The Oxalis Triangularis is quickly becoming a symbol of beauty showing off its striking purple foliage. It is an easy houseplant to take care of, making it a superb choice. However, many homeowners are curious why oxalis triangularis leggy.
The main reason your Oxalis Triangularis is Leggy, is because the plant is either not getting enough light or because it’s in the wrong position. It stretches itself towards the light and becomes leggy in the process.
The Reason your Oxalis are Leggy
Why is your oxalis triangularis leggy? Many people who fell in love with and started growing Oxalis Triangularis always worried when it grew to be leggy.
The Oxalis Triangularis can be leggy or sparse when grown indoors and even when in your yard. The Oxalis can also be leggy when planted in organic and rich soil rather than in sandy and loose soil.
The most common reason your Oxalis plant is leggy or sparse is that it is not getting enough light or it is in the wrong position. The plant becomes elongated or leggy because it is “stretching” itself to reach for the light.
• Lots of Bright Indirect Light
Oxalis Triangularis grow best with lots of bright indirect light when outdoors. Indoors, the plant can take full sun.
What can you do to remedy oxalis triangularis leggy?
• Cut the plant to about 1 or 2 inches above the soil line and transfer the plant on very bright indirect light.
• Prune back the plant’s leggy stems to keep it bushy.
• Move your Oxalis to a sunnier location and see it transform into a fuller and lusher plant. If it is an indoor plant, place it in front of a sunny window where it can get curtain-filtered light.
• Move the plant a little bit closer to the sun.
• Avoid a northern exposure for your plant because it is not enough for a high light plant like the Oxalis Triangularis.
To keep your Oxalis from getting too leggy or leaning to one side, rotate the pot (a ¼ turn) every one or two weeks. This action means you are helping the sun get more sun.
High light means bright indirect light. Direct sun will burn the leaves especially of indoor plants.
• Prevent the Leggyness
To prevent your Oxalis plant from being leggy rather than robust, expose it to bright indirect light when grown outdoors. When grown indoors, the plant can take full sun as long as it is watered regularly.
When you notice your Oxalis plant growing leggy stems, immediately move the plant to a brighter location.
If you want to slow down the growth of your Oxalis, move it to a spot with lower light or in a partially sunny spot to have slow growth while remaining healthy.
• Don’t Burn Its Leaves
When moving the Oxalis closer to the window, remember that the glass from a window can increase direct sun rays. This will lead to the burning of the plant’s leaves.
Moving your Oxalis plant outdoors with partial sun will give it a lusher growth. It will then become a fuller plant.
• Hardening Off the Plant to Move to A Better Spot
When moving your Oxalis plant outdoor to enjoy better light, you need to do a transition. Transition your plant by hardening. Harden off your Oxalis plant for a safe transition from indoors to outdoors. Avoid moving the plant immediately from indoors to outdoors because it will completely burn.
To harden off your Oxalis, place it first in a spot with complete shade. Allow the plant to stay there for a day or two and then change its location gradually to a spot where it can get more bright indirect light.
Never transfer your indoor Oxalis immediately to a spot with direct sun.
How to Care for Oxalis Triangularis
The Oxalis Triangularis loves plenty of light and moist soil with good drainage. These conditions allow it to grow as a bushy plant.
The Oxalis should only be watered when the soil is partly dry to keep it at medium humidity levels. The plant should also be fertilized every three or four weeks.
Although the Oxalis seems like a fussy plant, it is easy to care for.
• Light
When placed indoors, the Oxalis needs at least half a day of direct sun. When outdoors, place it on a spot with bright indirect light.
• Temperature
The Oxalis Triangularis prefers cooler temperatures ranging from 60-750F. Temperatures over 800F will make the plant shut down and go into dormancy.
If your Oxalis is indoors, bring it outdoors in Spring once temperatures start to warm.
• Water
The Oxalis loves slightly moist soil. Allow the plant to dry out first before watering again. Give the plant a good soak and allow excess water to escape through the draining hole.
Never make your Oxalis go dry for a long time or it may go into dormancy. When indoors, avoid keeping the plant constantly wet because its corms may rot and your Oxalis will die.
• Fertilizer
During active growth, dilute fertilizer when watering the plant.
Interesting Facts about the Oxalis Triangularis
This superb plant has many unique characteristics including
• The Oxalis Is an Edible Plant
The flowers and leaves of the Oxalis are edible, but with a sour lemony taste. This plant contains relatively high amounts of oxalic acid, a common acid that can also be found in spinach. Oxalic means sour.
You can sprinkle some of the leaves of the Oxalis plant as a garnish for your salad. Do not eat too much, though. A full salad consisting of Oxalis leaves will prevent your body from absorbing calcium.
• The Oxalis Can Dance
The leaves of the Oxalis are open during the day. Surprisingly, the leaves fold down at night in a manner similar to how an umbrella folds down.
The flowers also open when the sun rises and close at sunset. This is scientifically known as the “nastic movement” phenomenon.
• Popular Names
The Oxalis Triangularis is more popularly known as False Shamrock, Purple Love, Purple Shamrock, Purple Clover, or Purple Butterfly. The plant is known by these names because the shape of its leaves resembles shamrocks, clovers, or butterflies.
With the right conditions, the Oxalis Triangularis will grow and thrive every season.
• Pretty Flower
The Oxalis Triangularis is a flowering perennial that comes with triangular dark purple leaves. Its dark purple leaves and distinct shape of its leaves make it a gorgeous indoor plant as long as it is placed on a sunny spot.
It can also be a welcome addition to your outdoor environment.
The Oxalis blooms are small, trumpet-shaped flowers that are white/purple throughout summer and spring. Each stem of the plant has three triangular leaves which look like butterflies sitting close to each other.
• Plant Size
This plant grows to a height of about 10 to 12 inches making it an ideal groundcover if you live in an area with temperatures between 600 and 700.
• Perennial Plant
This perennial plant usually dies in the summer and regrows after a month. Even though the plant looks as if it is dying, it is most likely just in a stage of dormancy.
Final Thoughts
The Oxalis Triangulis is native to some of the countries in South America. It grows in hardy zones 6-11.
This lovely plant will keep on spreading and will add a lot of interest and beauty to your garden. It also makes a good indoor ornamental plant.
The Oxalis leaves, with a triangular shape that resembles a butterfly, are unique because they open in the morning and close at night.
This plant is easy to care for but you have to make sure to keep it in bright indirect light otherwise oxalis triangularis leggy.
The very attractive Oxalis Triangularis is a long lived-plant that will add interest and excitement to any indoor or outdoor environment.
Jenny Marie
Tribal Writer
Edited By
Patricia Godwin
