How to grow a shamrock plant
(WHTM) – If you’re looking to extend your St. Patrick’s Day celebration beyond March 17 consider growing a shamrock plant.
The “shamrock plant” that grows indoors is not the original Irish shamrock. The original shamrock, which is thought to have been Trifolium dubium or Trifolium repens according to Penn State, can not survive inside.
The shamrock plant that people use to decorate for and honor the holiday is Oxalis regnellii. This flower is similar to the traditional shamrock people associate with St. Patrick’s Day because the leaves produce three triangular leaflets, which, according to legend, is how St. Patrick explained the Christian belief of the holy trinity.
Sometimes, the plant will produce small, white flowers with five petals.
If you want to grow a shamrock plant, here is how to care for it according to Penn State:
Temperature and light
Oxalis needs too be in a cool climate with exposure to bright light.
Soil and fertilizer
The shamrock plant requires well-draining soil. Oxalis should be fertilized with half of the recommended dosage once every two to three weeks while it is flowering.
Water
Be careful not to overwater the shamrock plant as it can get root rot.
Notes
The shamrock plant will become dormant in late fall and will turn yellow and die. This period can last anywhere from one month to a couple of months. When this happens, stop watering and fertilizing and move the plant to a cool, dark place. When new growth starts, move the plant back to its original location and restart your watering and fertilizing schedule.
Oxalis are a unique plant species because their leaves open when exposed to bright light and close during cloudy days and at night. According to Penn State, this is because of changes in turgor pressure, however, the specific reason for the plant having this reaction at night is unknown.
The shamrock plant contains oxalic acid, which can be toxic to pets if large amounts are consumed.
According to Penn State, shamrock plants are from the wood sorrel family and are native to Africa and the Americas.
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