Hi..

A couple of years ago I got some tubers of green and purple shamrocks that my Grandfather has had the plants for as long as I can recall.
the green ones didnt really come up but the purple ones did.. and after a while and the fact I was moving to a place with no porch or blacony I put both sets of tubers in the same pot.. again. All purple. But one. It was green on the edges and purple in the middle.. I just thought it was a flook..
Then today over a year later I noticed this..

Hi Alli,

I don't know anything about Oxalis (Shamrock Plant) but I've had other plants with variegated foliage revert back to the solid green of the parent plant. I wonder if that could be what's happening with your Shamrock?

Wood Sorrels (Oxalis) The Wood Sorrels Database

This may be the one you have: Purple Shamrock (Oxalis triangularis)

Thank you Plantladylin!

That does look like the ones I have.
the leaves get huge! And they are pink flowers.. its just really interesting to see how the colors mix like they are doing.
its really pretty to see.

You are very welcome!

Interesting! So you have plants now that are definitely purple, and this one, all in the same pot? Were the green ones plain green or variegated when you first dug them from grandpa's house - (or were they in a pot then already?)

(This forum's called Ask a Question, so I did.) LOL! No seriously, just feel like there wasn't enough info here for me to offer any feedback. Might not all, but I love Oxalis too and have been an enthusiastic student of them for a few years. If nothing to offer, I hope to learn something right with you!

Hahaha! Purpleinopp!

So.. my granddad had pots of green only and purple only. Ive actually never seen varigated until this happened.. he dug out some of the tubers(?) And cut off all the plant and we wrapped them up and I flew back to austin with them. I had wrapped them seperately and marked which were which and planted thembin seperate pots. The purple grew fast but the green never grew for some reason. I thought maybe it just was a fluke.. travel something affected it. I was getting ready to move in about six months I consolidated ( actually I was consolidating and giving away larger plants.. and I broke the pot the green tubers were in.) I ended up refreshing the soil and repotting all the tubers in the same pot. I cut what was left of the purple plant down. A while passed and eventually 1 three leaf part (not sure what to call it ) had a slight green ting in it. I will tryto find the picture I sent my step mom from back then. It was I think purple and green on the edges.. not as noticable as yhese new ones.
Ok now over almost 2 years have pasted.. never anymore green in the mix.. and now about a third of the plant has some kind of green in it. It does seem to love the location its in. Bright light at an angle. And the plant reaches for the sun.
I will take a pic or find an oldervobe thats all purple to show you the whole pllant.
Im curiousvto see how many tubers there are now. I started with four two of each.

This was the plant in last year Sept 2013.
I think that time the picture was taken was one of the few times it might have been outside. Its always lived inside where its very cool and has to one side of it a bright area. No direct light. Its way too hot here. Even in the fall.

Fascinating story, tough bulbs, aren't they?!

Do you think these leaves are the purple plant with maybe not enough light? I can't recall seeing any variegated Oxalis before either... except the purple ones kind of are, with pink surrounded by purple. Hmm...

This morning I saw a little emerging green obe.. it at this point looks all green.
it is purple and green( the others).
and it does get quite a bit of light just not direct sun.
its pretty cool.

Absolutely! All bulb Oxalis are cool!

I found this cultivar Oxalis regnelli 'Triangularis' (purple and black) in the Plantsdelight site.

http://www.plantdelights.com/O...


and this Iron Cross variety Good Luck Plant (Oxalis tetraphylla 'Iron Cross')

TY, Jean, I been schooled! I some of the purple and need that iron cross one.

I wonder if your plant needs more nutrients? Could that cause the color to look different?

The only thing I know about the triangle leaf Oxalis is what I learned from my dog recently.

He likes to dig (yep, I say that quite often, sorry ) and he absolutely destroyed my cute little Oxalis plant when he was helping me dig and I was not paying attention.

Two - three weeks later...over 25 new Oxalis plants have started growing in the area where he had been digging. Guess you cannot kill these plants! I dug each one and potted them up, keeping them in the shade to share at my local swap.

You are welcome, Tiffany. This Oxalis purpurea is also a knock out...for its' blooms. O purpurea Grand Duchess versicolor

http://www.easytogrowbulbs.com...

I love all the info I am getting!
So mamy things Ihave wondered and could never really find a forum that really seemed.. well.. to have anywhere near as much knowledge oozing out its pores!
What kind of nutrients does my plant need? It actually has more variation in the edges and center onbthe purple onesnthan most of the pics I take show atleast in a great deal of the plant.

Hi Alli.

Here is some growing info for raising the oxalis in pots/indoors.

http://www.houseplantsexpert.c...

http://www.ourhouseplants.com/...

But, you can plant them outdoors in bright shade in your area. They are hardy from zone 6 to zone 10 or so. They tend to go dormant and rest when temps get above 80F.

Definitely. PIG, no care is needed, virtually no risk of rotting, just enjoy!

Its strange i found a picture of it from a few years ago and the edges are almost black.. very very dark and then purple middles.
Question.. I will read the posted links above closer.. but somethingon the past week or so has happened.. it just doesnt seem to be doing well.. its hard to explain.. it was starting to look all vivbrant and "happy " started to bloom alittle again after not for a few months im trying to remove the faded leaves faster but i dont know how to explain it... like if a human.. depressed or not feeling well.. run down. Repot? Renew soil? ( not even sure how to do that)

Hi Alli,

Renewing the soil is nothing more than repotting with fresh new soil. Plants kept in containers use up the available nutrients in the soil and the soil itself tends to break down. Using new amended soil or adding compost to your existing soil when you repot, gives the plant the nutrients and micronutrients it needs for good health.

Do you use fertilizer? Some plants do better with a more dilute feeding. Some directions will say to feed weekly or every two weeks, etc....but some plants may not be heavy feeders or smaller plants growing in larger pots can not use that much food. Most of the plants I have in pots are planted in good soil with compost and slow release fertilizer. They are pretty much okay unless they require a lot of watering due to heat and drying winds or if we have lots of rain. Then, I use 1/4 strength fertilizer every two weeks.

If I remember right, your area has had some very hot weather (temps in 90's and 100+) the past two weeks.....Oxalis for the most part tend to slow down when the temperature gets above 80 degrees, and plants in containers will slow down a bit sooner.

You may want to try planting a few in the ground where they get a bit of morning sun, but bright shade the rest of the time.

My plant is inside in a brightspot. I do need some advice on good soils for different things.. like i used miracle grow mostly of catus and regular with the water moister control stuff.. bit i have grown to not like it over the past year.
There is a good actual garden center down the highway I have used to buy plants and a few pots... of course more expensive tgan box type stores red barn is more huge land and mom and pop type. I think they make their own mixes.. is there an area or website that can guide me?
I am planning to repot everything soon. Only some plants are outside most stay inside because of the direct sun and the incredible heat we can get and the draught here is just crazy. And also I need to know.. what plants like to be in small pots and like to be all squeezed in root bound and the one that need to be in pots you might think os too big. I think I have made some mistakes over the years and had issues esp since I think I plant alot of plants in pots too big for it.. thinking it would grow into it..any sites or areas here maybe where I can find that info? Sorry to ask so much. Its been a reall hard time lately andnkust havent jad tge patience and retaining ability and literally no time to do anything.. alot of loss rencently and I need this the cultivating and care for life esp now. Thank ya'll so much sorry I know this all is not the place to ask alot of this