The Four Leaf Clover

 

The Luck of the Irish Be Yours

In honor of St Patrick, I thought I would talk about the extra special four leaf clover.  Yes, there actually is one.  It is a very uncommon variation of the common Trifolium repens which is a white clover.  The clover is part of a large species family that includes peas and other eatables.  Thought of as a nuisance in lawns, many of hours have been spent by children and adults alike looking for that elusive fourth leaf which is a symbol of good luck.

For those of you who do not know who St Patrick was, he is the person credited for bringing Christianity to Ireland and driving all the snakes out of the Isles. His holy day is March 17th and is celebrated by millions.  St Patrick's Shamrock is the 3 leaf as he used it to teach the Christian Trinity throughout Ireland.  But I get off the track.

The Shamrock Plant.

So what is that plant you are seeing in stores at this time of year?  This is called an Oxalis regnellii.  Its common name is Woodsorrel or False Shamrock Plant and it is a beautiful little plant.  Like the clover it is also eatable.  The Oxalis Regnellii does come in a four leaf variety as I picture below. I found it posted in a number of places on the web but cannot find another name for it.  If anyone knows the name please pass it on to me and my readers.

So now that you know what it is, let's talk about how to take care of it.

The Care and Feeding 

The Oxalis is grown from a bulb.  Knowing this you will know that the bulb will go through dormant periods so don't get upset if it starts looking peaked. 

Water the Oxalis sparingly.  Do not let it dry out as this will throw it into dormancy more quickly.  Do not over water or it will drown.  A pot and dish combination may be the best container for the Oxalis.  Feed it every 2 to 3 weeks with a fertilizer of 10-10-10.

Though the Oxalis likes a sunny window it does not like to be hot.   It does not tolerate temperatures over 75 degrees and would really like a lower temperature in the evening hours.  With this in mind you might want to keep your plant in a medium light location.

If your plant begins to go into a dormant period (usually in the heat of summer), stop watering.   Some people will force it into dormancy by cutting the whole plant down.  The older the plant the less it will need to go into dormancy.  While it is dormant let it rest in lower light and watch for new shoots.  When it is ready, you will see the shoots and you should then start the watering and feeding again.

I hope you find this posting helpful.  I try to use my own photography in this blog but today I had to rely on others. Thank you to them.

I hope that this posting has answered any questions you may have.  If you have more, please post it here or email me at houseplantsos@gmail.com . I would love to hear from you.

kkjones

Covers to Consider

I am about to put the first chapter of my book on line and I would like your opinion for the cover.  Here are three covers I have designed.  Each has its own merrit.  Please review them for me and tell me what each cover tells you about the book.

 

(click on the cover to get a larger picture)

 

1.

2.

3.

 

 

What is a Jewel Orchid?

 

A Beautiful Houseplant

Here is an orchid that is really worth looking at for a beginner indoor gardener.  It is called a Ludisia discolor and is one of the only orchids that is grown for the foliage and not its small white flower.





Flower is smaller than a dime

This orchid is so easy to grow that each grower has their own opinion on what kind of potting medium to grow it in. The Jewel Orchid is not like the last few orchids that we have spoken about.  It does not grow in trees; it grows on the ground.  So you need something a little heavier but still not just dirt.  My Jewel is in a good potting soil mix.  A mix means that there is organic material in the bag to help hold moisture but still allows air pockets for the plant to drain.  Some growers will tell you to create a mix of 1/3 soil, 1/3 peat and 1/3 bark.  There are also commercial potting mixtures available for just terrestrial orchids.
 





From Indonesia and Burma 

 

The Jewel Orchid is from the jungles of Indonesia and Burma so it likes a warm, humid environment.  Average day temperatures should be between 70 and 80 degrees.  I have read that night temperatures can go as low as 10 degrees but I don't think I want to try it. 

 

My Jewel Orchid likes a semi sunny location which helps to keep it warm.  It summers in a semi shady patio which is like a sunny window.  You should probably place your orchid in an eastern  window. 

 

Humidity

 

If you are not able to mist your Jewel Orchid twice a day then you should go with a humidity tray.  This is a tray that you put under your plant that is full of stones.  The tray should be larger than the pot that holds your orchid and has enough stones in it so that your orchid will not get wet when you fill the tray with water.  Water will evaporate and create a humid environment for any plant sitting on the tray.  This method works well with most orchids and you might want to consider a long shelf tray that could hold more than just one of your plants.  Just remember to keep the tray full and change the water now and then to keep it fresh. 

 

Propagation

 

Now for the fun part.  If you like this plant it is really easy to get more.  Just wait until you have a stem that is over 5 inches long.  Then cut the stem with at least 3 sets of leaves on it.  Remove 2 sets and place the cutting in a pot covering the area where you removed the leaves.  You will get better and quicker results if you purchase some rooting hormone to dust on the cutting before you put it in the pot.  Rooting hormone is available at most garden center.

 

 

 I hope you enjoyed this posting on the little known Jewel Orchid.  Though the leaves are beautiful I cannot help to notice the beauty of the tiny little flower with a sunny yellow lip.  I could not help but put in this last photo because of how it looks like the opening buds look like they are lit from within. 

Please send me any questions about your houseplants via this site or email me at houseplantsos@gmail.com . Send me any photos of plants you want answers for.  I will publish them and help you get any sick plants back on the road to health.

Sincerely,
k.k.jones