Moss Rose Care
Portulaca grandiflora
A spreading annual with succulent leaves that is extremely tolerant of heat and drought. It is known for its silky, brightly colored flowers that open on sunny days. It likes poor, sandy, very well-drained soil; it is ideal for rock gardens and hot, dry areas.
Monthly care calendar
Timings are for a temperate Northern Hemisphere climate. In warmer areas tasks start earlier, in colder areas later; in the Southern Hemisphere shift them by six months.
- Watering: Stop watering. In winter, wet soil is the most common cause of root rot.
- General care: Choose seeds for the new season.
- Frost risk: If frost is expected, cover with frost fabric; if in a pot, move to a sheltered place. Damaged below approximately 2 °C.
- Watering: Stop watering. In winter, wet soil is the most common cause of root rot.
- General care: For an early start, you can begin sowing seeds indoors toward the end of the month.
- Frost risk: If frost is expected, cover with frost fabric; if in a pot, move to a sheltered place. Damaged below approximately 2 °C.
- Watering: Stop watering. In winter, wet soil is the most common cause of root rot.
- General care: Once the risk of last frost has passed and the soil has warmed, seeds can be sown outdoors.
- Pests & diseases: Be careful about damping-off disease in seedlings. Do not overwater.
- Frost risk: If frost is expected, cover with frost fabric; if in a pot, move to a sheltered place. Damaged below approximately 2 °C.
- Watering: Once a month, water when the soil is completely dry.
- Fertilizing: Usually not needed. If the soil is very fertile, fertilizing reduces flowering.
- General care: Once the risk of last frost has passed, plant seedlings in the garden or in pots.
- Pests & diseases: Control aphids (Aphidoidea) on young leaves.
- Frost risk: At the start of the month there may still be a slight risk of frost.
- Watering: Once a month, water when the soil is completely dry.
- Fertilizing: Not needed. Optionally, a very dilute flowering plant fertilizer can be given once a month.
- Pruning: Regularly remove spent flowers at the base; this encourages new flowering.
- General care: Drainage is vital for this plant. In heavy, water-retaining soil, plant on a mound or bed raised 20-30 cm, and keep the root collar above the surrounding soil level.
- Pests & diseases: Against the risk of root rot, make sure the pots drain well.
- Watering: After the soil has dried out completely, water a little at a time every 15-20 days.
- Pruning: Regularly remove spent flowers at the base; this encourages new flowering.
- General care: Main flowering period. The flowers close on cloudy days and at night.
- Pests & diseases: Observation is enough; it is generally trouble-free.
- Watering: After the soil has dried out completely, water a little at a time every 15-20 days.
- Pruning: Regularly remove spent flowers at the base; this encourages new flowering.
- General care: It flowers abundantly even in the hottest and driest conditions.
- Watering: After the soil has dried out completely, water a little at a time every 15-20 days.
- Pruning: Regularly remove spent flowers at the base; this encourages new flowering.
- General care: It continues to flower.
- Watering: Once a month, water when the soil is completely dry.
- Pruning: Regularly remove spent flowers at the base; this encourages new flowering.
- General care: Flowering continues at a slower pace. Allow the seeds to drop so it comes up on its own next year.
- Watering: Once a month, water when the soil is completely dry.
- General care: Flowering declines greatly. The plant sets seed and begins to age.
- Pests & diseases: Botrytis (gray mold) can occur in cool, humid weather.
- Frost risk: At the end of the month, a light frost risk may begin.
- Watering: Stop watering. In winter, wet soil is the most common cause of root rot.
- General care: In winter rains, make sure water does not pool in the root zone; for this plant, drainage is more critical than irrigation.
- Frost risk: If frost is expected, cover with frost fabric; if in a pot, move to a sheltered place. Damaged below approximately 2 °C.
- Watering: Stop watering. In winter, wet soil is the most common cause of root rot.
- General care: Evergreen leaves continue to lose water in winter. Water thoroughly once before the soil freezes.
- Frost risk: If frost is expected, cover with frost fabric; if in a pot, move to a sheltered place. Damaged below approximately 2 °C.
The care advice on this page is general and for information only; it is not professional advice. Plant age, soil and your garden’s microclimate can change the outcome. Plant protection products are mentioned only as general information; they are regulated, and the choice, dose and timing must be decided by a qualified professional under local rules. Consult a landscape architect or agronomist before applying.
Want reminders for every plant in your garden? Our garden-care app with monthly task lists and frost alerts is currently available in Turkish; the English version is on the way.
Browse all plant guides