Bring the luck of the Irish into your home with shamrock plants! Here are tips for caring for these easy houseplants.
Nothing says March more than shamrocks! Having shamrock plants in your home can bring you a dose of luck, fun, and beauty. Keep reading to learn all you need to know about shamrock plant care.
What are Shamrock Plants?
Shamrock plants, also known as Oxalis or false shamrocks, are easy-to-grow perennials with clover or triangle-shaped leaves. While shamrock plants are quite trendy for March, they are enjoyable all year. They are native to Mexico and are known to be able to spread rapidly and grow because of their excellent root systems. Similar to prayer-plants, their leaves fold up at night and unfurl during daylight hours. During the warmer months, with proper care, your shamrock plant may treat you to some simple, elegant white blooms. If you’re looking for an adorable houseplant that is easy to care for, you should opt for a shamrock variety!
Shamrock Plant Varieties
Shamrock plants come in a variety of shapes and colors. The most popular varieties are the pure green clover-shaped variety and the purple or burgundy triangle-shaped variety. They also come with smaller leaves in a molten lava shade, which can be a great accent plant to complement other indoor or outdoor plants. Most varieties will grow between 6-12 inches in height and can spread across large areas if you give them the freedom to do so.
Shamrock Plant Needs
Your shamrock plant needs proper care to thrive as much as possible, but you won’t need to do too much for them! Keep them in an area where they get access to a fair bit of bright light. If you’re noticing your shamrock plant is growing spindly or leggy, it’s a sign that your plant needs a bit more light. When it comes to watering your shamrock plant, allow the top layer of soil to dry out between waterings. The shamrock plant has tuberous roots that hold water well, so you don’t want them to become oversaturated and soggy, which may cause the plant to rot. Keep their environment at an average humidity and comfortable temperature.
Caring for Shamrock Plants
Continuing to care for your shamrock plant isn’t too difficult. If you need to top up soil or repot, use any good-quality potting mix. If you are interested in propagating your shamrock plant to spread some luck around, take care when gently pulling apart the roots into smaller clumps. Place the rooted cutting just ½ inch below the top of the soil. Fertilize every month throughout spring and summer with diluted water-soluble fertilizer.
Shamrock Plant Pests and Disease
Shamrock plants don’t require a lot of care, but you should always be on the lookout for any pests or disease. Be on the lookout for tiny webs, yellowing or drooping leaves: these are a sign of spider mites. Shamrock plants are also susceptible to some types of fungal mold, so make sure you don’t overwater them. Enjoy the joy and luck of the season with your own shamrock plants.
If you’re looking for a shamrock plant for sale in Bettendorf, come visit us! You’ll be able to discover our shamrock selection and hundreds of other gorgeous houseplants—it’s like the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow!