ulcers. Decoctions and infusions are used for insomnia, eye diseases, dysentery and diabetes.

Vegetable purslane greens are very healthy and taste good.

Vitamin green purslane is low in calories, so it is an excellent component of dietary nutrition. Young shoots with leaves are fried, stewed and pickled. In order to retain all the benefits of purslane, eat it fresh.

Purslane garden - an early culture. It is planted directly into the ground from late May to mid-June. Care consists in timely watering. With a lack of moisture, the leaves become rougher. The first harvest of young greens is taken already 3-4 weeks after sowing.

Video: getting to know the unpretentious purslane

How to propagate a plant

Purslane is propagated by seeds and cuttings. Freshly harvested seeds will not germinate, they need to lie down for about six months. And they remain viable for about 3 years. Purslane can be sown directly into the ground when the average daily temperature is at least 20 ° C. In addition, seedlings can be grown.

seedling method

1. Sow seeds for seedlings at the end of March or April (the warmer the climate, the earlier, but you should not rush - the seedlings can outgrow).
2. Prepare low containers (about 7 cm high), preferably with a transparent lid, make drainage holes in them. Fill up the containers. Lay a small drainage layer (perlite, fine expanded clay, vermiculite) and a light substrate (sand, garden soil, charcoal chips). Ready-made soil for seedlings is not suitable, it contains peat, in which purslane does not grow well.

   

   For purslane seedlings, low containers and light soil without peat are needed.

3. Compact the soil and water.
4. Mix purslane seeds with sand and spread over the surface.
5. Cover the container with a lid, glass or film.
6. Put in a warm (average daily temperature not lower than 25 ° C) and well-lit place (southern window sill, on the other hand, there must be backlighting).
7. Ventilate the greenhouse regularly and moisten the substrate if it is dry. After 5–10 days, the seeds sprout.

   

   In warmth and good lighting purslane sprouts appear after 5-10 days

8. Remove cover after germination.
9. Keep warm (below 20°C can be detrimental to seedlings) and provide bright light.
10. Moisturize carefully, excess moisture leads to blackleg disease. It is better to water through the pan.

    

    Purslane seedlings need to be watered carefully

11. When the shoots have 2-3 true leaves, thin them out, leaving the strongest ones.

    

    Purslane crops must be thinned out to give room for the development of the remaining seedlings.

12. Pick them up in separate containers. At the same time, be careful with the root, transfer the sprout with a clod of earth. Deepen to the cotyledon leaves.

    

    When picking, handle the root carefully, deepen the sprouts to the lower leaves

13. Gradually accustom the seedlings to the street, exposing them to fresh air during the day (at first for 20 minutes, gradually increasing the time).

    

    Harden seedlings so that there is no stress from transplanting to the street

14. After the threat of frost has passed (at the end of May-first half of June), and the average daily temperature will be 20–22 ° C, transplant seedlings into open ground.

    

    For purslane seedlings to take root, you need warmth, sun and poor soil.

15. For purslane, choose a warm and well-lit place with poor soil.
16. Place the sprouts at a distance of 10–15 cm, deepen the seedlings to the first leaf.

Video: sowing terry purslane for seedlings

How to plant seeds outdoors

Purslane is sown directly into the ground in late May-early June. We must wait until the soil warms up to 20-25 o C. Purslane sprouts can die if it gets even slightly colder, not to mention freezing.

Sow the purslane in the place where it will grow constantly

How to sow seeds: step by step process

1. Make a bed for purslane in a sunny area, protected from the wind. Ideally, if it is a small elevation.
2. Add sand to overly nutritious soil.
3. Moisten the soil, spread the purslane seeds on it, sprinkle a little sand on top.
4. cover the garden polyethylene film or glass.
5. In the afternoon, when it gets warm, open the garden bed for 2-3 hours to ventilate.
6. Moisten crops as needed by spraying from a spray bottle.
7. When shoots appear and the temperature is not lower than 24–26 ° C, remove the film.
8. Seedlings that have grown to 2-3 cm, thin out and transplant to permanent place, scheme - 10:15.
9. Water under the root when the top layer dries out.

Landing before winter

Sowing purslane before winter is only in the southern regions. The seeds of a heat-loving plant will not start growing until the soil warms up to 20-25 o C. So in the middle latitudes there is no point in winter sowing, early flowering still can't be achieved.

Purslane before winter is best sown in regions with a warm climate.

1. Choose a heated and lit area for a flower bed with purslane, it will be good if it is a hill.
2. Remove weeds and prepare the bed.
3. Should be sown twice more seeds than during spring sowing. Mix purslane seeds with sand.
4. Spread the mixture on the soil, sprinkle lightly.
5. In the spring, make sure that the area does not dry out completely after the snow has melted.
6. You can cover the crops with a film to keep warm.
7. After the seeds germinate, care for them as you would regular seedlings.

Propagation by cuttings

Purslane can cuttings all summer to renew plantings. Also, this method will help speed up the appearance of the first flowers.

How to care for garden purslane

A blooming carpet saves the grower time and effort. Purslane is drought tolerant, loves poor soil and does not require careful maintenance. The only thing a plant cannot do without is the sun.

Growth and flowering

It is enough to water flower beds with purslane at least once a week if there is no rain. Pour water under the roots or on top of a small divider. The main thing - try not to erode the soil. Plants living in flowerpots or other containers will need more frequent watering. But in any case, underfilling is better than waterlogging the soil. In too rainy weather or with an excess of water, the purslane suffers.

A thick carpet of purslane prevents weeds from germinating

Mulching and loosening the ground in the flower bed is only necessary at first, until the purslane bushes have grown. The plant quickly covers the soil with its shoots, and weeds do not germinate on such a rug. Additional nutrition is not required for the flower. It grows well and blooms without fertilizing. Purslane very rarely gets sick and is not liked by pests.

Surprisingly, juicy greenery and delicate purslane flowers do not like harmful insects.

How to collect and save seeds

If you do not remove wilted inflorescences, it is possible that the purslane will multiply by itself, scattering ripened seeds. And then next spring a flower carpet will grow again in the same place.

If you do not trust the purslane to self-sow, watch the maturation of the seed pods. To see them well, remove sluggish petals from inflorescences. It is important not to skip maturation and "unpacking". Otherwise, small grains will fall to the ground. It is no longer possible to collect them.

The seeds of this plant are often compared to dust because they are so tiny. 10 thousand pieces of purslane seeds weigh only 1 g.

Purslane has very small grains that easily disperse themselves.

It is better to harvest planting material for the future at the height of summer. In the heat, purslane seeds ripen in only 10–14 days. It is necessary to collect them when the box turns yellow, and then dry the crop. With the arrival of cool weather (when average daily temperature 12-15 o C) purslane seeds do not ripen. If you did not have time to stock up, take the plant pot home and wait for the seeds to be ready.

Purslane is afraid of the cold, so it is not left outside in winter

Video: decorative purslane care

Problems in growing purslane

Some gardeners complain that purslane blooms modestly or refuses to open buds at all. Most often, the reason for this whim is errors in choosing a place and soil. Purslane will not bloom in a shaded area. The soil for this plant must be poor. Purslane will consider the soil too greasy, which was fertilized even a year ago. He will be happy to build up a carpet of greenery, but he will not bloom. Owners of fertile plots can artificially reduce the nutritional value of the soil by adding sand, vermiculite, expanded clay or fine gravel.

In nutrient-rich soil, purslane will grow lush greenery no flowers

Purslane almost does not bloom in cloudy and rainy summers. From wet weather, the plant can get sick. Leaves and stems become stained, rot and die. Purslane stops growing. Treatment consists of sanitary pruning. It is necessary to remove the affected parts, and then treat the purslane and soil with a fungicide (Previkur, Soligor, Fundazol or Skor).

How to get rid of purslane pests

Growing on the windowsill: can purslane grow at home

Even 5–10 years ago, purslane in our area was considered only a garden annual. Now the ampel variety is grown at home. While the plant is just settling on the windowsill. But more and more flower growers do not want to part with purslane for the winter.

Ampel purslane feels good at home

Table: room conditions

Watering, fertilizing and pruning at home

Water indoor purslane moderately, always waiting until the soil is almost completely dry. It’s not scary to overdry an earthen lump, it will be worse if excess moisture provokes a disease. For watering, use soft, non-cold water.

Purslane on the window - so far a rare occurrence

It is not necessary to feed a purslane growing in a flower bed, it will take everything from the soil. But what lives in confined space pot, a little nutrition does not hurt. Especially during flowering. You can give it to him every 2-3 weeks mineral fertilizers for flowering plants. But make the concentration half as much as recommended in the instructions. With nutrition, as with water, a deficit is preferable to an excess.

Purslane prefers moderation in watering and nutrition, and light - in abundance.

Indoor purslane can bloom not only in summer, but also in winter, if you provide it with additional lighting and warm content. True, there will not be many flowers. And it is better to give the purslane a cool rest during the winter.

In warm and good light, purslane will bloom all year round.

During the winter, the shoots inevitably stretch. Therefore, in early spring, the plant should be slightly shortened. Do not tighten with a haircut, so as not to damage the formation of buds (they appear at the ends of the shoots). By summer, the purslane should grow new branches.

Purslane - beautiful blooming ornamental plant growing throughout Eurasia. Tropics of the Eastern Hemisphere are considered its homeland, a more exact location is unknown. The name is translated from Latin as "gate, gate" and reflects the way the seed box opens after ripening.

Types of Purslane in the open field

Purslane large-flowered. A very popular decorative garden annual in Russia. It has creeping stems, which are densely covered with cone-shaped leaves. The color of its flowers can be from white to purple or burgundy. When blooming, each bud has a diameter of up to 5–7 cm. By the end of September, a basket fruit ripens, from which a large number of seeds spill onto the ground.

Purslane ampelous. The artificially bred hybrid species is distinguished by branching stems with cone-shaped fleshy leaves. Its flowers can be single or double and come in lilac, purple, pink, yellow, red, white shade. They grow ampelous purslane on balconies in street flowerpots, hanging planters. In the garden, they are decorated with ridges, alpine slides.

Medicinal, vegetable purslane garden. The succulent has fleshy stems covered with thick oval leaves and inconspicuous small yellow inflorescences. The fruit, formed in autumn, is in the form of an oval box and contains many seeds. The plant propagates easily by self-sowing. Its shoots and leaves contain many useful substances: glycosides, phylloquinone, nicotinic acid, norepinephrine, proteins, iron, copper, sodium, sugars, zinc, potassium, alkaloids, resinous substances, magnesium, potassium, ascorbic acid, organic acids, carotene. Due to its composition, garden purslane is used in medicine and cooking.

Purslane terry. An annual horticultural groundcover with large bright flowers. Its buds open in the bright sun, and remain closed in cloudy weather. Selected cultivars Sundance and Sunglo bloom regardless of the sun.

The most popular and best varieties of this type of succulent are:

• "Splendence" - a plant with double large flowers of a purple-pink hue;
• "Princely" - buds with corrugated petals can be scarlet, orange or white;
• "White-flowered" - a bush with pure white terry inflorescences;
• "Air marshmallow" - on shoots up to 10 cm long there are terry inflorescences of various shades;
• "Royal" - large simple flowers are distinguished by a wide range of colors.

Growing purslane from seeds

To obtain blooming carpet purslane already in June, many gardeners grow a plant using seedlings. There are certain rules for planting purslane, growing from seeds, when it should be planted in early spring.

The optimal time for sowing seeds is mid-March, early April, more early landings require additional lighting with special lamps. For planting, you can build small greenhouses (an old aquarium will also come in handy) or be able to cover the mini-garden on top with glass or ordinary cellophane film.

Purslane seeds are planted in bright light and a temperature of 20 to 25 ° C. The bottom of the containers is covered with a small layer of gravel, and a calcined mixture of sand and ordinary garden soil is poured on top.

The presence of a large percentage of peat will lead to the fact that the seeds will give weak and rare seedlings. And organic fertilizers threaten seedlings with fungal diseases. After moistening the prepared soil substrate with melted or settled water, purslane is planted. This is done with a toothpick or match, with the wet end of which the seeds are gently pressed into the ground to a depth of 1 mm, leaving a space of 1 cm between them.

Experienced gardeners in the first days create high temperatures in containers with seedlings up to 50 ° C, keeping them on windowsills with sunny side. This is done with the aim of the rapid emergence of sprouts, but the drying of the soil must not be allowed.

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Site selection and soil preparation for purslane

When choosing a place for planting, it must be remembered that purslane is a photophilous plant that does not tolerate excessive moisture:

Choose a dry and well-lit place. Shaded areas are excluded - purslane will not bloom well.

It is better to prepare the soil in advance, a week or two before planting. If the site was dug up in the fall, then it will be enough to loosen it with a pitchfork, clean it from weeds and level it with a rake. Uncultivated area - dig up, cultivation depth - 20-25 cm, clear of weeds and level.

The soil for planting should be loose and not retain moisture. Sandy areas are good. On rich soil, purslane will grow green mass and bloom poorly.

Planting purslane in open ground

Purslane is a perennial plant. It can be planted once, and then the grass will self-sow. The plant can grow for years in the same place in the flower bed. Purslane does not require specific care and special soil. Seeds should be sown after the last frost in a sunny location. When purslane is planted with seeds in open ground, the ground is first loosened and a small amount of fertilizer is applied, while the seeds are slightly pressed into the soil to a depth of 1 cm. The gap between the rows is within 50 cm. When two leaves appear on the seedlings, they break through, leaving one plant per 10 cm.

When to plant purslane outdoors

When warm days are established, seedlings can be planted in open ground at a level with the soil. It is better that in the open field the purslane appears early in the morning or in the evening, after sunset.

Choose an open, sunlit spot in your garden. Plant seedlings at a distance of 15 cm from each other. Remember that the plant grows very quickly and soon all the empty space will be filled with greenery.

When planting purslane is finished, water the plants. After planting, water the seedlings regularly. When they grow up and take root well, reduce watering and water only as the soil dries.

Purslane care

Purslane needs regular, but not very frequent watering: I do this every 4-5 days with warm settled water. Watering is especially important during dry periods, hot days, when the moisture in the soil is not enough for the plant - remember this!

To temperature regime purslane, the care of which is being discussed, is not so demanding. Flowers equally well endure both 30-degree heat and lowering temperatures to 10 Celsius. Given that the plant is an annual, you can not really worry about the mode of its maintenance.

Water the purslane regularly. But, you should avoid stagnant water. To do this, add drainage to the pots. The soil is taken fertile and light. You don't need to feed it. These many flower growers liked the purslane. Planting and care is not troublesome. Decorative properties are on top, and even as a medicine, or food can be used.

Purslane is easily propagated by cuttings. They give roots within a week. It is enough to put the flower in water. Just germinate and seeds. The main thing is to place the landing under the sun.

Otherwise, even high-quality seeds, at times, do not germinate. Purslane flowers do not bloom without light. Photos of fully opened buds, as a rule, are “saturated” with the rays of the Sun. On cloudy days, the flowers open only partially.

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Feeding purslane

Succulents can grow without any fertilizing, but with the help of fertilizers, flowering becomes abundant, the flowers are larger, the color is brighter. For top dressing apply full complex fertilizer. Ready-made balanced compositions are popular:

• "Fertika Lux - flowery (NPK - 18 - 9 - 11 + trace elements)" high nitrogen content stimulates the growth of purslane after rooting in the open field.

Balanced fertilizer is easy to apply to flower plants.

• "Arvi Fertis" (NPK - 13 - 10 - 15 + trace elements) significantly increases flowering in spring - summer. Apply after full survival and at the beginning of flowering.
• "Biochelate Boron" is a biologically active drug that improves pollen growth, thereby contributing to long-term flowering.
• "Compo for blooming" - a high content of potassium contributes to the brightness of flowering. Used for both gardening and indoor plants. Gives good results when growing purslane at home and greenhouse conditions.

Reproduction of purslane cuttings

The garden purslane variety you like can be propagated by cuttings, asking for a few fleshy stems from a neighbor in the country or transplanting the mother plant into a pot for the winter. The mother liquor should winter in a cool room, receiving periodic sparing watering. The cuttings are cut 5-6 cm long, the lower leaves are removed. They will take well, quickly grow, if they are covered before rooting. plastic bottle and do not forget about regular, but not abundant watering with warm water.

Pests and diseases of purslane

Purslane is considered the most pest-resistant plant. But due to an excess of moisture in the soil, it can be affected by a fungal disease - rot. The leaves are covered with dark spots, the stems are affected, both the aerial part of the plant and the root system rot. Purslane stops growing and developing, does not bloom. In order to cure a plant, you need to get rid of all its parts affected by rot, treat healthy stems and leaves, as well as all the land in the garden with fungicide solutions.

Despite the fact that pests bypass the purslane, insects such as aphids or thrips can appear on it. Aphids are easy to see with the naked eye. It feeds on the juice of the plant and multiplies rapidly. If you fight it, then soon the plant will be completely planted by its colony. In order to get rid of aphids, purslane must be carefully treated with an insecticide solution diluted in water in the proportion indicated in the instructions for the drug.

Thrips can be seen on the plant due to the stripes and inclusions of a silvery hue both on the stems and on the leaves of the purslane. The insect is so small in size that it is almost impossible to see it with the naked eye. A solution is used to control this pest. systemic insecticide(fitoverm, karbofos, etc.).

Useful properties of purslane

The healing properties of purslane have been used since ancient times, Hippocrates recommended this plant for many diseases. Its benefits are truly endless. Juicy greens contain vitamins of group A, combining substances with a common biological action. Vitamins of groups B, K, PP, E are present in the plant. Purslane is the most valuable source of protein, without which the functioning human body impossible. It contains glucose, sucrose, galactose - these substances are the fuel of cells.

Thanks to the organic acids present in the plant, normal metabolic processes in the body. Application medicinal plant contributes to the saturation of organs and systems with salts of calcium, potassium, magnesium, etc. The leaves contain vitamin C, carotene, flavonoids. Purslane is an excellent supplier of mucous and resinous substances.

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Purslane is a useful plant in all respects, it is used in folk medicine, it is great as cosmetic product and also suitable for eating. Juicy green shoots for salads are cut before flowering. Purslane has a tart and spicy flavor similar to spinach and sorrel. The medicinal substances contained in the plant help to treat diabetes, diseases of the kidneys, stomach and liver. It is also useful for eliminating the causes that cause headaches.

Purslane is one of the gardeners' favorite flowering annuals. This is a creeping plant with small multi-colored flowers of various shades. Its leaves are like small soft needles. Purslane bushes grow very quickly over the site and resemble a colorful, multi-colored carpet.

It should be noted that in addition to their excellent decorative qualities, the stems and leaves contain a large amount of useful substances. Therefore, since ancient times they have been used to prepare vitamin salads and light vegetable soups. Also, the plant has found application in folk medicine and cosmetology.

So, today we are talking about how to grow purslane, planting and care in the open field for it, when to sow purslane for seedlings - we will talk about all this for the readers of "Popular about Health" today. And also briefly dwell on its healing properties:

When to sow seedlings?

To obtain abundant flowering already at the beginning of summer, seedlings grown from seeds are planted in the ground. Accordingly, it is required that it has grown up by this time.

Thus, it is necessary to sow purslane seedlings from the beginning of March - until the beginning of April. You can sow seeds for seedlings earlier, but in this case you will need additional lighting with special lamps.

To grow seedlings, you will need small container boxes, which are covered with glass or cellophane on top. For quick germination of seeds and active growth of young plants, it is necessary to provide a "mini-garden" with bright sunlight and heat (20-25C).

Pour into the bottom of containers thin layer gravel and then fill with soil. It should consist of ordinary garden soil and dry sand (20% of the total composition). The finished mixture must first be calcined for half an hour in the oven, distributing it on a baking sheet. This is necessary to disinfect the soil mixture.

It should be noted that the universal earthen soil, which is sold in the store, is not very suitable for growing purslane seedlings. The soil contains a lot of peat, which, in this case, greatly complicates the germination of seeds.

So, filling the boxes with soil mixture, moisten it with settled water, and then sow the seeds. Press them gently with a match inward, to a depth of approximately 1 mm. The space between the seeds should be about 1 cm. Next, cover the containers with glass or plastic wrap, put in a well-lit, warm place.

Until the sprouts appear, it is not necessary to water the plantings. It is enough to spray the soil with settled water from a spray bottle.

After the appearance of the first sprouts, the coating can be removed. After a month, carefully dive the seedlings into separate small pots filled with the same earthen mixture.

Before the onset of sustainable warm temperature air, keep young plants in a well-warmed, sunny position and water regularly.

For purslane, warmth and sun are extremely important. Therefore, keep the pots on the sunniest windowsill or take them out to a warm closed loggia. With insufficient lighting, the seedlings will begin to stretch upwards strongly.

Purslane - landing

When warm days are established, seedlings can be planted in open ground at a level with the soil. It is better that in the open field the purslane appears early in the morning or in the evening, after sunset.

Choose an open, sunlit spot in your garden. Plant seedlings at a distance of 15 cm from each other. Remember that the plant grows very quickly and soon all the empty space will be filled with greenery.

When planting purslane is finished, water the plants. After planting, water the seedlings regularly. When they grow up and take root well, reduce watering and water only as the soil dries.

Purslane - care:

Watering:

Purslane should be watered abundantly, but not very often. If there is no rain - every 5 days. For irrigation, use warm, well-settled water. In hot, dry weather, when there is little moisture in the soil, water more often.

top dressing:

What is the care for purslane without top dressing? But no! It's beautiful flowering plant very unpretentious and he practically does not need them. It blooms beautifully in rich and poor soils. Even on sandy or clay soil feels good.

As you can see, it is very easy to care for him. He is not afraid of pests. With regular watering, timely removal of weeds, purslane in the open field practically does not get sick.

Healing properties

Since ancient times, purslane has been used to treat the most various diseases. They note its effectiveness in the treatment of insomnia, beriberi, dysentery, scurvy and flatulence.

Means based on it are included in the complex treatment of trichomonas colpitis, diabetes mellitus, internal bleeding, bladder diseases, hypotension and enterocolitis.

Healers use it in the treatment of kidney, liver, gastric diseases, hemorrhoids, constant headaches. It is used to treat arthritis and conjunctivitis.

The therapeutic components of purslane contribute to the activation of the heart rhythm, constrict the blood vessels. With regular use of fresh leaves, you can reduce the level of sugar, bad cholesterol in the blood, reduce the risk of developing inflammatory and tumor processes. With the help of seeds eliminate the symptoms of bronchial asthma.

Finally

It should be noted that on garden plots in our mid-latitudes, purslane is grown as an annual plant. The fact is that he loves warmth and the sun very much, so he simply cannot stand the cold winter.

But if in the fall the most beautiful specimens are transplanted from the ground into pots and brought home, it will overwinter remarkably. Then it will be possible to return the purslane to the soil of the flower bed or leave it at home. At home, purslane will delight you with flowering for more than one year, but for several years.