[Goosegirl]

I recently bought some small plants from a local supplier as I have never tried them before. They are a lovely deep rose colour and have thin, slightly succulent leaves. I have Gogged for info on them, but wondered if anyone on here has tried them?

[New shoot]

We sell these as bedding plants at work    They make a stunning hanging basket, but are not that well known really.  Customers who know about them tend to ask for them but they are really easy care, pretty plants 

How are you intending to grow them?  They sprawl a bit so are best in a container they can hang down over the edges of 

[Goosegirl]

I have planted them in a large window trough spaced 6" apart as the label said. I see that the spacing can differ, maybe these are particularly dwarf, but they are the only plants in there this year. I live by the sea so am planning to grow from seed for next year's hanging baskets and troughs. Can they cope with the salt winds? Looking at their leaves, I thought they will either dry out very quickly or be resistant. I have seen various colours and they look so cheerful.

[New shoot]

They are pretty tough as they are succulents really. Not sure about the salt spray as I live inland, but they are drought resistant - more so than many bedding plants.

Spacing of 6" is the standard one they stick on bedding.  You can cram them in so long as you feed and water a container well.  A window box of them sounds lovely  

[Trillium]

I grow portulacas almost every year and love them. They're very hardy drought tolerant plants that flower their heads off once they get rooted. They don't mind a bit of water but not too much so you'll want to watch what you mix them with in a basket or tub.

[Goosegirl]

Thanks all. I am quite taken with them so will get some seed for next year. I have done hanging baskets in previous years and, despite using compost with added soil, a big saucer in the bottom, a coir liner with a plastic liner inside AND water-retaining gel, they still dry out despite watering them every day when it is sunnny. I find the water runs out of the sides where some of the plants are. If they "trail" a bit, they should look lovely on the sides and towards the bottom. What would you recommend as equally drought-tolerant to go with them at the top of the basket?

[New shoot]

I'd put them in the top as well.  We had them in at work as a mono-planted hanging basket of mixed colours and they were fabulous  A complete ball of vibrant colours as the top ones do stand up a bit and the 'on the edge' ones softly trail over and down the basket.

If you would really like an upright plant, geraniums would be the most drought tolerant 

[Goosegirl]

Newshoot - my mouth is watering!  As I have not been successful with geraniums in my baskets, I will do as you said. Wait for the next year's pix!

[New shoot]

Wait for the next year's pix!

You're on    Mind you a pic of your window box when it has got going would be nice.  Think a few people will be buying seeds once they see what pretty plants they are  

[Agatha]

These are new to me - can we see a photo please?

[Goosegirl]

Am going to try pixresizer but don't hold your breath - I seem to be a bit lost in uploading pix for on here.

[Goosegirl]

Have uploaded a pic successfully - now waiting for the weather to turn sunny so you can see them in all their glory now they have settled and produced lots of flower buds! 

[Goosegirl]

Aha - managed to upload successfully again, and here are my portulaca. They settled in nicely but took a while for new buds to form, then it rained on them! The flowers do go like tissue paper when that happens and snails seem to like chopping bits of stem off, but I do like them!

[New shoot]

Lovely 

They do come in some beautiful rich colours 

[Yorkie]

That is gorgeous.  Must go and re-read all of this thread now I know what they look like