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Add to My Garden Pigweed
Oxybasis rubra
Also known as: Red goosefoot
Pigweed (Oxybasis rubra) is an annual herb with red-tinged leaves and fruit that is also called coastblite goosefoot, red goosefoot and red pigweed. It blooms from late summer to early fall with small, green flowers. Fruits follow flowers and are red and very noticeable.
More Info
Flower Color
Green
Yellow
Red
Brown
Bloom Time
Late summer, Early fall
Leaf Color
Green
Blue
Red
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Vascular plants Class
Dicotyledons Order
Pinks, cacti, and allies Family
Amaranth Genus
Oxybasis Species
Pigweed 
Distribution Map
Habitat
Gardens, manure heaps, ports, rubbish tips, sugar beet fields
Native
Cultivated
Invasive
Potentially invasive
Exotic
No species reported
Questions About Pigweed
Watering 
Sunlight What is the best way to water my Pigweed?
To water Pigweed, you can use a garden hose with a spray nozzle, a watering can, or just about any other common watering tool. Generally, Pigweed is not too picky about how they receive their water, as they can live off of rainwater, tap water, or filtered water. Often, you should try not to water this plant from overhead, as doing so can damage the leaves and flowers and may lead to disease as well. At times, the best method for watering this plant is to set up a drip irrigation system. These systems work well for Pigweed as they apply water evenly and directly to the soil. For one Pigweed that grows in a container, you can use a similar watering approach while changing the tools you use. To water a container-grown Pigweed, use a cup, watering can, or your tap to apply water directly to the soil.
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Free
What should I do if I water my Pigweed too much or too little?
The remedy for underwatering Pigweed is somewhat obvious. When you notice that your plant lacks moisture, simply begin watering it on a more regular basis. The issue of overwatering can be a much more dire situation, especially if you fail to notice it early. When your Pigweed is overwatered, it may contract diseases that lead to its decline and death. The best way to prevent this outcome is to choose a proper growing location, one that receives plenty of sunlight to help dry the soil and has good enough drainage to allow excess water to drain rather than pooling and causing waterlogged soils. If you overwater your Pigweed that lives in a pot, you may need to consider changing it to a new pot. Your previous container may not have contained soil with good drainage or may not have had sufficient drainage holes. As you repot your overwatered Pigweed, make sure to add loose soils and to use a pot that drains efficiently.
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Free
How often should I water my Pigweed?
Pigweed needs water regularly throughout the growing season. Beginning in spring, you should plan to water this plant about once per week. As the season presses on and grows warmer, you may need to increase your watering rate to about two to three times per week. Exceeding at this rate can be detrimental to your Pigweed. With that said, you should also ensure that the soil in which your Pigweed grows remains relatively moist but not wet, regardless of how often you must water to make that the case. Watering Pigweed that lives in a pot is a bit different. Generally, you'll need to increase your watering frequency, as the soil in a pot can heat up and dry out a bit faster than ground soil. As such, you should plan to water a container-grown Pigweed a few times per week in most cases, versus just once per week for an in-ground plant.
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Free
How much water does my Pigweed need?
There are a few different ways you can go about determining how much water to give to your Pigweed. Some gardeners choose to pick their water volume based on feeling the soil for moisture. That method suggests that you should water until you feel that the first six inches of soil have become moist. Alternatively, you can use a set measurement to determine how much to water your Pigweed. Typically, you should give your Pigweed about two gallons of water per week, depending on how hot it is and how quickly the soil becomes dry. However, following strict guidelines like that can lead to overwatering if your plant requires less than two gallons per week for whatever reason. When growing Pigweed in a container, you will need to use a different method to determine how much water to supply. Typically, you should give enough water to moisten all of the layers of soil that have become dry. To test if that is the case, you can simply stick your finger in the soil to feel for moisture. You can also water the soil until you notice a slight trickle of excess water exiting the drainage holes of your pot.
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How can I tell if i'm watering my Pigweed enough?
It can be somewhat difficult to avoid overwatering your Pigweed. On the one hand, these plants have relatively deep roots that require you to moisten the soil weekly. On the other hand, Pigweed are plants that are incredibly susceptible to root rot. Along with root rot, your Pigweed may also experience browning as a result of overwatering. Underwatering is far less likely for your Pigweed as these plants can survive for a while in the absence of supplemental watering. However, if you go too long without giving this plant water, it will likely begin to wilt. You may also notice dry leaves.
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How should I water my Pigweed through the seasons?
You can expect your Pigweed’s water needs to increase as the season moves on. During spring, you should water about once per week. Then, as the summer heat arrives, you will likely need to give a bit more water to your Pigweed, at times increasing to about three times per week. This is especially true of Pigweed that grow in containers, as the soil in a container is far more likely to dry out faster than ground soil when the weather is warm. In autumn, while your Pigweed is still in bloom, it may need a bit less water as the temperature has likely declined, and the sun is no longer as strong as it was in summer.
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How should I water my Pigweed at different growth stages?
Pigweed will move through several different growth stages throughout the year, some of which may require more water than others. For example, you will probably start your Pigweed as a seed. While the seed germinates, you should plant to give more water than your Pigweed will need later in life, watering often enough to maintain consistent soil moisture. After a few weeks, your Pigweed will grow above the soil and may need slightly less water than at the seedling phase. Then, once this plant is mature, you can begin to use the regular watering frequency of about once per week. As flower development takes place, you may need to give slightly more water to aid the process.
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What's the difference between watering Pigweed indoors and outdoors?
There are several reasons why most Pigweed grow outdoors rather than indoors. The first is that these plants typically grow to tall. The second reason is that Pigweed needs more daily sunlight than most indoor growing locations can provide. If you are able to provide a suitable indoor growing location, you may find that you need to give your Pigweed water a bit more often than you would in an outdoor growing location. Part of the reason for this is that indoor growing locations tend to be a lot drier than outdoor ones due to HVAC units. The other reason for this is that soil in containers can dry out relatively quickly as well compared to soil in the ground.
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About
More Info
Distribution
Care FAQ
Related Plants
Related Articles
Add to My Garden Pigweed
Oxybasis rubra
Also known as: Red goosefoot
More Info
Flower Color
Green
Yellow
Red
Brown
Bloom Time
Late summer, Early fall
Leaf Color
Green
Blue
Red
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Vascular plants Class
Dicotyledons Order
Pinks, cacti, and allies Family
Amaranth Genus
Oxybasis Species
Pigweed Distribution Map
Habitat
Gardens, manure heaps, ports, rubbish tips, sugar beet fields
Map
Native
Cultivated
Invasive
Potentially invasive
Exotic
No species reported
Questions About Pigweed
Watering Sunlight What is the best way to water my Pigweed?
Free
What should I do if I water my Pigweed too much or too little?
Free
How often should I water my Pigweed?
Free
How much water does my Pigweed need?
How can I tell if i'm watering my Pigweed enough?
Show More ![more]()
You’ve got questions. We’ve got answers.
Let us help take all the guesswork out of your gardening.
More Questions People Also Ask
Related Plants
Related Articles
Most Common Herb
# Useful Tips
Best Annual Plant to Grow
# Useful Tips
Best Annual Plant to Grow
# Useful Tips
Most Common Herb
# Useful Tips
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17,000 local species +400,000 global species studied
Nearly 5 years of research
80+ scholars in botany and gardening
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unlimited guides at your fingertips...
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