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Portulaca

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Portulaca decipiens

Genus

Portulaca

Family

Portulacaceae

Order

Caryophyllales

How to care for Portulaca

💦 Water

How often to water your Portulaca

Portulaca 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.

Water 0.5 cups every
12

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

No Yes

Select the pot size

☀️ Light

Finding light for Portulaca in your home

Portulaca love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

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

Portulaca does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

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

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Portulaca

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

Browse #Portulaca

💡 FAQs

💦 Water Needs

Portulaca 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.

Portulaca Water Frequency →

Portulaca Root Rot →

☀️ Sunlight Needs

Portulaca 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 🏡.

Portulaca Light Requirements →

Portulaca Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →

🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Portulaca 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.

💨 Humidity

Portulaca 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.

Portulaca Humidity Needs →

🪴 Soil

Portulaca 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 Portulaca →

Best Pots for Portulaca →

When and How to Successfully Repot Portulaca →

What Are Healthy Portulaca Roots →

💩 Fertilizer

Portulaca 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 Portulaca →

🌎 Native Region

Portulaca is native to Tropics and warm temperate regions worldwide.

🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Portulaca can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 10a-11b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

Portulaca Temperature Tolerance →

Portulaca Hardiness Zones →

Landscaping Ideas with Portulaca →

When to Plant Portulaca →

How to Plant Portulaca →

Where to Plant Portulaca →

Winter Care for Portulaca →

Best Companion Plants for Portulaca →

Is Portulaca a Weed? →

🧐 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 Bugs Affecting Portulaca →

What Eats Portulaca? →

😖 Common Issues

Overwatering is a likely cause of issues with Portulaca. 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!