The oxalis is a wonderful dainty plant to any collection, and mushy stems can cause alarm. Mushy stems and leaves usually indicate the plant is getting watered too often or the soil is staying moist for too long between waterings. Water when 50-75% of the soil volume is dry.
Most of the time, when a shamrock plant appears to be dying, it is actually just in need of an off-season, or a time in which it can rest. It grows from a bulb and is a perennial, so if it is dying at the end of a growing season, simply cut off the dying or dead portions and wait for the new growing season to start.
Why is my Oxalis leggy?
Is your Oxalis triangularis leggy or sparse? If it is, chances are that it is not receiving enough light. I find that only indirect light indoors is not sufficient in many cases. Your plant will still grow, but not as full.
How often should I water my Oxalis?
Water every 1-2 weeks, allowing soil to dry out halfway down between waterings. Expect to water more often in brighter light and less often in lower light.
Why is my Oxalis falling over? – Related Questions
What does an overwatered Oxalis look like?
Overwatered Oxalis Triangularis will have mushy, soft, drooping leaves. Underwatered Oxalis Triangularis will have crisp, drooping foliage.
Do Oxalis like to be misted?
Watering, Humidity & Misting
Be sure to empty our excess water to prevent root rot. Oxalis does well in normal household humidity, but can benefit from occasional misting every other day.
Does Oxalis need a lot of water?
Oxalis are rather low maintenance when it comes to watering as they prefer their soil to go about half to three-quarters dry between waterings. During the winter you will want to keep the soil on the drier side as compared to the warmer months when you will want to let the soil only go about half dry.
Can you overwater Oxalis?
Too much water will cause root rot. They can sometimes enter a dormancy period, if your Oxalis seems to be “dead” it might be dormant. When this happens because overwatering it is important to stop watering completely, let it dry, and only start watering again when leaves start appearing again.
Does Oxalis need direct sunlight?
Avoid direct sunlight. Ideally keep this plant in light shade, but Oxalis also handles lower light well. The main attraction of this plant is the stunning purple foliage. However, it does produce delicate white flowers.
How often do you water purple Oxalis?
Water lightly just once every couple of weeks until new growth appears. In about 6 weeks from planting, your new purple shamrocks will begin to appear, and will fill in to become lush and full soon after. Weekly watering should be light. Too much water will send the plant back into dormancy.
What happens when you touch an Oxalis plant?
Oxalis can fire consecutive seeds if something. brushes against them. A touch causes part of the. seed pod to snap, and its stored energy catapults the.
How do you save Overwatered Oxalis?
Can Oxalis grow in full sun?
Outdoors, grow hardy woodland species in moist, fertile, humus-rich soil in full or partial shade. Other hardy Oxalis species need full sun and well-drained, organic soil of moderate fertility.
How long do Oxalis plants last?
Each flower can last up to three to five days, folding up at night to prevent the pollen being blown away in high winds. To get an Oxalis to flower annually, a good dormancy period must be served over the autumn and winter months with cooler temperatures and drying soil.
Does Oxalis like to be root bound?
Oxalis grows from tubers. All prefer cool conditions in bright light and well-drained soil. Their roots are shallow, and they seem to prefer being pot-bound. You can fertilize every two to three weeks during flowering using half of the recommended strength fertilizer.
What time of year does Oxalis go dormant?
The plants will start to decline after a few months, usually during the summer. “Shamrock” Oxalis species grow from small bulbs and need a rest period.
How do you prepare Oxalis for winter?
Don’t fertilize it during fall and winter. Give the oxalis plant a rest period when it begins to look droopy and wilted. Its normal for the leaves to die back, so when they do, stop watering. Place the dormancy plant into a cool, dark room for up to three months.
How do you winterize an Oxalis?
The root clumps can be stored in a net bag like grapefruit or limes come in or a paper bag to keep all the little parts together. The net bag should be stored in a box or container of sphagnum or Canadian peat moss, vermiculite or wood shavings. Sandwich the bulbs between protective layers so they do not dehydrate.
Is shamrock the same as Oxalis?
Oxalis is a member of the wood sorrel family. Although both shamrocks and Oxalis have three leaves, they are from different plant genus, and the leaves and the flowers are shaped differently. True shamrocks are members of the clover family Trifolium repens.
How do you care for Oxalis indoors?
Your Oxalis prefers a humid environment, use a humidifier or mist often if the air is dry. Your Oxalis prefers normal room temperatures between 65-75. They cannot tolerate hot temperatures above 75-80 degrees. Feed your Oxalis once a month during spring and summer with an all-purpose houseplant fertilizer.
