Hello! From my perspective as a Portulaca, I am a sun-worshipping, drought-loving plant. My succulent leaves store water, and my vibrant flowers thrive on heat and bright light. The most crucial thing for my happiness is excellent drainage. I despise having my roots sit in wet, soggy soil; it quickly leads to my demise through rot. When you consider moving me to a new home, remember that my needs are simple: plenty of sun, warmth, and a gritty, fast-draining environment. The best time to do this is during my active growing season, in the warm spring or summer months, when I am strongest and can recover quickly.
Your first step is to choose my new pot. It must have drainage holes—this is non-negotiable. A pot that is only 1-2 inches larger in diameter than my current one is ideal. Too large a pot means too much soil, which holds excess moisture around my roots, creating a dangerous, swampy condition. As for my soil, a standard potting mix is too moisture-retentive for my taste. Please create a perfect blend for me by mixing two parts standard potting soil with one part perlite or coarse sand. This will create the loose, airy, and sharply draining environment my roots desperately crave to be healthy and support my beautiful blooms.
On the day of the move, please water me lightly a few hours beforehand. This helps the soil around my roots hold together, reducing shock. Gently tip my current container sideways and carefully coax me out. You must be tender; my stems can be brittle. Once I am free, observe my root ball. If my roots are densely wound in a circular pattern (root-bound), you can gently tease the outer roots apart with your fingers to encourage them to grow outward into their new home. Place a layer of your pre-mixed soil in the bottom of the new pot so that when I am placed inside, the top of my root ball sits about an inch below the pot's rim.
Center me in the new pot and begin filling in the spaces around my root ball with your fresh soil mix. Gently firm the soil around me to provide support and eliminate large air pockets, but do not pack it down tightly. I need that soil to stay loose and breathable. Once I am securely potted, it is time for my first watering in my new home. Water me thoroughly until you see water escaping freely from the drainage holes. This serves to settle the soil around my roots and ensures good root-to-soil contact. After this, allow the top inch of soil to dry out completely before watering me again.
For the first week after my move, place me in a location with bright, indirect light. This gives me a chance to recover from the stress of transplantation without the added pressure of intense, direct sun. After this recovery period, you can gradually move me back to my favorite full-sun location. Please resist the urge to fertilize me immediately. My roots are tender and sensitive, and fertilizer could burn them. Wait at least 3-4 weeks, until you see signs of new growth, before giving me a half-strength dose of a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer.
