How to save seed of Portulaca moss rose

Have grown moss rose for 30 years but never saved seed. It just comes up volunteer or I buy more plants. Want to save seed this year, if possible, so I can have more choice as to what color. At what stage do you collect the seed pod? Seems like they never get totally dry.

Thanks,
DNP

One of my favorite plants in the summer is Purslane, cousin to Moss rose. This year two re-seeded...shocked me since it has neer happened in my yard. No buds or blooms yet though.

I also usually buy more plants but did buy seeds from Park Seed this year. I am beginning those next week after I move.

I'd like to hear from folks with more experience about this, too. Funny that you should ask today, because just today I "harvested" some seed off of my portulaca by just breaking open the seed heads (the small round bulb-looking area right below where the bloom was. I was rewarded with many many tiny seeds. I have put them in a bowl inside to dry completely.

Anyone who has done this before, please speak up and let us know if I did it wrong or if I should do something in addition to what I've done. Inquiring minds want to know!

Tonya

The problem I have with saving seed from moss rose is I watch for the bloom to dry but then it just seems to disappear. I'm not sure at which stage I should be trying to collect the seed.

I have one that came up volunteer that is a beautiful coral color and I would love to have more.

DNP

I have collected the seeds on some after the flower dried and fell off. They are located in the little round knobby thing that is left after the bloom falls off. I have not tried panting any of mine yet so I am not sure of the viability of the seeds, but they fall right out of that little capsule so they look ripe. Have you seen those little capsules that I am describing? Sorry, I don't know that actual names of all parts of the plant.

Tonya

Your description makes perfect sense to me. I think I need to check mine more frequently because it seems that "little knobby thing" disintegrates or disappears very quickly and that's why I'm not finding seed.

I bet that is it. If you see a cup there instead of the knobby thing, it has already dispersed it's seeds.

Go to this website... Lots of information and every kind of seed ID you could ever want..

http://theseedsite.co.uk/db18.html

I had forgotten about that site, thanks. It's on my faves now!