The purslane, which is not very tasty but is a beautiful ornamental plant, is not considered hardy in our latitudes. Can you overwinter it?
How can you overwinter a purslane?
In order to overwinter a purslane successfully, you should place potted plants in bright locations with temperatures of 15-18 °C from mid-October, water little, do not fertilize and check for pest infestation. In spring, slowly accustom the plant to direct sunlight.
Outdoor plants usually do not survive despite protection
You can try using brushwood, leaves, compost or fleece. But as a rule, the purslane does not survive the winter outdoors. If frost gets to its roots, the plant dies.
Overwinter potted plants indoors
If you have planted your purslane in a pot or bucket, for example on the balcony or terrace, you have the best chance of overwintering the plant safely. But how does it work properly?
How to proceed:
- put the planter in from mid/end of October
- choose a bright wintering location
- temperatures there: 15 to 18 °C (if possible not warmer)
- water little during wintering, do not fertilize and spray with water if necessary
- check regularly for pest infestation
- From the end of March, slowly get used to direct sunlight again (e.g. put it out during the day)
Self-sowing – not uncommon
The purslane stays in its place outside throughout the winter. It is snowing and frost is moving across the country. Nevertheless, new plants sprout in spring. Will the plant survive frost? No, it's the seeds that survived. They like to sow themselves.
If necessary, sow again in spring
If the purslane is frozen, there is no reason to be sad. This plant can be re-sown in no time in the spring. Alternatively, you can buy new plants in spring and plant them out from May. The costs for this are usually manageable.
Tip
If only a few shoots of the plant have survived in the spring, these can be cut off and grown as cuttings.
