The lucky clover plants - botanically Oxalis tetraphylla - can be found in large numbers in the trade, especially at the turn of the year. However, few people know about proper care. With the right knowledge, it is very easy to grow an impressively dense plant from a small specimen and even to enjoy the delicate flowers.
Tip: The maintenance effort is reduced if a fertilized substrate is chosen.
Sowing the lucky clover plant is child's play, seeds, some soil and water as well as a suitable location - nothing more is needed. The basic procedure is similar both indoors and outdoors and is as follows:
Tip: Care should be taken not to damage the tubers. Otherwise, mold or rot could develop. It is therefore better to leave a little substrate on the onions than to clean them with greater effort.
As mentioned, the maintenance effort for the lucky clover is reduced by the use of fertilized or substrate enriched with compost - since additional fertilization in the first year is not necessary in these cases is. After that, there are two ways of supplying nutrients. Either the lucky clover plant is repotted and the used substrate is exchanged for fresh, nutrient-rich substrate.
Or from April to August, the lucky clover is given a liquid flower fertilizer once or twice a month. In the field, plant manure or untreated pond water can also be used instead. It is also possible to sprinkle a little ripe compost around the plant.
When moving and repotting, however, it is only important to ensure that the underground tubers are not damaged. They are carefully lifted out of the earth and freed from substrate residues before they are placed in fresh substrate and covered with it. The best time for the measures is between April and May - as at the beginning of the growing season.
Multiplication via division is faster and easier. Lucky clover forms the already mentioned subterranean brood tubers. These storage organs are developed by the plant itself in increasing numbers, which is why the four-leaved Lucky clover can also spread out in the garden in a relatively short time and even become a nuisance without appropriate intervention can.
If this effect is to be used in a targeted manner, individual tubers can be carefully detached and planted individually during repotting or repotting. Nothing more is necessary for the lucky clover plant to multiply in this way. The daughter plants can be cared for in the same way as the older mother plant.
Oxalis tetraphylla planted outdoors must be dug up in autumn or late summer and moved indoors if they are to survive the winter. Here they can be cared for in a planter as described above or just the tubers can be overwintered without soil. But then at about 5 ° C, in a dry, dark room.
The following points must be observed in both cases:
The lucky clover is not sensitive to diseases and pests, they are only found on the plants in the rarest of cases. Maintenance errors, on the other hand, are very common.
A typical problem is choosing the wrong location. Oxalis tetraphylla needs a lot of light and low temperatures - but often ends up in a rather dark corner in the warm living room. As a rule, the result is initially the formation of weak, long and soft shoots. The plant begins to appear thin and weak and mostly loses its leaf color. Placing them on a cool window sill has a preventive and saving effect.
Other, comparatively common mistakes in the care of the lucky clover are:
Conclusion
The lucky clover plant is an easy-to-care-for plant that is a decorative addition to the garden thanks to its four-part leaves and lush growth. As long as it has a sufficiently bright and cool location, some water and nutrients available, it even rewards the care with ornamental flowers.
Location
The lucky clover plant wants a bright location, but no warmth. A window sill in a cooler room, such as the bedroom or hallway, is therefore ideal. You don't get the "heat" in the living room, however. In the garden or on the balcony, it shouldn't necessarily stand in the blazing midday sun. Morning and evening sun or light shade in an airy and cooler location is better for the lucky clover. Temperatures between 10 and 15 ° C are ideal, but these are difficult to offer all year round, both indoors and outdoors.Substrate
In contrast to the choice of the location, the decision for a suitable substrate for the lucky clover plant is very easy - normal potting soil is completely sufficient. Alternatively, garden soil can also be used, which is enriched with ripe compost.Tip: The maintenance effort is reduced if a fertilized substrate is chosen.
sowing
Sowing the lucky clover plant is child's play, seeds, some soil and water as well as a suitable location - nothing more is needed. The basic procedure is similar both indoors and outdoors and is as follows: 1. When sowing in a pot, a very bright and warm location should be ensured. The future growing place is chosen in the garden.
2. In a planter with potting soil, garden or potting soil or directly in the desired place outdoors, some seeds are placed at a close distance and only lightly with them
Substrate covered.3. The earth is well moistened or carefully poured. In the pot, growth can be accelerated by placing a foil on it. This must be ventilated daily so that no mold can form.
4. The soil is kept moist throughout the first few weeks.
If the lucky clover plant is to be preferred to decorate the garden or balcony next year, autumn is the ideal time for sowing. The young plants are larger and more robust when they get into the field. When sowing directly outside, it should be noted that Oxalis tetraphylla is not frost hardy. Sowing should therefore be done in late spring after the last late frost.Planting out
Due to the sensitivity of the plants to freezing temperatures, preferred lucky clover plants are only planted outdoors after the last late frost. There are no special features to consider here. The substrate from the cultivation vessel is carefully removed from the tubers of the plants and these are placed in the soil at the desired location. This is followed by a light pouring on.Tip: Care should be taken not to damage the tubers. Otherwise, mold or rot could develop. It is therefore better to leave a little substrate on the onions than to clean them with greater effort.
Culture in a pot
Since the lucky clover plant is not frost hardy, as mentioned, it can only be planted freely in the garden as an annual plant. Alternatively, it could be dug up and brought inside in good time for wintering. It is different with the culture in the pot. Here the four-leaved lucky clover can easily grow for several years if properly cared for. However, here, too, there are a few factors to pay attention to:- Good water drainage to avoid waterlogging
- No frequent relocation
- Pay attention to a cool location
- Fertilize regularly
- Repot if the container is too small
to water
If possible, the lucky clover plant is watered with stale water as required. That is, whenever the top layer of soil has dried out. Watering can be reduced during wintering and in the resting phase from March to April. It is then only poured in such a way that the substrate does not dry out or has only a slight basic moisture. In the case of cultivation outdoors, watering usually only has to be done during dry phases, in the pot, however, continuously.Fertilize
As mentioned, the maintenance effort for the lucky clover is reduced by the use of fertilized or substrate enriched with compost - since additional fertilization in the first year is not necessary in these cases is. After that, there are two ways of supplying nutrients. Either the lucky clover plant is repotted and the used substrate is exchanged for fresh, nutrient-rich substrate.Or from April to August, the lucky clover is given a liquid flower fertilizer once or twice a month. In the field, plant manure or untreated pond water can also be used instead. It is also possible to sprinkle a little ripe compost around the plant.
Repotting and repotting
The specimens of the lucky clover available for New Year's Eve often sit in pots that are too small so that they look particularly lush. That is one of the reasons why they often come in quickly. Repotting can be the salvation here. However, repositioning is often not necessary, since the lucky clover is only annual outdoors anyway.When moving and repotting, however, it is only important to ensure that the underground tubers are not damaged. They are carefully lifted out of the earth and freed from substrate residues before they are placed in fresh substrate and covered with it. The best time for the measures is between April and May - as at the beginning of the growing season.
Multiply
The lucky clover can propagate in two ways. On the one hand by the seeds, on the other hand by division. How the lucky clover plants are propagated by seeds has already been described. The seeds can either be purchased commercially or obtained from flowering Oxalis tetraphylla if they develop fruiting bodies after the flowers.Multiplication via division is faster and easier. Lucky clover forms the already mentioned subterranean brood tubers. These storage organs are developed by the plant itself in increasing numbers, which is why the four-leaved Lucky clover can also spread out in the garden in a relatively short time and even become a nuisance without appropriate intervention can.
If this effect is to be used in a targeted manner, individual tubers can be carefully detached and planted individually during repotting or repotting. Nothing more is necessary for the lucky clover plant to multiply in this way. The daughter plants can be cared for in the same way as the older mother plant.
Overwinter
Even though the lucky clover is actually quite robust and can spread quickly in warm winter areas, it is sensitive to frost and must be protected accordingly. Plants that have spent spring and summer outdoors are therefore brought indoors at the end of summer or at the beginning of autumn. Ideally, they should be in a light place at temperatures between 10 and 15 ° C.Oxalis tetraphylla planted outdoors must be dug up in autumn or late summer and moved indoors if they are to survive the winter. Here they can be cared for in a planter as described above or just the tubers can be overwintered without soil. But then at about 5 ° C, in a dry, dark room.
The following points must be observed in both cases:
- Stop fertilizing in August or September at the latest
- Ensure a cool but frost-free location
- Continue to water, but more economically
Diseases, pests and care mistakes
The lucky clover is not sensitive to diseases and pests, they are only found on the plants in the rarest of cases. Maintenance errors, on the other hand, are very common. A typical problem is choosing the wrong location. Oxalis tetraphylla needs a lot of light and low temperatures - but often ends up in a rather dark corner in the warm living room. As a rule, the result is initially the formation of weak, long and soft shoots. The plant begins to appear thin and weak and mostly loses its leaf color. Placing them on a cool window sill has a preventive and saving effect.
Other, comparatively common mistakes in the care of the lucky clover are:
- Waterlogging due to insufficient water drainage
- Lack of water supply
- Used soil or lack of fertilization
- Planter too small
- Freezing to death by bringing it into the house too late
Conclusion
The lucky clover plant is an easy-to-care-for plant that is a decorative addition to the garden thanks to its four-part leaves and lush growth. As long as it has a sufficiently bright and cool location, some water and nutrients available, it even rewards the care with ornamental flowers.
