Photo with a description of garden and indoor species of oxalis oxalis. Unusual sorrel

Oxalis (Oxalis) is a genus of herbaceous plants belonging to the Oxalis family. This herb is widespread on almost all continents and is even a symbol of Ireland. The plant received this name because of the sour taste of the foliage; Translated from Latin, Oxalis also means sour. We call this flower “rabbit cabbage”.

General information

There are about eight hundred wild species of wood sorrel, and among the cultivated species there are also garden and indoor types.

Oxalis is difficult to describe in one word, since within the genus there are both annuals and perennials, herbs with tuberous rhizomes and bulbs. The foliage of these flowers is located on the petiole and is palmate or trifoliate. Interesting feature is that in the evening it bends, and in the morning it opens.

The color of the foliage depends on the species and can be green, burgundy or purple. The flowers are small, regular, mostly in delicate tones. In the evening, as well as before bad weather, the flowers close.

The seeds ripen into a fruit that bursts easily when touched. In addition, the herb is used in cooking - it is added to first courses, teas, and kvass. Triangular and four-leaf oxalis are most often grown in culture.

Types and varieties

Or purple the most common species in culture. It is a short flower with purple foliage. The flowers are small, usually white or pale pink.

Or Deppe can be grown both in the garden and indoors. Its leaves have 4 lobes of soft green color with a burgundy middle. Scarlet inflorescences. This species in Europe is called " lucky clover »

It is a low bush with clover-like foliage and large single flowers.

A delicate flower that is very afraid of cold weather. It has light leaves and soft lilac flowers.

A very beautiful species, popular due to its white flowers with scarlet stripes.

Also known are tuberous oxalis , carob , poor , succulent , but they are not particularly popular and are quite rarely grown.

Oxalis care at home

Indoor sorrel needs the same conditions as wild sorrel. The first condition for plant health is bright but diffused lighting, so that direct rays do not touch it.

Summer temperatures suitable for sorrel fluctuate around 25°C, and winter temperatures around 12-18°C.

Watering indoor oxalis

Oxalis needs a lot of moisture, but keep the soil damp, because if the water remains in the pot for a long time, the roots may rot. With the arrival of autumn, they begin to water the flower less frequently, and in winter, watering is done only to lightly moisten the soil.

There is generally no need to spray the flower, but if the weather is too hot, you can do this using boiled water. This procedure cannot be performed in winter.

Oxalis dormant period

Some species enter a dormant period during the winter, which lasts about a month and a half. If, after flowering, foliage begins to fall from the plant, then reduce watering and place the sorrel in a cool room, where it will remain until the end of the dormant period.

It happens that the foliage remains on the plant, but it stops growing: this also indicates the need to move to a cooler place to rest.

You will know that the dormant period is over by the appearance of new branches. When this happens, replant the flower and care for it as before.

Fertilizer for sorrel

In order for the plant to grow well, it needs fertilizing. To do this, during active growth, complex mineral fertilizers are applied every 15-20 days, but taking into account that they need to be diluted twice as much as indicated in the instructions.

Transplanting oxalis at home

When growing wood sorrel, young plants need to be replanted every year. For adult flowers, this procedure is carried out once every couple of years.

When choosing a container for planting, pay attention to wide pots that can accommodate more than one tuber or bulb. This is necessary for the plant to form a bush and not grow alone.

A drainage layer must be placed in the planting container. In terms of substrate, oxalis is unpretentious, and you can simply buy universal soil in the store. The main thing to remember is that the plant will not bloom in soil that is too nutritious.

You need to replant the bush extremely carefully; this is done together with the soil in order to keep the rhizome intact (except for cases when you want to propagate it this year).

Oxalis propagation by seeds

In nature, wood sorrel reproduces by self-sowing, but when growing it at home, this method is usually not used, due to the availability of simpler and more reliable ones. But if you want, you can try to grow a flower using seed.

To do this, you need to prepare a substrate from leaf humus, peat and sand (4: 4: 1). Sow seeds on top of the substrate without covering them. After this, the container is covered with glass to create greenhouse conditions.

In order for the seeds to germinate, in addition to high humidity, they need diffused lighting and a temperature close to 17°C. Also, do not forget to ventilate the crops and spray them with water every day.

Depending on the age of the seeds, you will get seedlings within 7 to 30 days.

Reproduction of sorrel by daughter bulbs

The easiest way to propagate sorrel is by separating the daughter formations from the main root. Next, the material is simply planted, placing several roots or bulbs in one pot, and sprinkled with a little soil. After this, the container is placed in a dimly lit, cool place, occasionally watering the soil.

When the sprouts hatch, the pot is transferred to the light. And in 30-40 days you will already have a young, fresh bush.

Oxalis propagation by division of rhizomes

Dividing the root is also a fairly simple method. At the end of the dormant period, when the plant expels a young leaf, the rhizome must be pulled out of the soil, cleaned and treated with a light solution of manganese. After this, it is divided into parts, the incisions are powdered charcoal and planted in separate containers.

Containers with planted plants are placed under diffused lighting and watered as the soil dries. And from the 15th day after planting, they begin to fertilize twice for 30 days.

Oxalis propagation by leaf

You can also propagate the flower by leaf. To do this, choose a plant at least 10 cm tall and with at least three leaves.

The leaf is simply cut off and placed in water. Over time, roots will appear, when they become larger, just plant the cuttings in the soil. Water the young flower, and soon it will begin to send out new leaves.

Diseases and pests

In general, wood sorrel is not afraid of diseases and pests, but if you care for it incorrectly, then the following outcome is possible:

• Most often, the plant is attacked by spider mites, aphids and scale insects. . They fight against mites with actellik, destroy aphids with a solution of soap or water with tangerine peels, and get rid of scale insects with actara.
• If there is excess moisture, sorrel may develop gray mold or fusarium. . Both ailments can be eliminated with the help of foundationazole.
• If Your Oxalis Doesn't Open Its Leaves , then most likely the problem is in care. Most often this happens due to drying out of the soil or too dry air.
• Oxalis most often begins to wither when there is excess moisture, as well as when the soil is depleted. . If wilting occurs in the winter and after that it sheds its leaves, then this is preparation for a dormant period.
• It happens that sorrel leaves dry out . This is usually due to the fact that it is placed in the sun and the foliage gets burned. This also happens due to dry air and too high a temperature.
• In addition, the leaves may dry out because the purchased plant is not yet accustomed to the new conditions. , you just need to wait until it acclimatizes.

The delicate flowering and charming color of sorrel will always attract the attention of any gardener.

Oxalis (Oxalis)- a perennial and annual plant of the oxalis family, the genus of which includes up to 800 species. Oxalis is often called oxalis. There are bulbous and tuberous varieties.

Oxalis contains a large amount of oxalic acid, the leaves are used in cooking. In America and Europe, there is a tradition of placing this plant on New Year's Eve along with gifts under the Christmas tree. It has long been believed that gifted sorrel will bring wealth and prosperity to the home.

Indoor oxalis photo of purple beauty

Where does sorrel grow?

The flower is native to Central and South America, but is often found in much of Europe, the Caucasus, and some North America, Mongolia, Turkey, the Far East and even Siberia.

At first it was an ordinary weed, and only in the 17th century it began to be actively grown as an ornamental plant. Oxalis is a symbol of Ireland, and got its name due to the sour taste of the leaves.

Photo of wood sorrel in the forest

There are a number of other names: hare cabbage, lucky clover, cuckoo clover.

“Good morning” is another name for wood sorrel, thanks to the flowers that close in the evening, and in the morning they bloom again and delight the gardener’s eye.

• Oxalis has found its place on window sills at home as a highly decorative plant.
• Garden sorrel is grown in garden plots as decoration and as an additive to various dishes and salads. The leaves are edible fresh.

In Russia and CIS countries, the species Oxalis acetosella (Oxalis acetosella) is better known; it is often found in flower beds, parks, and gardens as flowering lawns and decorations. In its natural environment it grows in shaded areas, forming a continuous carpet between coniferous trees, but also feels great in open space.

Oxalis Description

herbaceous plant 5-12 cm high, without a clearly defined stem. The shoots are squat and creeping.

The root is fragile, creeping, and often infected with fungi.

The leaves are small, trifoliate, similar to clover, located on long petioles. The leaves are obversely heart-shaped; in the evening, when touched or in the wind, they fold and droop, as a result of changes in tight pressure inside the cells of the leaf joint pads. The folding of leaves when mechanically irritated in the forest is especially noticeable. After 5 minutes they lean almost vertically. At home, indoor oxalis reacts slightly and is barely noticeable to the eye. Except mechanical movements, the leaves contain oxalic acid and are suitable for consumption raw.

Flowering: Peduncle up to 10-12 cm long. The flowers are small, located on long stalks. Common sorrel blooms from May to June with white flowers with pink-violet veins and a yellow color at the base. Leaves and flowers barely rising above the ground, perfectly visible in the forest thanks to the white carpet spreading along the ground, this is wood sorrel.

The oval sepals have slight drooping at the edges. Inside the petal there are 5 thin stamens, in the middle there is a pistil. There are 5 more stamens hidden between the petals. Oxalis is pollinated by insects.

In the photo there is a velvet sorrel in yellow color

Bursting fruits: The fruit is in the form of a small ball (box) of green color, barely noticeable at the end of the stem where the flower was located. When light pressure is applied to the fruit, it bursts. You may have often found similar plants in the thickets with green small balls; when added to them, they exploded, creating a vibration between your fingers, like the explosion of a miniature grenade. This fruit threw its seeds into the distance. It is worth noting that the explosion of seeds occurs only after full ripening. The middle of the fruit contains small seeds, which are thrown out after ripening by breaking the nests of the capsule. But the box is not involved in the scattering of seeds. Each seed has a small spring on the side. When the box is opened, the springs push the seeds in different directions from the fruit.

In the natural environment, seeds are carried by ants throughout the area. The germination rate of the seeds is high, first two oval-shaped cotyledons appear, then a small full-fledged leaf. What indoor wood sorrel looks like is shown in the photo.

Photo of indoor oxalis - pink with a yellow core

Oxalis - home care

The plant is grown indoors and planted in garden plots.

Planting oxalis in open ground

Garden oxalis tubers are planted in the garden in early spring in fertile and loose soil, and in summer you will get an amazing carpet of white covering. Planting is carried out when the night temperature rises above 0. As a rule, this annual plants and with the onset of autumn the leaves dry up. The tuber is dug up and transferred indoors. Store throughout the winter in a dark place at 3-7 degrees C.

Oxalis on personal plot- photo

Potted (indoor) sorrel begins to be planted in early March. Having planted the tuber in moist soil, it is placed in a well-lit place at 18-22 degrees. The first flowering will appear in May. The flowers appear alternately, creating a profuse blanket of white throughout the summer. Popular potted varieties: Deppe and Bowie, the height of the bushes does not exceed 10 -12 cm.

Succulent sorrel is considered the most unique variety; it is grown as a hanging plant.

Ferruginous oxalis is popular at home due to its white blooms with a soft pink border and deep purple veins. The height of the dwarf bush is 5-10 cm, and with the onset of winter, all the leaves fall off.

Popular types of wood sorrel: carob, nusturtium, pink, succulent and ortgisa.

Lighting: The plant requires light, but needs shading on hot afternoons. For potted sorrel, choose a shaded place. An eastern or western exposure would be perfect. On open ground choose a place near trees or bushes.

Temperature: For successful growth, it will require an optimal temperature of 22-26 degrees. In winter, most varieties enter a dormant period, and temperatures drop to 16-18 degrees. For wintering tubers, keep the temperature at 2-5 degrees.

The succulent species can safely tolerate temperatures around 0.

Watering: Creeping roots need constant moisture, but the plant is not able to absorb much water. Water frequently, but in small doses. Water should not remain in the pan, otherwise the fragile and thin roots will begin to rot. IN summer time Water abundantly and keep the substrate moist at all times. With the onset of autumn after flowering, watering is significantly reduced and watered after the top layer of the substrate has dried. In winter, with the onset of cold weather, water occasionally and in small doses only to moisten the substrate. Water is used at room temperature, separated.

Humidity: indoor oxalis does not need special humidity, but prefers values ​​not lower than 50-60%. In a room with low humidity, install an air humidifier, or place the pot on a tray with damp pebbles or moss. Important! The pot should not come into contact with water. On hot days it does not require mandatory spraying. Occasionally, in dry climates and at high temperatures, spray with a spray bottle, but use high-quality water (distilled or rain). Poor quality water affects flowers.

Soil: for planting in a pot, use light and permeable soil compositions: turf (2 hours), leaf (2 hours), peat (1 hour) and sand (1 hour).

For wood sorrel growing in open areas, peat and sand are added to the garden soil in equal proportions. In addition to self-prepared soil, neutral or slightly acidic soil with a pH of 5.5-7, purchased for flowering ornamental plants, is used.

How to transplant sorrel?

• Annual varieties of wood sorrel shed their leaves in the fall, and the dug up tuber overwinters in a dark and cold room at a temperature of 2-5 degrees.
• Perennial species need replanting. Young plants are replanted every year. Adults need to be replanted once every 3-4 years or as the roots grow, when the container is too small for the root system.

Containers for transplanting oxalis are selected wide, where several tubers or bulbs will fit at once. By planting several plants at once, in a couple of months you will get a dense bush.

Transplanting indoor oxalis photo

Before planting, expanded clay, broken bricks or shards are poured into 1/3 of the pot as drainage to remove excess moisture.

If you do not plan to propagate wood sorrel, transplantation is often carried out using the transshipment method, that is, the root is transferred along with a lump of earth. The root system is very fragile and thin and transplantation is extremely painful.

Fertilizer: During the growing season, oxalis is fertilized with complex mineral fertilizers for flowering ornamental plants. Fertilizers are applied once every 2 weeks, but the concentration is reduced by 2-3 times according to the instructions for use. Too nutritious soils will not allow indoor wood sorrel to bloom profusely.

During the growing season, sorrel is fertilized 3-4 times.

• For foliage growth (nitrogen fertilizers)
• Budding process (complex)
• Active flowering phase (potassium phosphate)
• Fertilize again during a long flowering period (phosphate, potassium phosphate)

Methods for propagating wood sorrel

Common sorrel in its natural environment reproduces by seeds. After the fruit ripens, the seeds shoot out of it over a fairly long distance. Subsequently, various insects carry the seeds to spread them throughout the forest.

At home, wood sorrel propagates in several ways: by seeds, vegetatively (bulbous tubers) and some varieties by cuttings.

Growing sorrel from seeds

This method is very simple with a high probability of germination. Seeds are sown on the soil surface in early spring. Composition: leaf soil with humus, peat and sand (4:4:1). First, the soil is well moistened and the seeds are sown without sprinkling soil on top. The container is placed in a mini greenhouse, or covered with plastic film to create a microclimate.

The seeds are regularly ventilated, the film is removed and moistened with a spray bottle. Temperature during germination period is 20 degrees. It is important to provide long-lasting, intense, diffused light.

After 1-3 weeks, shoots will appear. In the first year, a basal rosette of leaves and underground shoots (daughter roots) will appear. Next year, a pattern (a continuous covering of foliage) will begin to form from the sprouts, and new leafy rosettes will appear from the axils of the leaves of ground shoots.

Vegetative method of growing sorrel

Having separated the daughter bulbs from the mother tap root, they can be planted separately in several pieces. Reproduction is carried out in the fall, or immediately after the dormant period.

Several tubers are planted in one pot and sprinkled with a 1 cm layer of soil on top. Soil composition: turf soil 2 parts, leaf soil and sand 1 part each. The temperature is 5-7 degrees until roots appear. Water very rarely. In April, gradually increase to 14-16 degrees and increase watering. After growth, the bulbs, if necessary, can be removed, washed in a weak solution of potassium permanganate and transplanted into separate containers.

If you want to get a fully leafy plant for the New Year, a tuber for example (Deppei's sorrel, which is most often grown) is planted in mid-autumn. Planting is done in moistened soil from compost soil 2 parts, leaf soil and sand 1 part each. Also, until the roots appear, the temperature is kept at 5-7 degrees, then gradually increased to room temperature. It takes 1.5 months from planting to flowering. Flowering duration is at least 3 months.

Dividing rhizomes

The division of rhizomes resembles vegetative propagation. The procedure is carried out after a period of rest with the appearance of the first leaves.

The root is carefully pulled out, separated from the ground and treated with a weak solution of potassium permanganate (potassium permanganate). Then the root is divided into several parts and planted in containers with soil. For roots to appear, it is necessary to provide intense lighting, moderate watering and a temperature of 18-22 degrees. After 2-3 weeks, apply fertilizer once a month. Use complex mineral fertilizers for flowers.

Propagation of sorrel by cuttings

Species such as Ortgisa and hedysarium can reproduce by shoots. The cuttings are cut and placed in soil made from turf, leaf soil, sand and humus taken in equal proportions. The rooting period is 20 days, at a temperature of 25 degrees. The cutting needs bright, diffused light without direct sunlight.

Propagation of indoor wood sorrel by leaf

For propagation, select an oxalis with a height of at least 10 cm and at least 3 leaves. Cut off a healthy leaf and place it in water. After some time, roots will appear. Then the leaf with roots is rooted in soil made of turf, leaf sand and humus, taken in equal proportions. Over time, the young indoor wood sorrel will take root completely and produce new shoots.

Dormancy period for sorrel

The resting period of wood sorrel lasts from 1.5 months, depending on the species and climate of keeping. Signs when the plant goes into a dormant state - the foliage begins to wither and dry out. At this time, I tear off all the dry leaves and shoots and transfer the tuber to a dark and cool place. Keeping temperature is 5-10 degrees, very rare watering (slightly moisten the soil) and no fertilizer. Oxalis may go into dormancy prematurely if the soil were dry for a long time at temperatures above 24 degrees.

The exit from dormancy is indicated by the appearance of young leaves. Watering is gradually increased, and the temperature is raised to 18-22 degrees.

Diseases and pests of wood sorrel

In general, caring for sorrel is easy, but violation of the care rules can lead to the appearance of gray rot or fusarium. The main reason is excess moisture.

Control measures: significantly reduce watering and treat the plant with foundationazole.

• Root rot damage is caused by excessive watering, stagnation of water in the pan, lack of drainage or inappropriate soil composition (poor moisture and air permeability). Oxalis is also cleared of soil, damaged roots are cut off and replanted in a dry substrate. I water occasionally, after the top layer of soil has dried, until the plant regains its strength, then watering is resumed. Drainage is required.
• Rust on the leaves in the form of brown spots - the surface is treated with fungicides.

Oxalis is susceptible to attack by pests, especially garden species.

• Spider mite - the leaves become covered with a sticky coating. The surface is treated with Actellik.
• Scale insects - yellow-brown spots on the lower part in large numbers. Pests feed on sap from leaves and stems. Late detection leads to depletion and death of the plant. Causes of appearance: weakened plant, excess nitrogen in fertilizer, dry air, insufficient watering and lighting. The surface is treated with a sponge and soap solution (repeatedly every 6-7 days); in case of severe damage, insecticides are used (Aktellik, Akkara, Bankol, Mospmlan).
• Whitefly is a small white insect that covers the leaves in a white powdery mildew-like appearance. Many brown dots are whitefly larvae. The reasons for the appearance of whiteflies: constantly high humidity and temperature, insufficient or excess fertilizers. Methods of control: insecticidal commercial preparations (Aktara, Actellik, Confidor, Akarin), traps and folk remedies.
• Aphids are small green winged insects that cover the entire leaf blade and stem. They feed on sorrel juice. Reasons: care rules are not followed, in particular excessive watering, insufficient ventilation of the room, untimely removal of dry leaves. Methods of control: destroying winged insects is not so easy. Repeatedly treated with herbal preparations or chemicals (Aktara, Aktellik, Fitoverm).

Oxalis: beneficial properties and use in folk medicine

Common oxalis is used in folk medicine and is considered a medicinal plant. But the leaves, even in small quantities, contain toxic substances that cause poisoning in case of overdose.

The main component of the leaves is oxalic acid. In addition, other acids are present in the foliage: malic, succinic, ascorbic, as well as carotene and rutin. The content of all acids does not exceed 1%.

Fresh leaves have a sour taste; they are used in salads with other ingredients, serve as a seasoning for dishes, and to saturate the body with vitamins. By adding water and adding a little sugar, you get a vitamin drink.

Recipes traditional medicine based on sorrel, they are used in the form of tinctures and decoctions.

Application of sorrel: Diuretic, choleretic, anti-inflammatory agent for disorders and regulation of digestion, metabolic disorders, skin diseases, neutralizes unpleasant odor in the mouth.

The juice acts as a wound-healing, antiseptic and antibactericidal agent. Fresh juice is used to make lotions for purulent inflammations and cuts. I take the juice as an antidote to mercury and arsenic.

Oxalis is used as a natural dye. The flowers contain a small amount of nectar, which is very attractive to bees.

Contraindication: long-term ingestion or overdose causes poisoning, irritation of the genitourinary system and kidneys.

Cases have been recorded where long-term grazing of livestock (sheep, cows) led to deaths. No fatal poisoning was recorded among people.

Children under 12 years of age are prohibited from taking infusions internally. Before consuming, consult your doctor and be sure to get tested for an allergic reaction to the flower.

Difficulties in caring for wood sorrel

• The plant withers - an excess of fertilizers or watering. But this process is natural for wood sorrel in the fall, when it enters a dormant period.
• Leaves do not open - insufficient watering or low humidity in the room.
• The flower sheds its leaves - if in the fall, this is a natural process, otherwise it is too low temperature, excess moisture, or the presence of drafts.
• Dark spots on the leaves are burns from intense direct sunlight.
• Leaves dry out - high temperature, low humidity, or too dry earthen ball.
• The leaves are fading - there is too much watering or the roots are affected by gray rot.

Types of oxalis

Four-leaf sour (Oxalis tetraphylla) or Deppe (Oxalis deppei)

There are other names (lucky clover, iron cross). A perennial plant native to Mexico, 25-35 cm tall with bright green, monochromatic leaves, tetralobed with a red-brown diamond-shaped core. The plant is grown at home and outdoors. The flowers are light crimson, collected in an umbrella-shaped inflorescence. Flowering from August until the first frost. Underground tubers are edible. One of the highly decorative varieties.

The dwarf species, up to 10 cm high, is simple and easy to care for. Motherland South America. Grow as a potted plant and in the garden. The pubescent smooth leaves are light green in color. The flowers consist of 5 light pink petals, with a yellow core in the center.

A low-growing bush 8-10 cm high and 15 cm in diameter. The leaves are multi-lobed (up to 22 parts), green. The bloom is pale pink, white closer to the middle. Distinct veins are visible along all the petals. The plant is frost-resistant, blooms in June-July.

The plant is native to South Africa, prefers warm climates and does not tolerate frost. In cold climates they are grown in greenhouses and greenhouses. The plant is popular due to the unusual color of its flowers. On a white background there are vertical wavy stripes, like curly hair in the wind. The inside is white.

Heat-loving bush 25 cm high with long and fragile shoots. The leaves are leathery, light green. On a thin long peduncle there are pink flowers with a yellow core. Flowering begins in mid-May.

Oxalis triangularis or purple sorrel (Oxalis triangularis)

A tall plant native to Brazil, it is intended for growing indoors. Trilobed leaves are located on long and flexible petioles. The plant is often compared to the flapping of the wings of Madama Butterfly butterflies. The leaves are covered with bright spots. The flowers are small, pale pink, white or lilac. The root is tuberous.

The height of the bush is 8-10 cm. The leaves are very similar to a clover leaf located on long petioles. A long peduncle at the end of which, a single white flowering May-July.

Oxalis is popularly called the clover of happiness, but its most common name is domestic sorrel - this flower received its name for the high content of oxalic acid in its leaves. Today, in every apartment you can find a cloud of delicate petals, which amazingly close at dusk, as if covering your eyes on the eve of the night. In order for the plant to please for a long time, it is necessary to create comfortable conditions for it and provide proper care. We'll tell you how to do this.

Who is Oxalis?

Description and origin

There are about eight hundred species of oxalis - this is a herbaceous shrub from the Oxalis family. The culture grows in southern Africa, America and Europe.

Oxalis is a low perennial plant with a rich variety of species forms.

The leaves of the crop are trifoliate or pinnately compound, green, purple or spotted in color. The flowers are five-petaled and small. After setting, small fruits are formed that shoot small red seeds.

Features of culture, characteristics

If the wood sorrel is disturbed, it can close its leaves around the petiole, as if closing its eyes in fear of imminent danger. Oxalis can also close on the eve of rain and just at night. For this touching feature, flower growers are very fond of sorrel.

Gardeners grow some types of oxalis directly in the open ground, mainly under trees or shrubs, but usually oxalis is cultivated at home or in warm greenhouses.

There is a belief that by bringing oxalis into your home you can find happiness, and in Ireland the oxalis trefoil is considered a national symbol and is on the country’s coat of arms.

Table: seasonal care of crops indoors

So different and all sour

Varieties of oxalis

• Ordinary (Acetosella)- a squat plant that reproduces underground; looks great as a ground cover. Forms creeping stems with trifoliate leaves. Flower petals are white with lilac veins.
• Triangular (Triangularis)- a perennial plant with a neat and medium-sized bush, produces lilac-burgundy leaves and white flowers. Grown in apartment conditions.
• Poor (Inops)- perennial with small nodules. Forms ruffled leaves or long stems and light crimson flowers with a yellowish-colored center. Blooms in late summer and autumn. Loves the sun and thrives in open ground.
• Bowie- heat-loving perennial with light green leathery leaves. The shoots are low, 20–25 cm. The flowers are dark pink, buds form in May. Popular both in gardening and among house plants.
• Volcanic (Vulcanicola)- brown foliage, green shoots and yellow flower mass forms beautiful composition. The variety is low, 15 cm in height. It quickly spreads across the territory, expanding in breadth. Suitable for lovers of alpine slides.
• Gigantea- a tall two-meter perennial, the branches of the variety are drooping with lobed large leaves divided into three. Yellow flowers.
• Nine-leaved (Enneaphylla)- a low-growing perennial plant, 5–10 cm in height, bush up to 15 cm in diameter. It blooms in early summer in white or pink.
• Deppei- a deciduous herbaceous perennial up to 40 cm in height with edible nodules and obverse-cordate leaves. The foliage pattern is burgundy-green, with green on the reverse side of the leaf. Umbrella-type inflorescences are red with a yellowish base. Blooms in autumn.
• Ferruginous (Adenophylla)- a medium-sized winter-hardy perennial 15 cm in diameter and 10 cm in height. Forms gray leaves with a green tint from many oval-shaped lobes. Blooms in mid-summer with large veined flowers.
• Shaggy or hairy-staminate (Lasiandra)- herbaceous stemless perennial about 30 cm in height, multi-petaled reddish-speckled leaves. Inflorescences are umbellate, purple. Blooms in autumn.
• Red (Rubra)- perennial 40 cm tall. Forms ruffled leaves with fuzzy cover at the base, red or pink inflorescences.
• Obtriangulata- a low perennial with soft green “clover” foliage and medium-sized white flowers.
• Ortgies (Ortgiesii)- a popular variety, a herbaceous perennial with a pubescent stem with leaves at the top. The leaves are obversely heart-shaped, red with edges. The flowers are collected in an umbellate inflorescence.
• Purple (Purpurea)- perennial with dark round and pubescent foliage about 7 cm in diameter. Blooms white or light crimson.
• Versicolor- blooms with an unusual color of curious shape and color. When open, the flowers appear white on the inside and red on the outside.
• Carob (Corniculata)- perennial with cherry-brown foliage and fine yellow flowers. It multiplies with enormous speed and fills the entire space when kept uncontrolled, for which it is called a weed.
• Pink (Rosea)- an ampelous perennial with bright green foliage with bright pink flowers. It blooms in early summer and sometimes again in July-August.
• Hedysaroides- low-growing perennial with brown shoots and trifoliate foliage. Forms an axillary peduncle and blooms with yellow flowers.

Photo gallery: what oxalis looks like - variety of varieties

Oxalis nine-leaved Oxalis giant Oxalis Bowie Oxalis Depp's Oxalis Poor Oxalis Oxalis Ortgis Oxalis variegated Oxalis volcanica Oxalis ferruginosa Oxalis obratriangular Oxalis purpurea
Carob Oxalis Rose Oxalis Shaggy Oxalis Hedysarium Oxalis Kmslitsa Triangular Oxalis Red Oxalis Common Oxalis

Video: Oxalis rubra or hedysarium

Competent crop transplantation

Adult oxalis bushes require replanting every three years, and a young developing plant - every year.

Home care: creating comfort for the plant’s life

Oxalis loves bright rooms with intense but diffused light. Despite the fact that oxalis easily tolerates both sun and partial shade, poor lighting can deprive its leaves of their decorative properties, and direct rays can burn the foliage.

The environmental temperature preferred by wood sorrel ranges from 20°C-25°C, and in winter, during the dormant period, about 12°C-18°C.

During the warm period, the sorrel must be regularly irrigated with a spray bottle; during the dormant period, irrigation is suspended.

Water and fertilize

Oxalis requires abundant watering during the period of active development. The plant needs to be watered frequently, but only after the top layer of soil has dried out by 2–3 cm.

It is necessary to mechanically check the moisture content of the soil layer and visually ensure that moisture does not linger in the pot and promptly exits through the drainage holes onto the tray. Otherwise, there is a chance that the underground part of the plant will rot. In winter, the soil in the pot with sorrel is kept slightly moist.

Oxalis is fed only during the growing season, every 15–20 days, using conventional complex fertilizers for houseplants, but in half-reduced dosages.

Oh, oxalis is blooming

Oxalis may have inconspicuous flowers, but it blooms profusely and greatly decorates its already gorgeous foliage with touching splashes of delicate inflorescences.

You can make this crop bloom at any convenient time of the year if you provide the plant with decent lighting and stimulate it beforehand.

After the flowering period at the prescribed time, oxalis is watered less and transferred to a cool place for an artificial state of dormancy. Then, after about a month, the wood sorrel is replanted with renewed soil and the usual maintenance is resumed. Flowering occurs in about a month.

Video: triangular oxalis, care

The haircut has just begun

Such a “plant character” trait as unpretentiousness does not mean independence, and if a plant is able to survive drought and not die, then it is no longer able to go to the hairdresser. But cutting a haircut is not only a way to become beautiful; the formation of a plant determines its health, because any organism requires renewal.

When a flower turns pale and loses color, stops growing, or even gets sick, it means that it is tired.

In this case, the bush can be thinned out by removing all weakened or overgrown cuttings, or the bush can be cut off completely. Let the sorrel grow back. Sometimes oxalis itself drops its crown when it needs rest. In a cool place it will rest until spring, and then begin to grow with renewed vigor.

For year-round lushness of oxalis, you need to replant it into new soil twice a year, removing weak and old roots and feeding it each time after suffering stress, ensuring proper watering and light.

Plant suspended animation

Dormancy in oxalis lasts from 30 to 90 days, depending on the variety. The beginning of the sleep period can be considered the end of flowering, drooping of the foliage and the further death of the entire rosette. The appearance of the first leaf is considered a sign of breaking dormancy.

At rest, sorrel must be kept in complete darkness or dense shade without watering or fertilizing at a temperature of 12°C-15°C.

The three-leaf sorrel often does not shed its leaves in the winter, but for a lush bush in the spring and abundant flowering In summer, it is advisable to renew the purple oxalis bush at least partially.

Oxalis Ortgisa does not tolerate winter temperatures below 16°C-18°C, Deppy sleeps from December to January at a temperature of 12°C-14°C, and after waking up moves to new land and resume previous care.

Pink sorrel is sent to rest in October-November and kept in a lighted room for a month and a half, but with a reduced room temperature.

Video: do not throw away oxalis

Table: how to properly ruin sorrel

Problem	Causes	Remedies
Doesn't grow	Large pot, buried tubers, lack of light, heavy soil.	The nodules should be no deeper than 1.5 cm from the surface of the earth. If it's a soil issue, mix in a leavening agent such as perlite. Add light or allow the plant to cover the entire area of ​​the pot.
Oxalis has turned green.	Lack of light or cross-pollination with other varieties if they are cultivated in the neighborhood.	Sometimes different varieties can exist even in the same pot, but it happens. That, having been pollinated, oxalis loses its varietal characteristic - color.
Doesn't bloom	Stress after transplantation, lack of nutrients or their excess, dry soil.	Oxalis blooms after it has entwined its roots around an earthen ball. The lack of lighting, moisture and nutrients takes away the strength of the plant and does not inhibit development, and stress after transplantation delays flowering even further than all of the above.
Brown spots on leaves, death of petioles.	Rooting of the root system can occur due to excessive soil moisture.	Transplantation into new soil with treatment of the roots in a manganese solution. Next - moderate watering.

Photo gallery: what errors in content lead to

If the oxalis bush is lush, but there is no color, the sorrel may be malnourished Lack of light and cross-pollination of varieties leads to loss of varietal color Direct rays and fusarium rotting of the root system can cause brown spots on the foliage Oxalis can wither both after flooding and before the dormant period

Who spoiled my flower

Oxalis quite steadfastly repels the attack of insects and is practically not affected by them, but with insufficient care and neglect of the plant, the occupation of oxalis by pests cannot be avoided, which means you need to be prepared for an attack.

Table: how to recognize and neutralize the enemy

Pest	Signs of plant damage	Control measures
Aphid	The appearance of many white or gray dots on the plant	Collect aphids by hand and destroy mechanically. Spraying with soap solution. Treatment of the plant with any of the insecticides with a decrease in the standard dosage.
Spider mite	Small dots on the leaves, drying out of the leaf	Spray the flower with water and wrap the crown in a bag or Aktelik according to the instructions.
Shchitovka	Brown coating on leaves, sticky insect discharge.	Collect insects manually and then wash the plant with soap or alcohol solution or Aktara according to the instructions.
Whitefly	Damaged leaves, egg clutches	Lowering the temperature, cool showers and protecting the soil from erosion. Insecticides with a reduction in the standard dose.

All procedures with chemicals should be carried out outdoors and in protected ground.

The soap solution is washed off from the foliage within a few hours.

Photo gallery: you need to know the enemy by sight

How does oxalis reproduce?

House sorrel propagates in three ways: seed, tuberous (dividing the bush) and cuttings.

Seed method

This method is rare, as it is labor-intensive and unreliable, but if all conditions are met, it has a chance of success.

1. Nutritious soil for sowing oxalis should be loose and nutritious, so you can add rotted leaves and peat to ordinary flower soil.
2. Oxalis seeds are sown in the spring. Oxalis seeds are very small; they are sown directly on the surface of moist soil without backfilling. The container with the crops is covered with transparent glass and left in a warm place until germination.
3. Watering is done only from a spray bottle and the plantings are regularly ventilated by lifting the cover glass.
4. For germination, seeds require diffused light at a temperature of 15°C-18°C.

Shoots appear within 10 days, but may appear a couple of weeks late, depending on the age of the seeds.

In the first year of shoot development, only the rosette part of the plant and root shoots are formed, and in the second year, rosettes are formed.

Vegetative method - dividing the bush

Oxalis can reproduce by tubers and the best time for this method is just before the beginning of the flower growing season. As soon as the first leaf begins to grow from the rhizome, remove it from the pot and clean it from the soil.

Oxalis cuttings

Only some species of wood sorrel are divided by cuttings, these are Ortgis and Hedysarium oxalis. If the temperature is maintained at about 25°C, they take root perfectly in wet sand in 18 days. During the rooting period, cuttings need shading from direct light.

Oxalis or wood sorrel are herbaceous perennial plants, they got their name because of the sour taste of the leaves. Varieties reach a height of 30 cm; underground the plant forms tubers or bulbs.

Oxalis or wood sorrel are herbaceous perennial plants, they got their name because of the sour taste of the leaves.

Their leaves are petiolate, dark green or spotted. The flowers are small and regular in shape. Their color varies from yellow to purple; after flowering, fruits are formed that produce small seeds. Some varieties of oxalis can be planted in open ground, while others are grown in a greenhouse and living space.

Popular varieties

There are many varieties of this plant. Many of them are grown for decoration purposes. garden plot Therefore, you should choose a flower based on color.

Name	Description	Growing conditions
Depp's Oxalis (Oxalis deppei)	A perennial that produces underground tubers. The leaves are notched and have a purple-brown pattern. The flowers are crimson or red with a yellow base and appear in August. In winter, the green mass falls off	The plant is decorative and suitable for home gardening
Oxalis versicolor	The perennial plant variety “Versicolor” is famous for its white and red striped flowers that look like candy canes. IN favorable conditions they bloom all year round	Indoor flowers are unpretentious and grow well indoors
Oxalis Golden Cape	The flowers resemble vanilla candies and are yellow-red. Leaves are pale green, small	Most often, this variety is used to decorate summer cottages and flower beds.
Oxalis adenophylla	The small, light green leaves resemble clover. The flowers are large, pale purple in color	Plants take root well in the garden in sunny places
Oxalis Convexula	This variety is most popular among indoor flower lovers. The foliage is small and dense. The flowers are quite large and have a pinkish tint.	The variety is suitable for growing indoors
Oxalis Iron Cross (Oxalis iron cross)	The flower of this variety is very beautiful and has a bell shape. Its color is pink-red, and its leaves resemble clover	This oxalis is suitable for planting in a summer cottage
Purple sorrel (Oxalis)	The leaves are purple and triangular in shape, and the flowers are pink, white or yellow.	Suitable for both indoor and garden growing
Oxalis depressa	The foliage is gray-green, each leaf has a trifoliate shape. Flowers dark pink with yellow spots	This variety is grown in summer cottages and gardens.

Features of home care

In order for the plants in the room to maintain their beauty and delight you with bright flowers, The following rules must be observed:

• ensuring sufficient lighting;
• maintaining a comfortable temperature (from 18 to 25 C°);
• regular watering;
• adding additional nutrition.

After acquiring oxalis, it needs to be transplanted into a free pot and placed on the windowsill. It is best to plant in the spring or summer when the plant comes out of dormancy.

Oxalis: care and cultivation (video)

The soil should be selected loose, neutral, consisting of the following parts:

• turf;
• leaf mixture;
• peat;
• humus;
• river sand.

The soil must have a high level of acidity, and be sure to place a drainage layer at the bottom of the container. Crushed brick, pebbles or expanded clay are suitable for this purpose.

Oxalis needs regular feeding with mineral and organic fertilizers. For noticeable results, it is recommended to use liquid additives, for example, mullein or chicken droppings diluted in a large amount of water. It is important to know that nutrition is applied only during the growing season, and in the dormant stage the plant does not require additional input of substances.

Indoor oxalis should be watered with settled water no more than 2 times a week. In summer and spring, it is also recommended to irrigate the soil moderately, but with the onset of cold weather, the frequency of watering decreases.

After acquiring oxalis, it needs to be transplanted into a free pot and placed on the windowsill

Growing oxalis in a flowerbed

Oxalis growing in open ground prefers diffuse lighting. This flower loves well-moistened and loose soil., which is why gardeners advise diluting the soil with peat and compost. Having chosen a place for a flower bed, place drainage in the form of small pebbles or expanded clay at the bottom of the hole for better passage of moisture through the soil layers.

Plants are planted in open ground in mid-May., when warm weather sets in and the threat of frost passes. The holes are dug at a distance of 10 cm from each other; after planting, the sorrel should be watered moderately. Oxalis tubers can be planted in the ground both in spring and autumn. In the latter case, it is important to choose cold-resistant varieties of flower crops.

Oxalis growing in open ground prefers diffused lighting.

When growing wood sorrel in a summer cottage, it is necessary to systematically water this plant, as it does not withstand drought well. Lack of water negatively affects the decorative appearance of flowers and often causes their death. Water the flowerbed as needed, and in wet weather it is best to stop watering altogether. During dry periods, it is enough to moisten the soil 2 or 3 times a week. Experienced gardeners plant oxalis among large stones, which maintain an optimal level of soil moisture and protect it from drying out.

If the land is rich organic substances, then fertilizing in open ground can be omitted. As a rule, diluted organic fertilizers or mineral additives for garden plants are suitable as additional nutrition; nutrients 2 times.

If the soil is rich in organic matter, then fertilizing in open ground may not be necessary.

Reproduction technology

It is known that oxalis can reproduce by bulbs or nodules that form around the main root of an old plant. They need to be planted in the ground. Depending on the variety, the nodules are placed in pots or beds, where the soil is loose and fertile, and after the first shoots appear, they are placed in a place well lit by the sun.

Some types of plants can be propagated by cuttings. To do this, collect cuttings from the parent bush and place them in clean sand. It is important to know that for a successful process, heat is necessary, which is why a small greenhouse is created around the plant. A mandatory condition for rooting cuttings is regular moistening of the sand with water. With the appearance of the first roots, the offspring can be planted in separate pots.

How to transplant and propagate oxalis (video)

Problems when growing oxalis

Often, indoor or outdoor plants get sick and lose their beauty. Why does the oxalis foliage wither? In most cases, the reason for the changes lies in insufficient watering of the land, since oxalis does not tolerate even short-term drought. If the leaves dry out and fall off in the fall, this may be due to the flower’s preparation for winter.

It is important to know that in the cold months, caring for oxalis has its own characteristics. At home, you should cut off all shoots of the plant and move it to a cooler room. But in the garden, with the arrival of autumn, the tubers need to be dug up, washed and dried, after which they are placed for storage in a dry, dark place. In the spring, when the soil warms up, they are planted back in the flowerbed.

In most cases, the reason for the changes lies in insufficient watering of the land

Options for use in landscape design

Oxalis is usually used in suburban areas and parks as border plants; they also look good on rocky hills. The flowers go well with marigolds, asters and carnations, as well as lungwort and ferns. In addition, oxalis complements herbs such as thyme and ornamental grasses well.