Pigface is a fuss-free succulent, and if a few basic growing conditions are met it will grow in your garden or in pots on autopilot.
It is commonly found being used as a ground cover plant at the base of large trees, on sand dunes and draped over rocks around swimming pools and rock gardens.
The below table highlights all of the basic growing conditions, which if met will most likely guarantee a healthy and growing pigface plant.
Pigface Growing Characteristics
| Growing characteristics | Comment |
|---|---|
| Sun/light | Full sun to part shade |
| Watering | Water every 2-3 days until established. Once established it is very drought tolerant and won’t need much watering if at all. |
| Soil | The soil must be well-draining. |
| Temperature | Prefers a warm to hot climate |
| Snow/frost | Not tolerant of snow or frost |
How to Grow Pigface in Your Garden
How to Grow Pigface in Your Garden
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Choose where to plant pigface plant in your garden.
When choosing where to plant the pigface plant check that it satisfies all of the ideal conditions I’ve listed in the above table.
(1) That the soil is well-draining,
(2) That there will be full sunlight to full sunlight with partial shade, and
(3) That your climate is warm and doesn’t snow or doesn’t get frost often. -
Dig hole for the pigface plant
Dig the hole for the pigface plant twice as wide and to the same depth as its current root ball. Remove the pigface plant from its grow pot and gently tease out the roots using your hands.
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Plant the pigface plant
Position the pigface plant in the hole and fill in the hole with the soil you dug out previously. As you are filling in the hole firm the soil up with your hand, but be sure to be gentle so you don’t damage the roots.
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Water the pigface plant
Once planted you will need to water every 2-3 days to help the plant establish new root growth. Water the plant deeply to encourage the roots to grow.
Do this watering schedule for 2-3 weeks until the roots are established.
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Mulch the pigface plant
To help the soil retain moisture between watering, use an organic mulch like sugar cane around the plant. Keep mulch away from the stem of the plant.
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Apply a native fertiliser
Apply a native fertiliser to feed that plant just before the growing season in Spring, and then again towards the end of the growing season in summer.
Materials: Pigface plant
Growing Pigface in a Pot
Pigfaces are beautiful succulents once established and flowering. They don’t have to be planted in a garden but are also happy to be planted in pots and hanging pots to be put on display.
When planting pigface in pots, the steps are:
- Use good quality and well-draining potting mix, and
- Fertilise the plant at least once before the growing season in Spring and once towards the end of the growing season in Summer, but if you want to you could fertilise every month to make it even happier.
- Position the pot somewhere it will receive full sunlight or mostly full sunlight with partial shade.
- In the cooler months position the pot where the plant can get more sun and be protected from frost or snow.
Growing Tips
- Propagating pigface plants from stem cuttings is very easy to do, you can follow our guide on doing this.
- Pigface does well in poor soil.
- Great plant for inaccessible areas in your garden like a bank where mowing grass would be difficult or in rock gardens.
- Pigface plants are used to prevent soil erosion in sand dunes and dirt banks.
