Simple layering

Hi,

I purchased a Double Portulaca "Fairytale Cinderella" last Friday. I was going to put it in a container until I looked up the plant information here and saw a picture of it in a hanging basket. I believe it is gorgeous and want to have mine be full and overflowing like the one in htop's pictures. She has a gorgeous hanging basket and this plant does great under drought conditions. I am trying to plant wisely this summer and use things that will withstand heat...and lots of it. Htop mentions that the plant does great with simple layering. I did a google search and read a bit on another site that tried to define it, but they had two pots close together and then eventually broke one pot away from the main.

Do I just need to take one of the ends and weave it into the soil a bit and then back out to the air? Will that cause the part that is under the soil to grow roots? Will these plants just grow roots naturally, if I just take a trimming and put it into the soil?

What I do not want is for me to plant these two small plants and it to just hang over the sides and get long. I would like for it to look bushy too.

Thanks for any help and suggestions.

Merae



http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/67558/index.html

Purslane propagates easily from cuttings. Just take 2-3" cuttings and stick them in some dirt, keep wet and warm until they root-usually within 2 weeks and then stick them in the pot. They will have small rootballs so it will be easy. At the same time, the plant that you took the cuttings from will start to branch out. Dpn't be nervous about taking quite a bit of the plant in cuttings. The lower you cut, the bushier it will be. The more you cut the plant back, the fuller it will be as well.
You could do the layering, by laying down a branch on the dirt and covering it with dirt-it will root, but it needs wet soil to do it, and purslane likes drier soil. Thats why I suggested doing cuttings and then plantin them back into the hanging basket.

Hi tigerlily......which is by the way my favorite cut flower. :-)
Great instructions. I am glad to know it will be easy. I think I will do just as you said and take cuttings, grow them in some moist soil and then plant them in the hanging basket's soil. I appreciate your advice, thanks for your response.