Plant Care Chisme

Chisme

Reviewed by: Kiersten Rankel | Last Updated: 11/19/2024

Also known as

Hairy pigweed, Pink purslane and Kiss-me-quick

Taxonomy

Portulaca pilosa
Portulaca
Portulacaceae
Caryophyllales

How to care for Chisme

💦 Water

How often to water your Chisme

Water needs for Chisme
0.5 cups
every 12

Chisme 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 Chisme

Water 0.5 cups every
12

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

Select the pot size

5"
☀️ Light

Finding light for Chisme in your home

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

Chisme love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

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

Chisme does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

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

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Chisme

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Chisme: 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 Chisme after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

💡 FAQs
💦 Water Needs

Chisme 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.

Chisme Water Frequency →

Chisme Root Rot →


☀️ Sunlight Needs

Chisme 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 🏡.

Chisme Light Requirements →

Chisme Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →


🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Chisme 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.

Chisme Toxicity to Cats →

Chisme Toxicity to Dogs →

Chisme Toxicity to Humans →


💨 Humidity

Chisme 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.

Chisme Humidity Needs →


🪴 Soil

Chisme 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!

Best Soil Mix for Chisme →

When and How to Successfully Repot Chisme →


💩 Fertilizer

Chisme 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!

How Much and When to Fertilize Chisme →


🌎 Native Region

Chisme is native to Tropics and warm temperate regions worldwide.


⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

Chisme grows along the ground and sends out shoots which will spread across the soil.

How and When to Prune Chisme →


🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Chisme can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 8a-11b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

Chisme Temperature Tolerance →


🧐 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 Chisme. 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 Chisme

Chisme

Chisme


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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