Purple sorrel. Photo Oxalis (Oxalis) is an unpretentious perennial herbaceous plant of the oxalis family, widely used in indoor and garden floriculture. The homeland of wood sorrel is Mexico and the countries of South Africa. In nature, it is often found in warm temperate areas of Europe, South and Central America.
Oxalis grows quickly, forming many rosettes as it grows, consisting of three- or four-lobed leaves on long petioles. The color of the leaf blades, depending on the variety, varies from emerald green to dark purple.
Be sure to pay attention to the beautiful nightshade plant.
Oxalis blooms with medium-sized single flowers collected in umbrella inflorescences. Flower petals of different varieties can be white, pink, red or yellow.
| High growth rate. |
| Oxalis blooms with medium-sized single flowers. |
| An easy plant to grow. |
| Perennial. |
Useful properties of sorrel
Oxalis is familiar to folk medicine as a plant that has a beneficial effect on the human digestive system (stimulating appetite, accelerating metabolic processes, relieving heartburn). Decoctions and infusions from the leaves of the plant are sometimes used to lower blood pressure, treat stomatitis and diathesis.
However, it is important to know that oxalis is a mildly poisonous plant; if taken for a long time, it can cause nausea, digestive disorders, and kidney problems.
Reproduction in different ways
There are three ways to propagate sorrel in descending order of popularity: by dividing the bush, dividing the tuber, and by seeds (not suitable for all species).
Dividing the bush
This option involves the simplest steps. Oxalis is taken from the ground, the root is freed from the soil as best as possible and unravelled into different bushes. Each of them will then become a new plant.
It is better to divide the bush in early spring during the next transplant.
By dividing the tuber
Some types of sorrel have a tuberous root. Therefore, they are propagated by tubers.
After winter, the tuber needs to be dug up, disinfected with a solution of potassium permanganate and divided into parts with a sterile instrument. Accordingly, they are then placed in different containers.
Seeds
A very rare method due to its obvious complexity.
Seeds are usually planted at the end of winter. On any universal soil, without covering it with soil. The container must be covered with film and ventilated every day for 0.5-1 hour. They place it in a cool place (+16-18°C), and when shoots appear (after 1-4 weeks), immediately transfer the container to the brightest part of the house.
Oxalis seed germination is low.
Oxalis: care at home. Briefly
| Temperature | The most comfortable is +18-+20°C in summer and about +15°C in winter. |
| Air humidity | Moderate. Oxalis can tolerate low humidity at home if kept cool (at a temperature of +15-+18°C). |
| Lighting | Diffused with some direct sunlight in the morning. |
| Watering | In summer - once every 3-5 days with short periods of soil drying, in winter - moderate. |
| Soil for sorrel | Any loose, fertile, slightly acidic substrate is suitable. |
| Feeding and fertilizer | During the period of active growth, once every 3-4 weeks, use a half dose of any soluble fertilizer. |
| Oxalis transplant | Annually for young plants, once every 2-3 years for adult specimens. |
| Reproduction | By seeds, dividing the bush, stem cuttings. |
| Features of growing sorrel | On summer days, the plant can be taken out into the fresh air, leaving it on the balcony or in the garden overnight. Oxalis Deppa sheds its leaves for the winter; at this time, its bulbs are stored in a cool room, periodically watering a little so that they do not dry out. |
Planting oxalis at home
Simple rules also apply for planting sorrel:
- Select a wide, shallow container with drainage holes at the bottom.
- Place a good layer of drainage (expanded clay, sand) at the bottom, at least 5 cm thick.
- Place the flower with its root system in the center of the pot and carefully fill it with soil up to about the root collar.
- Lightly compact the soil so that the oxalis holds firmly.
- Place the plant in a well-lit area.
- Water the flower lightly, and after 2-3 weeks apply the first fertilizers (complex).
Caring for oxalis at home. Details
Oxalis blossom
The oxalis plant at home usually blooms throughout the summer. At this time, long thin peduncles regularly appear above the leaves, bearing umbrella inflorescences, combining several small white, pink, red or yellow flowers.
Temperature
Oxalis grows well in a cool room at an air temperature of about +18°C, but it is also not afraid of higher temperatures; it can withstand heat up to +25°C without loss of decorativeness.
In the cold season, for a full winter, the plant is transferred to a room where the air temperature is +12-+15°C (only Depp's sorrel requires warmer conditions - at least +16+18°C).
Spraying
Oxalis has no special requirements for environmental humidity; it can grow in fairly dry air in city apartments without harm to health.
However, in the hot season, it is better to periodically spray the plant with clean water so that it does not lose its decorative effect.
Lighting
Oxalis is photophilous, but it needs direct sunlight in very limited quantities. The plant is best kept on an eastern or western windowsill, placing the flower pot in the sunniest window in the house in the morning. With a critical lack of light, the plant stops blooming and slows down in growth, its leaves stretch out and turn pale.
Watering oxalis
House sorrel loves water, but does not tolerate waterlogged soil: when moisture stagnates at the roots, the plant often rots. In summer, oxalis is watered every 3-5 days with warm, settled water. In autumn and winter, the frequency and volume of watering is reduced to the minimum possible: the soil is moistened little by little, preventing it from drying out.
Oxalis pot
In order for the superficial root system of sorrel to develop well, a shallow but wide container is selected for the plant.
Be sure to add a thick layer of drainage to the bottom of the pot so that moisture does not stagnate at the roots.
Priming
The substrate for growing oxalis is selected to be light, nutritious, and always slightly acidic. You can prepare the soil mixture yourself from garden soil, high peat, humus and sand (perlite). The components are taken in a ratio of 2:2:2:1 and mixed thoroughly.
Feeding and fertilizer
Caring for sorrel at home involves regularly feeding the plant with complex mineral compounds during the active growing season. It is enough to apply fertilizer once every 3-4 weeks, and it is recommended to use half the dose of the preparations so as not to “overfeed” the flower.
Transfer
Young plants grow very quickly, so they need new, larger pots every year.
Oxalis that has reached adulthood can be transplanted less frequently - once every 2-3 years. The procedure is best performed in the spring, before the plants begin to actively grow, using the transshipment method, when the old earthen ball is completely preserved when transplanted into a new pot.
Pruning oxalis
The plant does not need pruning, since wood sorrel at home, with proper care, forms beautiful compact bushes on its own. To maintain a decorative appearance, you can periodically pluck out leaves that are too elongated or, on the contrary, short, and also remove wilted flowers along with peduncles.
Rest period
The plant goes to rest in winter; the signal for the onset of the dormant period is often the massive drying of leaves for no apparent reason. During wintering, the sorrel is moved to a cooler room and its watering is reduced to the minimum required. When young shoots begin to appear from the bulbs, the dormant period is over, the plant is returned to a well-lit window.
The soil
The substrate for the plant is slightly acidic or neutral, loose. An earthen mixture is prepared from equal parts of turf soil, high peat, river sand, and leaf humus. You can buy a universal soil for indoor flowers in the store; the “butterfly” is not capricious in choosing a substrate.
The root system of sorrel lies superficially, so the flower pot should be shallow and wide. Be sure to have drainage holes in the bottom. Additionally, to drain excess water, a small layer of expanded clay or small pebbles is poured onto the bottom of the container.
Oxalis in a pot
Diseases and pests
House oxalis rarely gets sick; it can withstand unfavorable growing conditions, such as low air temperatures, too dry air, and insufficient lighting. However, some mistakes in care can still damage the health and attractive appearance of the plant:
- Oxalis rots due to excessive watering and stagnation of moisture in the soil. In this case, all damaged areas are immediately removed, after which it is better to transplant the diseased sorrel into a fresh substrate and then carefully monitor compliance with the watering regime.
- Oxalis leaves dry out when the plant is in the sun for a long time and is not watered in a timely manner. Dried foliage is removed along with the petioles, and then the optimal watering and lighting regime is established.
- Oxalis does not bloom if it is too hot or lacks sunlight. It is better to keep the plant in a well-lit window, shading it from the bright sun.
- Tubers rot if they were too deep into the soil when planting or the plant was kept in the cold for a long time. In this case, it is better to transplant the oxalis and move it to a warmer room.
- Oxalis grows slowly in low light. Being in the shade, it sometimes even blooms, but it will not be able to form a lush bush.
- Burns on the leaves appear when exposed to direct sunlight. The plant should be shaded from the hot sun or even removed for a while from an overly lit windowsill.
Oxalis is not often attacked by pests, but sometimes it is still attacked by mealybugs, whiteflies, scale insects, and spider mites. It is best to combat them with special insecticides.
Homeland of the plant oxalis
Oxalis belongs to the Oxalis family, which includes up to 800 species of this plant. This diversity has contributed to the widespread distribution of wood sorrel throughout the planet.
It is found in South Africa, and in South and Central America, almost throughout Europe, right up to the northern countries.
The plant feels best in the temperate zone, but is also found in warm subtropical climates.
Types of wood sorrel with photos and names
Oxalis bowiei
A compact variety with small light green trifoliate leaves and graceful pink flowers rising above the greenery on long thin stalks.
Oxalis deppei, Oxalis deppei
An unusual variety of oxalis, which has small bright scarlet flowers and spectacular four-lobed leaves of two-tone color (dark burgundy core and grass-green edges).
Purple wood sorrel (Oxalis purpurea)
A miniature plant with bright pink or white flowers and round, three-lobed leaves of a gray-green hue, the surface of which is slightly pubescent.
Red sorrel (Oxalis rubra)
A fairly large variety (up to 40 cm high) with three-lobed fleecy leaves of a juicy green hue and small rich red or pale pink flowers.
Oxalis ortgiasii
A common variety with medium-sized bright yellow flowers and trifoliate reddish-brown leaves, the segments of which are heart-shaped and have a pubescent surface.
Triangular Oxalis (Oxalis triangularis) or Regnell's Oxalis, purple
A fast-growing variety with dark purple three-lobed leaves, the edges of which are decorated with a dark purple border. It blooms with small milky-white or pinkish flowers, collected in inflorescences of several pieces.
Oxalis adenophylla
An ornamental groundcover variety with silver-green pinnate leaves, dissected into many fragments, and large pink-lilac flowers, the petals of which are covered with a network of crimson veins, and the core is painted dark burgundy.
Description
In natural conditions, herbaceous and shrubby forms of the butterfly flower are found. Herbaceous plants are common in culture, which are planted as ground covers or hanging plants when grown in pots.
Oxalis foliage is similar to clover leaves, with different colors. In some varieties, the blades of the leaf blades are not in the same plane, which is why the leaves resemble fluttering butterflies. At night or in anticipation of rain, some varieties of the plant fold their leaves. The color of the foliage can be green, silver, burgundy, brown. Oxalis leaves are edible and are collected in early spring along with sorrel. The rich composition of beneficial substances in oxalis leaves helps replenish the supply of vitamins in the body after winter.
The roots of different types of hare cabbage can be in the form of bulbs, tubers or creeping rhizomes.
Oxalis flowers are small, grow in an inflorescence - an umbrella, and can be colored white, yellow, pink, purple.
Varieties of indoor butterfly flower:
- Rose sorrel (perennial with small pink flowers enclosed in small inflorescences);
Rose sorrel
- Nine-leaved (perennial, blooms with white or pink flowers);
Nine-leaved
- Triangular (the flower has deep purple foliage, snow-white or pink blooms);
Triangular
- Carob (leaf color is brown-burgundy, flowers are yellow);
Rozhkova
- Common (perennial, up to 10 cm high, white flowers);
- Deppa (perennial with beautiful green leaves, with a dark spot according to src=»https://rasteniyadom.ru/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/babochka-7.jpg» class=»aligncenter» width=»500″ height ="313″[/img] Depp
- Ferruginous (dwarf plant, up to 8 cm in height, with silvery foliage and pinkish-gray flowers).
From the presented photos, you can appreciate the discreet beauty of the butterfly flower.
Possible problems during cultivation
A novice gardener may encounter some problems when cultivating even such an unpretentious plant as sorrel.
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Why doesn't it bloom?
Often the reason for the lack of flowering is a disturbed dormant period of wood sorrel . In this case, the flower is exhausted, and the perennial lacks the strength to form peduncles. Another possible reason is excess minerals .
Diseases
The herbaceous flower is considered a crop resistant to many diseases. However, improper care can lead to some problems:
- Root system rotting . It is characterized by withering of the shoots, they become translucent and fragile. The reason is excessive watering. Oxalis can be saved by transplanting it into a new container with dry soil.
- Sunburn occurs when direct rays hit the foliage of a flower. In this case, the sorrel should be removed to a shaded place, and the affected shoots should be removed.
When the air is too dry, the foliage begins to dry out and curl. You can solve the problem by using a household humidifier.
Four leaf sorrel (Oxalis tetraphylla)
The Mexican species of wood sorrel in Europe has become one of the most popular as a garden plant. Quatrefoil oxalis has a second name - Depp's oxalis. The culture is easily recognizable due to its four-lobed leaves with a brown, reddish or purple pattern on the leaf blades.
The perennial four-leaf sorrel reproduces by seeds and daughter scaly bulbs formed in the fall, which can be eaten. The flowers of this species are reddish-pink, simple, with wide, rounded petals.
Oxalis tuberosa
In the long line of existing varieties, tuberous sorrel or, as the plant is called in its homeland, South America, oca, is not an ornamental, but an agricultural crop.
It is actively grown not for its foliage or flowers, but for its edible starchy tubers, which in terms of nutritional value and yield rival the potatoes more familiar to Russians.
Depending on the variety of tuberous oxalis grown, farmers in the Central American region harvest tubers that are white, yellowish, pink or purple. After collection, they are stored dried or eaten after all available types of culinary processing.
Application
- In cooking. Fresh sorrel is used instead of sorrel, added to various salads, and also used to prepare cabbage soup. You can make puree from sorrel, or grind it and add it to cooling drinks, because it perfectly quenches thirst.
- In medicine. In folk medicine, oxalis is often used for diarrhea, heartburn, gastrointestinal diseases, worms, kidney disease, and stomach cancer. Typically, sorrel is brewed to drink or a few drops of leaf juice are added to a drink.
- When losing weight. Oxalis has a fairly low calorie content, so it is beneficial during a diet. After all, it is when a person adheres to a diet that his body quickly loses all vitamins and nutrients, and this plant is able to restore them.
- At home. As mentioned above, sorrel can not only be grown as an ornamental plant, but also actively used to treat any diseases or even cooked.
- In cosmetology. Since oxalis has an anti-inflammatory effect, it is also used in cosmetology to combat acne and skin inflammation.
Oxalis triangularis
Oxalis began to be grown as an indoor crop only in the last century. Flower growers were attracted by the opportunity to decorate a windowsill with a spectacular plant from distant countries with virtually no hassle. A striking example of this is the purple or triangular sorrel, once exported from Brazil.
The name of the species is due to the structure of the leaves and their color. Most small triangular sorrel plants are striking with a thick purple hue, and on the leaf blades, in addition, spots or streaks of a different color are clearly visible.
But unpretentious indoor culture is not only purple. Green triangular sorrel is no less elegant and decorative. Against the background of large three-lobed foliage, small white flowers stand out, readily opening buds all year round.
Benefit
- Oxalis has a diuretic property and removes bile from the body.
- With the help of this plant you can get rid of helminths.
- When using the herb externally, you can achieve speedy healing of wounds and abrasions.
- Oxalis helps cope with inflammatory processes and can also be used as a hemostatic agent.
- The plant helps fight heat and high temperatures.
Transfer
Confirming its reputation as an unpretentious houseplant, sorrel is loyal to transplants. Overwintering species are replanted annually after the end of the dormant period. Forms that do not shed leaves increase the volume of the pot as they grow.
Choosing the right pot and soil
The pot for oxalis bushes is chosen to be wide and low. It should be spacious enough so that the plant is more willing to grow daughter tubers. The size of the container depends on the number of bushes you plant in it - each should have 6-8 cm of free space.
This plant is not picky about soil composition. The optimal soil would be one that includes turf, leaf soil, peat and sand in equal parts. If you make the mixture yourself, do not forget to heat treat its ingredients. This way you will protect your plants from being infected by pests. You can purchase specialized substrates at flower shops. Oxalis is suitable soil for decorative deciduous plants.
Step-by-step transplant process
Most types of wood sorrel are replanted in the spring, after the dormant period ends. Dormant tubers are removed from the old soil in which they were stored in winter and treated with stimulants (Epin, Kornevin or Amber Acid). A layer of drainage and fresh soil is poured into the container. Lay the tubers and cover them with a small layer of soil and water them.
If a leafy bush needs replanting or your wood sorrel does not fall asleep for the winter, proceed as follows:
- Remove the earthen lump from the old container, partially free the roots from the soil, being careful not to damage the tubers themselves.
- Place the lump in a previously prepared container.
- Add soil so as not to cover the stem.
If the tubers are not damaged during transplantation, the plant will take the procedure calmly.
Signs and superstitions
Since ancient times, it has been believed that oxalis can charge a home with positive energy, give the owner a thirst for life, improve well-being, and lift the mood.
A house where perennials grow is able to maintain an atmosphere of lightness and happiness . The plant is considered ideal for children, as it can protect against the evil eye, bad thoughts, and calm sleep.
Oxalis is a great holiday gift for families who believe in the miraculous power of omens. Such a gift can solve personal problems and improve the well-being of a married couple.
