how to force purple shamrock to dormant?

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rabab Dearborn, MI(Zone 5b) Oct 06, 2013

How can I force my purple shamrock to dormant without damaging the tubers? And what is the best way to over winter the tubers.I cannot keep them as indoor plant. Thank you very much

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rabab Dearborn, MI(Zone 5b) Nov 23, 2015

Well, thank you all for responding LOL. this for te beginners like me. since I did not get any information from my search and no response from here because most of the questions were about how to force the shamrock to re-bloom, I decided to do my own experiment. I put the two containers I have in a dark spot in my unheated basement and let the plants dry and die gradually. it took them very long time to do so but when spring 2014 came I replanted them and they regrow fine and then I did the same in fall 2014. In spring 2015 I gave them an extra care and attention and they gave me the most beautiful foliage and endless blooming. So in fall 2015 I decided to help them go to dormant faster. I stopped watering them for few days and before I put them in their dark spot I cut the foliage to reserve their energy.
I know nobody is watching this thread , but I felt to share the results with anyone who would have the same question someday.
Good luck everybody and happy gardening

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Pistil Lake Stevens, WA(Zone 8a) Nov 23, 2015

Thanks so much rabab. I bet nobody knew the answer to this one, but now we do,l thanks to you. Plus it is findable in the future for the person with a purple shamrock.
This is the cool thing about this website, how everyone can contribute their successes, and failures too.

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dggardenerguy toms river, NJ Nov 24, 2015

thanks for sharing your info

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tapla Bay City, MI(Zone 6a) Nov 28, 2015

Before my mother passed, I used to pry her oxalis away from her in Sep or Oct and take them home, let them go completely dry in the basement, forget about them, and repot the bulblets into a moist, very fast draining, highly aerated soil in May. They always bloomed their butts off all summer for her. They were her favorite plants - probably because they were HER mom's favorite plants as well.

So I agree with Rabab's over-wintering strategy. They show their approval for the winter of rest in the next growth cycle. It DOES reinvigorate them.

Al

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