If the color purple is your favorite, how about bringing an Oxalis Triangularis Indoors? To learn more, read this Shamrock Plant Care guide below!
Oxalis Triangularis, aka shamrock plant, is one stunning beauty that you must include indoors for a bold and colorful statement–if you love houseplants. All the information you ever need to know about Purple Shamrock Care in any home is listed below.
Common Names: Love plant, Purple shamrock, False shamrock, Wood sorrel, Black oxalis, Oxalis plant, Shamrock plant
Botanical Name: Oxalis triangularis syn. Oxalis regnellii
USDA Hardiness Zone: 8-11
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Oxalis Triangularis Profile
Native to Brazil, the purple shamrock is a low-growing perennial from the Oxalidaceae family. It has deep-hued foliage that looks nearly black. The plant carries white to pale pink or lavender-color blooms. It grows up to 0.5-1 feet tall and 1-2 feet wide.
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Propagating Oxalis Plant
Propagating a shamrock plant is super easy, and it is one of those plants you always more.
From Division
It is a cost-effective technique for getting more of these amazing plants. The division also stops the mature plants from becoming overcrowded.
- Gently dig up the plant keeping the roots intact.
- If the plant is very large, carefully separate the root ball to divide it using sterile scissors in half or more pieces.
- Now plant new sections in a well-draining growing medium.
If you want to understand more, here’s a nice video to watch!
From Bulbs
Plant the bulbs in Spring, spacing them 3 to 4 inches apart if planting more than one. Water the soil, but do not make it soggy. Keep the pot in a warm and bright area. New growth will appear in 3-4 weeks.
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Requirements for Growing Purple Shamrock in Any Home
Light
While growing indoors, make sure it gets at least 1 or 2 hours of mild direct sunlight on a daily basis. Place the pot by a window that gets bright indirect light on most parts of the day.
Rotate the plant continually every week so every part receives even light exposure. Remember, lack of light can cause stunted growth.
Soil
Use a well-draining, loamy, or sandy potting mix made for houseplants. This plant’s roots are vulnerable to rot, so avoid using a compact growing medium. If you want to DIY your own soil, use one part of each garden soil, potting mix, and peat or coconut coir.
Water
Shamrock plants can’t withstand drought and grow well in slightly moist soil so never let the soil dry out completely.
When growing indoors, be careful and never overwater constantly, as evaporation in the home conditions will be low, and waterlogging can lead to root rot. It is better to water when the one inch of topsoil feels a bit dry to the touch. During dormancy in winter, water lightly about every 2-3 weeks.
Note: Never let the soil dry out completely, as it will make the plant wilt.
Temperature and Humidity
Purple shamrock prefers a moderately warm and stable temperature range. The plant can endure nighttime temperatures down to 50 F (10 C) easily. Keep it away from air-conditioners, heaters, and cold drafts, to avoid harming the leaves.
Moderate humidity is perfect for this plant. If you can keep it in the vicinity of other houseplants, it will be more than good.
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Purple Shamrock Care
Fertilizer
Feed your purple shamrock using a balanced liquid fertilizer, diluted to 1/4 of its strength, once in 4-6 weeks. Read the label for instructions.
Pests and Diseases
This beautiful foliage plant is susceptible to mealybugs, spider mites, and aphids. Use insecticidal soap to combat this issue.
The most common disease that affects the plant is powdery mildew, causing white spots on the leaves. Keep the plant where it gets good airflow and avoid overwatering.
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How to Get Purple Shamrock to Bloom?
You can encourage blooming by growing the plant in filtered sunlight, providing sufficient moisture, and timely feeding. It flowers from fall to spring and offers small, five-petal blossoms in clusters above the leaves. Deadheading is not essential for promoting flowering, but it gives a neat appearance.
That is one of my favorite plants, only I do have problems when I bring the pots inside. I will definitely follow your directions, and suggestions.
I live in New Jersey, can I leave some outside in pots and in the ground, the temps do go down to the teens in the winter.
I have both the red and green ones. Our wedding anniversary was St Paddy’s Day.
Thankx again for that interesting article.
MILT C.
I’ve had one for 20 years now , been in different rooms, just keeps going
I have had mine for about 20 years but it always seems too leggy. I recently tried cutting it way back, but it regenerated more leggy than ever. Solution?