How to Grow a Portulaca Plant

Prepare a location to grow portulaca plants. They like full sun and evenly moist, well-drained soil that does not remain wet. The plants stay small, under 12 inches high and about 10 inches wide which makes them a great choice for a containers or borders in flowerbeds.

Purchase healthy nursery grown plants that are just starting to flower. Nursery grown stock provides you with flowers immediately, unlike seeds that can take weeks to grow and are not always guaranteed to sprout. Selecting plants with some flowers open already allows you to see what color they are before you buy.

Dig a hole slightly wider and about as deep as the nursery container the plants came in. Often portulaca plants are sold in packs of six individual cells. Dig separate holes for each cell spacing them about 5 inches apart.

Gently remove the portulaca plants from their containers and loosen any tangled roots around the edges.

Place one cell in each hole and adjust it so that it will be buried at the same depth it was in the nursery pot.

Fill in the soil around the base of the plants and gently firm it up so the plants stay in place.

Water the plants and let it soak into the ground. Fill any depressions caused by settling soil and water.

Monitor the plants carefully for the next couple of weeks to ensure they remain moist but not wet while establishing themselves. Portulaca can withstand some drought, but prefer a regular water supply. They will die off at the first frost.