Portulacaria (Portulacaria) belongs to the purslane family and is common in the arid regions of South America. This succulent plant can be found both as a tree and as a shrub. As an ornamental plant, the species African Portulacaria is popular.
Caring for purslane at home
Location and lighting
Portulacaria needs a lot of light, and even tolerates exposure to direct sunlight, if you gradually accustom the plant to them.
Temperature
During the period of active growth of portulacaria, the temperature should be maintained within 22-27 degrees. Before the onset of cold weather, the temperature regime gradually decreases to 12-15 degrees. The plant loves fresh air, so constant ventilation of the room is required.
Air humidity
Portulacaria tolerates the dry air of city apartments well enough and does not need spraying.
Watering
Portulacaria is a succulent plant and therefore needs moderate watering in the summer when the ground dries out completely. In winter, the plant is rarely watered, especially if the room temperature is low.
Top dressing and fertilizers
From spring to autumn, purslane needs complex mineral dressings. Fertilize the plant 2 times a month. In winter, you do not need to feed the purslane.
Transfer
It is necessary to transplant the plant when the roots completely occupy the space of the pot. For transplanting purslane, purchased soil for cacti is used. The transplant pot should be wide.
Reproduction of portulacaria
The succulent plant, portulacaria, propagates using cuttings. Cut off a stalk with 2-3 leaves. The cut is made directly near the sheet, after which the last sheet is torn off. During the day, the cutting is dried, after which it is planted in a small pot, placed at a depth of about 3 cm. Then the pots are moved to a place where there is a lot of light, but there is no direct sunlight.
Diseases and pests
If you properly care for purslane, then there is nothing to be afraid of. In the case of improper care, powdery mildew can appear on the tree, and pests can include scale insects, mealybugs or aphids, not to mention spider mites.
Types of portulacaria with a photo
African portulacaria (Portulacaria afra)
An evergreen shrub or small tree that is ideal for the formation of various forms bonsai... Its smooth, fleshy leaves, light green in color, contain a large amount of water. Moreover, they have a round and oval shape. When the tree is young, it has a smooth trunk, which over time becomes covered with bark, a dark brown hue. The trunk becomes not smooth, but rough. It blooms rarely and only with proper care, with small yellow flowers.
