Oxalis (60 photos) - types, cultivation and care at home

Purple oxalis is one of the few unpretentious plants that can be grown indoors. In the article you will learn in detail how amateur gardeners should care for it, what kind of light the flower likes, when it needs to be replanted, how and when to water it. In addition, information will be provided on why you need to grow sour oxalis, what benefits or harms it has. The article will not ignore the signs associated with the butterfly flower.

Lilac butterflies fly even in winter

general information

Oxalis got its name from the characteristic sour taste of its leaves. By nature, it is a flowering grass from South America, which is also called false clover. There are perennials and annuals, but they are very similar in appearance.

Oxalis has a creeping superficial rhizome, which gradually becomes overgrown with growths similar to small tubers. The height of ornamental grass is up to 30 cm, and usually even less. At the same time, the length of the palmate leaves on long petioles easily reaches 15 cm. Interestingly, depending on the weather and time of day, the leaves can droop and rise.

At the end of spring, the wood sorrel blooms and continues to bloom for another month. Each peduncle bears one or several tubular buds that open into beautiful curved funnels. The most common shades are white, yellow and pink.

Photo: oir.mobi

Interesting facts about oxalis

What do we know about him? Here are some interesting facts:

its homeland is South Africa, Mexico and South America;
there are about 800 varieties of flowers in the world;
the unofficial symbol of Ireland is the three-leaf sorrel, not the clover;
Catholics often give these purple butterflies as Christmas gifts;
in the dark, the plant folds its butterfly leaves.

Medicinal properties of sorrel

Oxalis is also a medicinal plant, but wood sorrel is used for medicinal purposes.

Application:

treatment of dental scurvy;
washing wounds;
antidote against arsenic and mercury;
anthelmintic, diuretic;
strengthening the immune system and fighting against colds.

Types of oxalis

Oxalis is very diverse, but only a few species have taken root in Russia. In indoor conditions, you can still experiment with breeding hybrids, but in the garden we advise you to stick to time-tested classics!

Common sorrel

The most common perennial species that grows in coniferous forests and gets along well with mushrooms. The palmate leaves are assembled from intricate heart-shaped fragments. The flowers are solitary, light, but with distinct dark veins.

Photo: goodhouse.ru

Variegated wood sorrel

A very unusual appearance with multi-colored buds - white with a burgundy border. Variegated varieties also differ in the shape of their leaves, which consist of thin, long parts. At night, the flowers curl into a tube.

Photo: zen.yandex.ru

Triangular oxalis

These are the same purple leaves that are so reminiscent of butterfly wings. This species is most often grown indoors. It looks even more bizarre during flowering, when long whitish tube buds bloom.

Photo: cvetyphoto.blogspot.com

Tuberous sorrel

It is an edible plant that is grown in its native countries along with other garden tubers. This sorrel is valued for its high starch content. But in general it is also quite decorative with its pink flowers.

Photo: oir.mobi

Ferruginous oxalis

Great option for gardens and containers. It grows into a small but very dense bush up to 15 cm wide. The leaf segments are folded as if in a fan. The flowers have a beautiful pink-silver hue.

Photo: agroinstryment.ru

Four Leaf Oxalis

Its showy leaves are composed of four segments and are almost brown in the center. But the edge is light green. The bush is small, up to 15 cm, and, in fact, it is a lush rosette on a short stem. It blooms in loose umbrella inflorescences of red, pink or purple flowers.

Photo: sunhome.ru

Carob sorrel

An excellent ground cover that grows so quickly and vigorously that some consider it a weed. The leaves are collected from heart-shaped segments of burgundy or brown.

Photo: facenewss.ru

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Description

Triangular sour or oxalis triangularis is a beautiful bush with lilac, velvety triangular flowers.
The plant is not tall, reaches a maximum length of 25 cm. If the plant is grown correctly, the flowers have a bright purple color. It blooms in summer, but in winter on the windowsill it will remind you of summer, because its leaves from a distance resemble butterflies. The butterfly flower has tiny inflorescences. Usually the flowers are pink, white, yellow. They perfectly complement the purple leaves.

Oxalis care

Oxalis loves warmth and does not tolerate frost. In the summer it can be taken outside or planted in the garden, but wintering is strictly indoors. Otherwise, it causes almost no problems, despite its exotic appearance.

Temperature

The ideal temperature for sorrel is from 20 degrees, but it definitely needs fresh air. In summer, it is better to move indoor flowerpots to the balcony or at least ventilate them more often. In winter, keep the temperature to 12-18 degrees.

Photo: profile.ru

Lighting

Oxalis definitely needs a long sunny day, up to 14 hours. But at the same time, diffused light is desirable, so by noon it is shaded. Indoor flowerpots will need additional lighting in winter.

Photo: gardendesign.com

Watering

In summer, sorrel is watered frequently and intensively, as soon as the top layer dries. Garden sorrel usually has enough natural precipitation. During the dormant period, watering once every 1-1.5 months is sufficient. In addition, in hot weather, sorrel can be sprayed. But in general, it adapts well to any air humidity.

Photo: cvetyphoto.blogspot.com

The soil

Choose airy, light soil for deciduous plants. All-purpose mixtures are also suitable, but you should add baking powder to them. In the garden, the soil is dug up in advance with peat and humus.

Photo: domashniecvety.ru

Fertilizers and fertilizing

For feeding, use mineral mixtures with nitrogen and phosphorus - for the leaves and root system. But a very low concentration is needed - twice as weak as the recommended norm. Garden species can be fed with organic matter, and indoor species with wood ash and succinic acid.

Photo: oir.mobi

Trimming

To keep the sorrel looking neat, it needs to be thinned out periodically. This applies to both indoor bushes and garden ground cover species. And always remove dry leaves and faded buds.

Photo: domashniecvety.ru

Wintering

This is true for garden species. In the fall, the above-ground part of the sorrel dies, and then you need to carefully dig up the tubers and leave them to overwinter in a dark, cool place. At the beginning of spring, dig them into the soil with sand in containers, and only then plant them in the garden.

In the southern regions, tubers can be left to overwinter in open ground. But still, after the ground part dies, you need to mulch them with a thick layer so that they do not freeze.

Photo: domashniecvety.ru

Transfer

Before transplanting, you must first stop watering and dry the earthen ball. After this, carefully transfer the plant into a pot a couple of centimeters larger. This is necessary, among other things, to stimulate the growth and formation of daughter tubers. In most cases, wood sorrel calmly tolerates transshipment even during flowering.

Photo: facenewss.ru

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Problems when growing at home

Oxalis is an unpretentious plant; with proper care there are no problems with it. You just need to take a few things into account and take proper care of it.

Oxalis does not open its leaves . The cause may be dry air or soil.
The plant is withering . If this happens in the autumn-winter period, there is no need to worry. The plant is simply preparing for a period of dormancy. In other cases, the cause may be excess moisture or insufficient nutrients in the soil.
The leaves dry out . Check whether the flower is suffering from direct sunlight and whether it has enough moisture.

Leaves may dry out from exposure to sunlight.

Oxalis does not open when there is a lack of moisture in the air

Excessive watering causes the plant to wilt

Reproduction and planting of sorrel

Garden sorrel is planted with seeds directly into the ground by mid-spring. After just 2 weeks, the seedlings hatch, but throughout the first year the plant grows roots and rosettes. Already on the second day, the bushes acquire their decorative properties and bloom. In the garden, young plants are planted to a depth of about 3.5 cm and in increments of 10-12 cm.

At home, wood sorrel is most often propagated by cuttings, and any part of the plant is suitable. Even individual leaf segments take root well. But it is better to root them immediately in loose soil with sand and humus. In the warmth and sun, after 3 weeks they will take root safely.

Photo: koffkindom.ru

Pest and disease control

Oxalis has excellent strong immunity, which is partly due to its high acid content. Even fungus and spider mites rarely affect it. Therefore, no measures are needed here. Just use medicinal products and adjust the humidity!

Photo: lifeflower.ru

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Kislitsa – photo

Oxalis is very beautiful and good in any conditions. We invite you to take a closer look at what its fancy leaves are worth in our photo gallery!

Photo: domashniecvety.ru

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