How to care for Oxalis sorrel to safely overwinter

Winter management

Move indoors

The temperature in North China drops sharply around October, and Oxalis is not cold-resistant, so it must be moved indoors in time for maintenance. Usually in late October (depending on local climate conditions), it is placed in a sunny place indoors for maintenance. Of course, the southern regions can safely overwinter outdoors. If encountering a cold wave, you can cover it with a plastic bag to keep it warm and moist.

Control watering

The temperature is low in winter, and even indoors, water evaporates slowly. At this time, you should control watering to avoid excessive watering and excessive wetting of the soil, which may lead to root rot. The usual practice is to water the plant once in mid-October after moving it indoors, water it thoroughly, and then water it once a month. When the soil in the pot is too dry, spray it with water appropriately.

Stop fertilizing

Oxalis grows slowly in winter and basically stops growing when the temperature drops below 10℃. Therefore, no fertilizer is needed in winter. The usual practice is to apply enough base fertilizer when repotting in spring every year to ensure that the soil can provide sufficient nutrients. When moving indoors, apply liquid fertilizer once, and stop fertilizing after the temperature drops.

Controlling temperature

The household room temperature in winter is between 18 and 25 degrees Celsius, which is a bit high for Oxalis. You can place it on a sunny balcony and ensure that the temperature is above 6 degrees Celsius.

Reasonable lighting

The light is weak in winter, so Oxalis is usually placed on a south-facing balcony with sufficient light. Just change the direction of the potted plants once a week.