How to plant and care for eleven o’clock

To the eleven o’clock (portulaca grandiflora) are popular plants that bloom annually in spring. If you see them on sale in the summer, you might notice that they are usually just as beautiful as they are in the spring, which is a testament to their toughness. The medium green, cylindrical, succulent leaves are another indication of their strength – that is, they have a high tolerance for drought conditions.

Native to South America, these plants grow between 8 and 23 cm tall and spread out to create a dense mat, making them a good choice for groundcover. The flowers come in many bright colors and often have ruffled petals, much like miniature roses.

The flowers grow in clusters on reddish stems and typically do not open on cloudy days or at night. Eleven-hours is easy and quick to grow and is best planted in spring, past the danger of suffering from too much cold. Gardeners must carefully consider where they plant them, as all parts of them are toxic to dogs and cats.

• Scientific name: portulaca grandiflora
• Family: Portulacaceae
• Plant type: annual flowering succulent
• mature size: 8 to 23 cm high, 15 to 30 cm wide
• Sun exposure: full sun
• Soil type: Sandy, well drained
• Soil pH: neutral to acid
• Flowering time: Beginning of summer
• Flowers color: White, orange, yellow, red, pink
• Native area: South America
• Toxicity: Toxic for dogs and cats

eleven-hour care

Eleven-hours are a popular choice for growing in pots, along the edges of flowerbeds, driveways and in rock gardens. Also, their drape works well in hanging baskets. What’s more, it doesn’t normally spread outside its boundaries as a ground cover, so it’s ideal for small gardens.

These plants thrive in poor, dry soil where many other plants may struggle – in fact, soil that is too wet can kill them. The eleven o’clock generally blooms from summer until the first frost of autumn. Annuals, the plants die at the end of the growing season, but produce seeds that can germinate and sprout the following year.

Eleven-hours are not affected by any notable pest or disease problems, although aphids can occasionally trouble them, especially in the spring. With aphids, you may notice a sticky substance on the leaves, as well as yellowing and wilting of the foliage. Spray affected plants with insecticidal soap to treat the problem.

Light

Eleven-hour plants need six to eight hours of full sunlight most days. If you try to grow them in a shady area, they won’t produce flowers, and if they do, they probably won’t open.

Ground

These plants thrive in sandy and rocky soil and require good drainage. If your garden bed has clayey soil, grow them in containers instead of trying to improve soil drainage. Land that retains too much water can easily cause the plant to die.

Water

Eleven-hours have low moisture needs, although they are not as drought tolerant as cacti. Plants will tolerate periods of dryness, but flowering is generally best with some soil moisture (well draining). Plan to water the plant if you have a long dry spell – as a general rule of thumb, a good watering a week during hot summer weather should suffice.

Temperature and Humidity

Native to Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina, the eleven o’clock likes high heat and low humidity. It will tolerate cool, wet spring weather as long as it is free of frost. However, the best growth (and flowering) will not occur until the summer heat arrives. They are not frost hardy and will die in the winter if they freeze.

Fertilizer

Eleven-hours can tolerate soils poor in organic matter, so they usually don’t need fertilizers. However, feeding the plant a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at planting time can help promote healthy growth and abundant flowering. You can also fertilize twice during the plant’s growing season, this time using a phosphorus-rich mix for more blooms.

pruning

At most, eleven-hours need light pruning, and only if you live in a region where they survive year-round. The best time to do this is in early spring, before new growth begins. Remove any shoots that look dead or diseased – you can also thin out a dense plant to improve air circulation, which can reduce the risk of fungal diseases. Cutting dead flowers is not necessary.

Propagation

Like most succulent plants, eleven o’clock can be easily propagated via cuttings. In fact, cuttings root readily and most gardeners find great success with this method of propagation. See how:

1. Using clean, sharp shears, take a cutting from a mature, established “mother” plant that has flowered for at least one season. The cut must be at least 10 cm long and include at least one knot.
2. Remove all leaves and flowers from the cutting.
3. Place it in a small bowl of water while you prepare the rest of your materials.
4. In a small container, make a moist but well-draining mixture of sand, soil, and peat moss.
5. Bury the stem with the cut side down at least 8 cm deep in the soil.
6. Cover the container with a plastic bag or some other means of retaining moisture.
7. Move the cutting to a location that receives filtered light and maintains a temperature between 18°C ​​and 24°C. Water occasionally, just to make the soil moist. The cuttings should root within about two weeks, at which point they can be cared for as a typical eleven-hour care.

Cultivation from seeds

If you are growing from seed, you can start indoors six to eight weeks before the end of winter. Add the seeds to moist soil and cover them lightly – they need light to germinate.

Maintain a light soil moisture until the seedlings emerge (germination should take about two weeks), so water the plants only when the topsoil is dry. Keep the seedlings near a bright window if you are growing them indoors.

how to bloom

If you’re struggling to get your eleven o’clock to flower (or they’re not producing enough flowers for your liking), the problem almost always lies with the soil’s moisture level. They really don’t like wet or soggy soil, and being planted in a medium that retains too much moisture will cause them to stop flowering.

Try to lower your watering cadence – you can also replant your moss roses in a container, which naturally drains faster than the soil. In addition, clay or terracotta pots can help to remove excess moisture from the soil.

Another hugely important factor when it comes to having your eleven is making sure it gets the proper amount of sunlight. They like lots of light and warm conditions, and even an hour or two of shade can make the difference between abundant blooms and almost no buds. Make sure they get at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight daily. If growing in a garden with other plants, you may even need to trim nearby specimens so they don’t block the light.

*Via The Spruce