Moss rose / Table rose is a drought tolerant annual plant. Cold sensitive. It is cultivated throughout the world for it’s colorful flowers and foliage. The blooms are orange, pink, purple, yellow, red, white, and multiple colors. Plants grow as succulent foliage. Portulaca has narrow leaves and Purslane has broad leaves.
Portulaca / Purslane never expects big container for its growth. It will grow excellently even in Coconut shell also. Encourage your kids to grow moss rose in waste plastic bottles, tires, teared jeans, shoes, thick plastic covers, water canes, thermocol boxes, shampoo bottles, bamboo poles, water cups, or any other waste materials according to your innovation.
Well drained, fertile pot mix is suitable for it’s growth. Red soil, vermicompost, cocopeat can be used as pot mix. In case of black (clay) soil add equal proportion of sand and vermicompost.
Propagating moss rose through cuttings is the best way of growing instead through seeds. Cuttings would be separated from the mother plants by giving slanting cut. 5 – 10 cm size cuttings will be good for its propagation. Separated cuttings would be placed in water for 10-15 minutes before planted in pot mix. Better to plant the cuttings during morning hours or evening hours to improves the germination percentage.
No need to worry during the propagation of Portulaca in terms of Shortage of pot mix or containers. Just plant the entire bunch of cuttings in a single pot and then transfer it in to other pot after preliminary arrangements. Even, If you not have a single pot, just put the cuttings in to water from 2 to 3 days also. Later you can transfer it in to pot as rooted cuttings.
New sprouts will start growing from the nodes within a week. Sprinkle the water once in a day during winter season and twice a day during summer season.
Table rose is a less maintenance plants as well beautify your garden through gorgeous flowers. Expect the flowers after a month from planting. Being a annuals, it will bloom for a particular period and stops blooming. Don’t worry. Cut down the bloomed tip portion of 2 cm from the top by the scissor after stop blooming.
Moss rose flowering will be peak in summer season and less flowering during winter season. No need to worry. Just leave the plant as such and apply regular watering. It will regenerate and grow fast more over bloom happily.
Handful of vermicompost in the interval of two weeks is enough to meet out the nutrient requirements of the plants. No need to destroy the plant after flowering. It will regrow from the same container for a decade. So leave as such even it dry after flowering.
Lack of drainage cause root rot and wilting disease. Ensure drainage to avoid this issue.
Aphids and mealy bugs are the common pest in moss rose. Refer the following link to get remedy from these pest.
Management of healthy plants from pests and diseases
Sometimes vegetative growth will be good but flowering doesn’t. In this case, Cut down the tip portion of 2 cm from the top by the scissor. After a week, new branches will arise from the nodes and it will produce flowers.
Happy Greening
P. Dheivanai, M.Sc. (Ag.), 9382132593
SAAI Academy 