Product Description:
With its stunning and eye-catching purple foliage, Oxalis triangularis or Purple Shamrock is sure to be the star of the show wherever placed indoors. Purple Shamrock owns its name triangularis due to the triangle shaped leaves in a deep purple, with a lighter purplish-rose feature in their center. Although the robustly colored leaves are the stars of the show, the plant also produces small, trumpet-shaped flowers in spring in colors of pink or white. The blooms last for several weeks. Another feature of the leaves is they open during the daytime hours and close in the evening. Purple Shamrock is sure to be an indoor feature and grab the eye’s attention whether grown alone in a container or part of a mixed container garden. It is quite attractive when mixed with plants with silver or white foliage like Dusty Miller or Spider Plant.
Light:
This plant grows well in full sun to partial shade, meaning roughly four hours of direct sunlight on most days. If you’re growing it outdoors and live in a hot climate, give it some protection from the hot afternoon sun. Indoors, the plant should be grown by a window that receives bright light.
Soil:
The purple shamrock can grow in a variety of soil types as long as it has good drainage. Its roots are prone to rotting if the soil retains too much moisture. A loamy or sandy soil is best.
Water:
During the growing season for purple shamrock plants, water whenever the top inch of soil has dried out. When the plant is dormant in the summer, lightly water about every two to three weeks to prevent the soil from drying out completely.
Fertilizer:
Use either a slow-release or liquid fertilizer on the purple shamrock plant during its growing season. Indoors, a liquid fertilizer for houseplants is ideal.
Temperature and Humidity
These plants like temperatures between 60 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit, which makes them especially suitable to grow indoors in average room temperatures. They can tolerate nighttime temperatures down to 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Aim to protect the plants from strong winds outdoors and drafts indoors, especially those from air conditioners and heaters, as they can damage the foliage. A moderate humidity level is ideal for purple shamrock plants.
Propagating Purple Shamrock:
Division is a cost-effective way to get new plants, and it prevents the mature plant from becoming overcrowded.
- Carefully dig up the plant, keeping the roots as intact as possible.
- Gently pull apart the root ball to divide it in half (or into more sections if your plant is very large). Try to do this by hand to avoid tearing the roots, though you can use sterile garden scissors on very tangled roots.
- Replant each new section either in the ground or in a container that’s just slightly larger than its root ball. Water the plants.
Potting and Repotting Purple Shamrock:
Select a pot that’s just slightly larger than your purple shamrock’s root ball. Make sure it has ample drainage holes. An unglazed clay container is ideal because it will allow excess soil moisture to escape through its walls. Use a quality all-purpose potting mix that drains well. Plan to repot every two years in just one container size up. Gently loosen the plant from its old container, and shake off loose soil. Then, replant it at the same depth in its new container with fresh potting mix. Finally, water the plant.
