Winter is a great time to enjoy the outdoors and get some fresh air. But it can also be a frustrating time for gardeners because winter brings cold weather, snow, icy conditions, and dry soil. This guide will teach you how to take care of portulaca in the winter so that they will grow healthy and strong when spring arrives!

How Do You Take Care of a Portulaca in the Winter?

The best way to take care of a portulaca in winter is by protecting it from cold temperatures, providing enough sunlight, and adjusting how much water you give to the plant.

This means keeping your portulaca inside, where it will be warmer. However, keep it away from places in your home that have cold drafts, the windows.

Additionally, don’t repot your portulaca in the winter months because they dislike being disturbed at this time of year (they are usually more stressed in the winter).

I’ll go through the most important things to remember about caring for a portulaca during the winter. Nothing can go wrong with your plant if you follow these procedures…

Watering Portulaca in Winter

When it comes to watering portulaca plants in winter, always water them deeply and allow the soil to dry out before watering again.

If you live in a place where winter is mild (around freezing) then continue giving your plant average amounts of water throughout winter. But if you can’t keep an eye on it constantly, reduce how much you give your plant by about half.

Many plant owners make the mistake of giving the same amount of water to their portulaca all year round. But this often results in the soil becoming waterlogged and the roots rotting.

Portulaca Light Requirements in Winter

Just like in the summer, make sure your portulaca gets plenty of indirect sunlight. If you’re keeping your plant indoors, place it near a south-facing window. The problem is that there are fewer hours of sunlight during the winter.

As such, you may need to supplement natural sunlight with artificial light. It can be a good idea to get a grow light (Amazon link to my favorite) and place it near your plant.

Portulaca Humidity Requirements in Winter

While portulaca plants are tolerant of low humidity levels, it’s best to keep the air around your plant humid during winter. You can do this by using a room humidifier or placing pebbles in the water and leaving them near your potted plant (be careful not to get any moisture on the leaves).

Where To Keep Portulaca Inside During Winter?

The best place to keep your plant inside during winter is near a window where it can get plenty of natural light. However, make sure the plant is not exposed to any cold drafts from windows or doors.

I like to keep my portulaca plants on my kitchen windowsill. This way, I can keep an eye on them and check their soil moisture. And if the plant is in a sunny place, you can put it outside during fine days where there’s no risk of frost or snowfall.

If you don’t have a sunny spot in your home where you can keep your portulaca, then consider using a grow light to supplement artificial sunlight.

Portulaca Winter Care FAQ

Caring for portulacas in winter is a complicated subject. As such, I shall now answer some of the most frequently asked questions.

Can portulaca survive winter?

Yes, portulaca can survive winter. However, they will need to be taken inside and given the appropriate care. Portulaca plants kept outside are unlikely to survive a frost or snowfall. In fact, they will suffer if the temperature drops below 40 degrees F.

Should I fertilize my portulaca in the winter?

No, you should not fertilize your portulaca in the winter. Fertilizing them at this time can actually do more harm than good. This is because the plant is not actively growing and doesn’t need as much fertilizer.

What temperature is too cold for portulaca?

Any temperature below 40 degrees Fahrenheit (15 Celsius) is too cold for portulaca. As such, bring the portulaca inside when the temperature falls below this threshold. I like to be proactive by bringing my portulaca inside during late autumn when the temperature starts to drop.

Should I move my portulaca away from the heater in winter?

Yes, you should move your portulaca away from the heater in winter. Heaters can actually be very harmful to plants and will cook them if they are too close! I recommend placing the pot in a room that is heated, but not anywhere too close to the heater.

Conclusion

In conclusion, there are a few things you need to do in order to care for your portulaca plant during winter. These include:

• Watering them deeply and allowing the soil to dry out before watering again
• Reducing the amount of water you give your plant by about half if you live in a place where winter is cold
• Making sure there is plenty of indirect sunlight in your home
• Keeping the air around your plant humid with a room or house humidifier
• Moving away from heaters to minimize any risk of burning.

If you follow these steps, then caring for portulaca plants during winter should be easy.

Thank you for reading! If you enjoyed this article, please feel free to leave a comment below and let me know what other types of plants or indoor plant care guides you would like to see on the site. Happy planting!