I have 2 purple shamrock plants that my grandma left me. I have had them for 5 years and they were doing great... I must have watered them too much because both plants looked fine when I left for work and when I came home they were all drooping. I didn't water them for almost 2 weeks and after not seeing any difference I replanted them and some nice dry soil. a couple in the middle of 1 shot back up and seems to be doing okay the rest are droopy but starting to open up again towards the Sun. The other one stayed droopy so I cut it all back and left the seeds in the soil do you have any suggestions on what I might have done wrong. They mean a lot to me because my Grandma had them for years and I feel terrible. Thank you
I honestly have no idea what could have happened. I do know they don't need full sun and will survive a drought... maybe just give them time.. did you fertilize them or change the water source? I have a pot that was under the greenhouse bench that literally was dead when I found it from lack of watering it. I pulled all the dead stuff off and gave it a drink... more of a drowning... and it had come back to life in the last week.
Tinfin, the short explanation about your purple shamrock-Oxalis triangularis is: too much water caused root deterioration, then root rot. The inability for the plant to now take up enough water caused it to flop over. Drying the soil allowed the plant(corms actually) to regrow new roots and enabled the plant to begin the recovery process. If you want the longer technical explanation I can provide that. A word of caution. If the plant is exposed to a period of temperatures over 80° F the plant may droop and go dormant. Jerry
Thank you everyone. I just couldn't figure out how I overwatered them when I only water them once every two weeks and I don't really soak them. Hopefully they will come back! They are sitting inside, but under a plantation shuttered window that I open in the morning for them and shut at night! Wish me luck! Should I not water them for a few weeks more and see if they start sprouting new? Should I cut all the other ones down that aren't standing up straight to see if they can start over?
Watering every two weeks is not too much but they may have started to go dormant. It is important the plant pot have a drain hole. Water needs can be determined by inserting your finger into the soil to the first knuckle. If it's dry, water. The plants arise from corms which should not be watered if the plant goes dormant. If however, they are beginning to recover, they may continue to do so. Keep us informed as to their progress. They are lovely plants that add color to a garden area or group of house plants. Jerry
