Caring for Oxalis Triangularis
Oxalis Triangularis, a.k.a. purple or false shamrocks, make an exciting houseplant because they tuck their foliage up at night, like an umbrella. I have categorized this plant as part of my Sensitive Series. Being considered “sensitive” immediately, you would think that means hard to care for; however, this is one of the easiest houseplants to care for. Here are a few tips for meeting Oxalis Triangularis basic care needs.
Purple Shamrock Appearance
Purple Shamrocks have purple, clover-like foliage and bloom lavender, light pink, or white flowers that hover over the tops of the plant’s foliage. These plants’ flowers position themselves to face the sun or light source.
I prefer to call this plant the more common name purple shamrock. If you read my other blog posts, you may already know I give all my plants names. Read my Beginner’s Level Rules # 1: Your Plant Must Have a Name here. I named mine Siobhan. I paired a new favorite plant with one of my new favorite names for a girl.
Potting and Soil Needs
I repotted Siobhan, shortly after purchasing, from the 4-inch plastic starter pot I purchased her into a 6-inch terra-cotta pot with a good-sized drain hole at the bottom and placed on a terra cotta tray.
Purple shamrock is a bulbous plant; keep this in mind when selecting soil. This plant will need well-draining soil to ensure its bulbs do not get moldy. Mildew and mold are bad news for bulbous plants.
Placing purple shamrock in a well-draining pot with well-draining soil is the first step to meeting Oxalis Triangularis basic care needs. For more information on selecting pots and proper soil for your plants, check out my Beginner’s Level Rules 3 and 4 here.
Water and Fertilizing Care
Watering
The second step to caring for purple shamrocks is to ensure proper watering. Knowing any houseplant’s water requirements is vital to its health. Trust me, getting into the habit of over and or underwatering your houseplants will cause damage and could be fatal to your potted friends.
When caring for a purple shamrock, as far as watering goes, remember they are slightly drought tolerant. When I say drought tolerant, it does not mean not to water your plants for weeks. Drought tolerance simply means you can go a little longer to let the soil dry out more between watering.
The best rule of thumb for watering your purple shamrock is to use the 2-Finger method. By this, I mean simply placing your first two fingers into the plant’s soil to feel for moisture. If the top 2-3 inches are dry, it is time for a drink.
For the best possible way to avoid the plants’ bulbs from getting mold or mildew, be sure the water drains through the hole in the bottom and make sure it drains well and is not left sitting in water.
Fertilizer
Fertilize your purple shamrock every 2-3 weeks during its growing season. These plants usually go dormant during the summer. Knowing your plants growing season is crucial when fertilizing. You don’t want to fertilize a dormant plant. I have more tips about fertilizing your houseplants coming soon!
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[mailerlite_form form_id=1]Temperature and Humidity Requirements
Humidity is required for this plant to thrive. Not a huge amount, but if your house tends to get dry in wintertime, you will want to be sure to place your purple shamrock in a room with a humidifier.
The average room temperature is about 65-72o F; this is the ideal temperature for this plant. Do not expose to temperatures below 550 F. Also noteworthy, this plant goes dormant during the summer months. Therefore, stable temperatures of 80oF and up will trigger dormancy.
Sunlight Needs
Bright, indirect light is a good amount of sunlight for purple shamrocks. Being native to South America, this plant is used to thriving on the sunlight filtering through the trees.
Purple Shamrocks opens its foliage back up to absorb the day’s sunlight. Or, in a houseplant’s case, the grow-light and the filtered sunlight through the windows. These are perfect lighting conditions for this plant.
Purple Shamrocks Rock!
Overall, purple shamrocks are easy to care for plants, and it is fun to watch their foliage close and open. I feel like when I turn the grow light off, and the sun goes down, I am putting them to bed. They are one of the plants that I consider part of my Sensitive Series and are a popular plant to get or give the month of March for St. Paddy’s Day.
If you get or receive this plant this March, be sure to refer to Oxalis Triangularis basic care tips, and you can have this plant growing healthy in your house for years.
Thanks for reading!
Until next time!
