Plant Care Common Purslane

Common Purslane

Also known as

Little Hogweed, Pursley and Duckweed

Taxonomy

Portulaca oleracea
Portulaca
Portulacaceae
Caryophyllales

How to care for Common Purslane

💦 Water

How often to water your Common Purslane

Water needs for Common Purslane
0.5 cups
every 12

Common Purslane needs 0.5 cups of water every 12 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Calculate water needs of Common Purslane

Water 0.5 cups every
12

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

Select the pot size

5"
☀️ Light

Finding light for Common Purslane in your home

Light needs and placement for plant Common Purslane: 1ft from a window
1ft or less from
a window

Common Purslane love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

Common Purslane does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Common Purslane in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Common Purslane

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Common Purslane: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Common Purslane after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

💡 FAQs
⭐ Difficulty Level

Common Purslane is generally easy to care for, though some plant parents report facing challenges with growing it. Check out the reviews down below to read more about their experiences!

Common Common Purslane Problems →


💦 Water Needs

Common Purslane thrives in dry soil and should be watered sparingly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Common Purslane Root Rot →


☀️ Sunlight Needs

Common Purslane requires abundant, bright and direct light. Place it less than one foot from a window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.


🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Common Purslane is not known to cause harm to humans or pets. Regardless, if you, a family member, a cat, or dog has ingested any plant material, please consult a doctor or a veterinarian.

Is Common Purslane Edible? →

Common Purslane Toxicity to Cats →

Common Purslane Toxicity to Dogs →

Common Purslane Toxicity to Humans →


💨 Humidity

Common Purslane prefers dry environments. Providing extra humidity or misting your plant allows water to linger on leaves, which can create the perfect environment for harmful types of fungi.


🪴 Soil

Common Purslane is very sensitive to wet soil, so choose a potting soil that drains very well and doesn’t retain too much moisture. A good soil will have lots of perlite or vermiculite for drainage and some organic matter for nutrition. A few handfuls of perlite added to regular store-bought cactus soil will do the trick!

What Are Healthy Common Purslane Roots →


💩 Fertilizer

Common Purslane grows very slowly and doesn’t require added fertilizer. Replacing your plant’s potting soil once a year should provide them with more than enough nutrition. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!


🌎 Native Region

Common Purslane is native to Tropics and warm temperate regions worldwide.


🌸 Flowers

Common Purslane produces flowers in the wild, but does not flower when kept as houseplants.

Is Common Purslane an Annual Plant? →

Is Common Purslane a Perennial Plant? →

Common Common Purslane Flower Problems →


⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

Common Purslane grows vertically and new growth will emerge from the top of the plant.

Common Purslane Lifecycle →

Common Purslane Size Guide →


🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Common Purslane can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 2a-11b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

Common Purslane Hardiness Zones →

Is Common Purslane a Weed? →


🌱 Propagation

The seeds of Common Purslane can be used to grow new plants! After your plant flowers, any seeds that formed can be collected and germinated in potting soil.


🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.


😖 Common Issues

Overwatering is a likely cause of issues with Common Purslane. These plants are very sensitive to wet soil so if you notice your plant becoming squishy or translucent, overwatering is the likely culprit.

Cut your plant just past where the rot ends and allow it to callus over for a few days before replanting it in fresh, dry soil. Download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!


Care Summary for Common Purslane

Common Purslane

Common Purslane


Greg recommends:

Water

0.5 cups every 12 days

Placement

< 1ft from a window

Nutrients

Repot after 2x growth

Based on the 4” pot your plant is in, and that it doesn’t get direct sunlight.

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