Purple oxalis - purple butterfly on your windowsill
Among indoor plants, purple oxalis takes a special place due to the unusual shape and color of the leaves. Dark purple leaves in the form of three triangles emphasize the delicate beauty of the snow-white inflorescences. What else is remarkable about this plant and what does it love?
Among gardeners, the variety is also known under the name "purple oxalis".
Flower description
Purple oxalis grows in the form of a lush compact bush. Its height does not exceed 25 cm, and the bush itself consists of tall and thin petioles with leaves. The leaf plate of the flower is ternary, the lobes are similar to triangular shapes. The color of the leaves is often two-colored. The edges are surrounded by a wide border of dark purple, almost black, color. The middle is lighter, purple. With the onset of night, the leaves close, folding like the wings of a butterfly.
Color may vary depending on lighting. If the sun is not enough, the leaves turn pale and the dark edging can be lost. In addition, a green tint appears.
In addition to beautiful leaves, oxalis will also delight you with gentle flowering. Her flowers are small, collected in a brush, white and pink.
Purple oxalis: care features
Caring for an unusual plant is generally not difficult. The most important thing is to find the right place for her in the house. Kislitsa loves the sun, but direct rays are contraindicated for her. From them, ugly spots appear on the leaves - burns. However, a lack of light can change the decorative qualities of a flower. In the shade, the petioles become even longer and thinner, and the leaves themselves lose their rich color. Bushes prefer moderate temperature and humidity. But values above 20 and below 7 ° C of heat are unacceptable for them.
In order for oxalis to actively increase the deciduous mass, you should take care of the following:
- From spring to late summer, water and spray the bush every three days. From autumn, the frequency of the procedure should be reduced, and in winter it should be minimized.
- In the same period, make complex mineral fertilizing... Application frequency - at least 1 time per 3 weeks.
- Transplant the flower into a larger pot as it grows, choosing flat, wide containers.
Fertilizing sour cherry, it is necessary to take into account that the plant reacts sharply to excess nutrition. The working solution must be made two times weaker than indicated in the instructions.
The purple oxalis hibernates in the cool, but does not shed its leaves. If they begin to dry up, there is nothing wrong with that. You can simply cut off everything, and after 2 months the bush will grow new leaves.