Question
My purple oxalis has been looking feeble over the last couple of months.....it used to be full of leaves and generally flowers and has gradually dwindled to just two leaves and one flower!  The 'crowns' I beIieve you call them typically always have new sprouts coming out but now have none.  I have just read that these plants go into dormant periods where they die back and you should stop watering them.  As I have had the plant for a number of years and have never seen it die back, I wasn't looking for this dormant period.  Could this be the first time??  As I have continued watering it as it has been produced fewer and fewer leaves (typically keeping it slightly moist which it typically likes), if has been trying to go dormant, I have surely been overwatering it all this time.  Should it be in a darker spot during this potentially 'dormant' period?  It has also been colder than usual in Atlanta; although it's indoors, it has undoubtedly experienced lower temperatures so perhaps that has affected it as well?  I believe I've read it can be worse to water a plant during colder temperatures as it's more likely to freeze due to the water retention. Bottomline......should I stop watering it for a month or so and do you think it can recover?? Will the signs simply be if it starts sprouting again and if not, then it's not coming back?  Would that be in a month or so or even longer? If it does start sprouting, should I repot it as some research seems to state?  Any particular type of soil?  OK....I'm sure that's enough for you!  I'm kicking myself that I was neglectful not to address this sooner as I LOVE this plant and hope it can recover!!  THANKS SO MUCH and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Answer
Karla,

Yes, it is going dormant. Stop watering. I am surprised that it has never went dormant before as they acan go dormant a couple of times a year. At least once a year is normal. Following are the growing instructions that I give out for growing this plant. Oxalis regnellii atropurpurea actually like cool air and moist soil while they are growing. A suitable compost for shamrocks consists of 2 parts peat moss to 1 part loam to 1 part sand. Bright indirect light is best, but they will grow in lower light levels. Fertilize weekly while they are growing with a balanced fertilizer. No matter what you do, they will seem at times to be unhealthy and lose their leaves. When this happens, they are "tired," so let them "rest." Shamrocks are bulbs, and they require a dormant period every once in a while. Restrict all watering. As with any bulb, let the leaves die back naturally. Do not remove any leaves until they are brown. Set the pot in a brown paper bag and set it in a cool attached garage or in a closet. Let the bulbs stay dormant for 3 to 4 weeks, then start checking them for signs of growth. As soon as you see signs of growth bring them out in the sun and water and fertilize them. In most indoor-grown shamrocks, this dormant period occurs once or twice a year. If they haven't begun growing by the end of 6 weeks give them just a bit of water so they don't shrivel too much and keep watching for signs of growth. Every 2 weeks give them a little water but do not water them well or fertilize them until you see growth. Then apply ferilizer weekly so the bulbs will grow and divide. If you have more questions write again. Good luck.

Darlene