Yes to full sun for either. I wouldn't bother with the Petunia, but the Portulaca should be able to recover. It would look so much better if you trim each tip back to where there is greenery, which should also spark an explosion of new growth. Cuttings also take root so easily, I'd add some to the ground landscape wherever there's a spot. Hopefully you'll get some new plants next year from seeds dropped this year.

Wonder why the price was high? A 6-pack should be about $1-2.

It was the Porulaca that was more expensive. It was a hanging planter.

Thanks for the advice!

she said the potted ones she bought were expensive.. the ones she potted herself much less ...

they are stressed... not hungry ... fert is never an answer for stress ...

i would cut the petunia back to the pot edge ..

i would put both in full bright shade for a week ... just to get over the stress.. and bud out ...

then i would move them back into sun... or throw them out ... lol.. live and learn ... but dont put up with ugly ... lol ..

you are on a learning curve... so keep learning ... see if you can get them back in shape ...

consider that the cement pad might be getting real hot.. but also.. retaining heat late into the night ... reducing the usual night time recovery period ...

back in the day.. i could not grow pots on my cement brick patio for such ...

why these two plants in these two pots.. is another mystery.. as i see other very happy pots ...

if these were the two already potted ones ... first.. they were FORCED for early bloom.. and sale in full flower... so they look tired early .... second.. sometimes greenhouses use media in the pots.. that favor greenhouses ... and dont work as well out in the yard ... just a couple theories .... alwasy thinking.. always learning ...

ken

Containerized annuals are heavy feeders, requiring a steady nutrient supply in order to keep in production. Even those planted in the ground will become depleted. If you haven't been fertilizing these plants, that's a real problem. Sometimes, lack of fertiizer IS the cause for stress.

When a plant become depleted of essential elements, it will begin to physiologically collapse....unable to feed cells, to fight off insects and disease, to grow.

Both portulaca and petunias are perfect examples of plants that we fully expect to flower nonstop until frost. They will require dilute but frequent applications of the fertilizer of your choice.

Both of those plants are also full sun plants. The lack of several hours of sun will have contributed to their poor condition.

What I would do is cut these plants back severely, begin a fertilization habit, find a full sun location, figure out how often I need to water, and step back to watch them grow. That petunia looks pretty awful and I'd probably pitch it, but I've seen them come back from that condition.

Good luck!

Ok -- tomorrow is garbage day and the petunias are out. Going to try to save the Portulac.

Did your Portulaca come around?

Sort of! It is blooming again but I would not call it a beautiful plant. Since it is coming to the end of summer here in MI -- I don't expect miracles. I don't think I'll buy this plant again -- not hot and sunny enough where I live....

Thanks for the update! I think it looks nice, but if you're not enjoying it, definitely try something else next year.

I think it looks good, too. Also, it is VERY easy to collect seeds and regrow next year, if you do not mind having other colors. Just watch the seed heads turn dry. Test them periodically by seeing if you can tap/carefully pull it off the plant. If it is ready, it will fall off (hopefully into your hand) easily. The top part of the pod comes off to reveal many black tiny seeds. :)

I have found that potted plants one buys are in mix that dries out faster than the mix I use when I pot up starter plants. Those containers need water almost every day. Having been neglected (I read that as not watered or fertilized) while you were on vacation was most likely the start of their decline. To keep good bloom they need a diluted fertilizer every time you water, as noted above. Since you don't like the looks of the portulaca pot now I suggest you plant it in a flower bed and let it self seed for blooms next year. I do not fertilize the portulaca in the ground as it blooms well until frost even in my dry sandy mailbox bed. This is a good time to replace it with fall mums or other fall plants.