Today, St. Patricks Day, is when the shamrock is most popular. If you are lucky enough to get one, you want to make sure to look after it properly so that it can be enjoyed for months to come.
The potted shamrock plant that is available at the garden centre as an indoor plant is a member of the Oxalis family. The Oxalis regnelii is a small plant growing 15 cm tall. It has dark green triangular leave known as trifoliate meaning that the leaves are divided into three leaflets. When you look at each leaflet you will notice that it is made up of two triangles. The leaflets grow at the ends of thin, green, wiry stems as do the delicate small white five petalled flowers. Both flowers and leaves close up at night, and in the morning they wake up, and the flowers and leaves open up.
Oxalis regnelii are easy to care for houseplants as they are rarely bothered by pest or disease. Place the plant in a bright location such as a south or west facing window. Over the summer months when the sun gets hot, move the oxalis out of the direct sun. They prefer cooler temperatures of 12-20 C, which will prolong the bloom time. Water plants thoroughly when the top layer of soil feels dry to the touch. Drain out excess water after a few minutes to prevent the plant from sitting in water for any length of time. Ideally, they prefer to be watered from the bottom to protect the stems from becoming waterlogged.
Shamrocks are actually grown from a bulb or rhizome and will go dormant in the summer. You will notice the plant will get leggy, and the leaves will die back, which is a sign to give the plant a rest. Cut back on the water and fertilizer and place it in a cool dark space. Remove the brown leaves and allow it to rest for two to three months.
After two or three months, bring the potted shamrock back into a warm, well -lit location and begin to water. It will come out of dormancy and should start to regrow again. Do not transplant it until it has become root bound as Oxalis like to be slightly root bound.
To propagate new plants, dig out the rhizome after they have gone dormant, divide them and then replant them in a good quality indoor potting soil. Don't plant the rhizomes too deep, only slightly cover the top of the rhizome with soil, and after they have been planted, give it a thorough water. It wont be long before the newly planted rhizomes will start to produce new shoots.
You don't have to be Irish to enjoy the beauty of a shamrock. This St. Patrick's Day, why not pick up a shamrock plant and add a little bit of Irish luck to your home.
