Oxalis Triangularis • Purple Form Care Guide

Care overview

Goes dormant in winter; stop watering when leaves die back and resume in spring. Sensitive to overwatering during dormancy.

Light

Bright, indirect light for richest colour. Can tolerate some morning or late afternoon sun but avoid harsh midday rays.

Watering

Water when the top 2–3 cm of soil are dry. Prefers evenly moist soil — too dry and leaves wilt, too wet and bulbs may rot.

Humidity

Average home humidity (40–60%) is fine — thrives in airy conditions.

Temperature

15–25°C

Feeding and fertiliser

Feed every 4–6 weeks during active growth at quarter to half strength. Do not fertilise fresh unrooted cuttings.

Potting mix

General-purpose houseplant soil with added perlite or grit for drainage.

Propagation

Divide bulbs or corms — best done in spring before active growth resumes.

Support

Self-supporting; slender stems benefit from gentle airflow to prevent flopping.

Mature size

Usually forms a compact mound around 20–35 cm tall and wide, spreading gradually through underground corms or rhizomes.

Semi-hydro suitability

Suitability depends on the plant, root condition and the chosen semi-hydro system.

Dormancy and winter growth

This plant can enter a genuine dormant phase, with foliage dying back temporarily. Reduce watering while dormant and resume normal care when fresh growth appears.

About this plant

Oxalis Triangularis is held in the Snip & Sprout permanent collection and propagated in small batches when suitable parent growth is available.

Bulb or rhizome rot

Likely cause

Poor drainage, prolonged saturation and low oxygen around roots and storage organs can favour tissue damage and root-rotting organisms.

What to do

Check affected tissue, improve drainage and aeration, and avoid leaving the plant in unsuitable saturated conditions.

Leaf damage

Likely cause

Tender foliage can be damaged by excessive sun, cold, drought, waterlogging or abrupt changes in growing conditions.

What to do

Check recent conditions and correct the underlying cause rather than treating damaged leaves alone.

Slower growth or dieback

Likely cause

Some species have seasonal rest periods, while leaf loss can also follow cold, drought, root problems or other stress.

What to do

Check the normal growth cycle of the species before increasing water or feed. Keep dormant or resting plants according to their individual requirements.

Does Oxalis Triangularis go dormant in winter?

This plant can enter a genuine dormant phase, with foliage dying back temporarily. Reduce watering while dormant and resume normal care when fresh growth appears.

How large can Oxalis Triangularis grow indoors?

Usually forms a compact mound around 20–35 cm tall and wide, spreading gradually through underground corms or rhizomes.

What is the most important care point for Oxalis Triangularis?

Goes dormant in winter; stop watering when leaves die back and resume in spring. Sensitive to overwatering during dormancy.