How to care for the newly bought purple leaf sorrel

1. How to grow the newly bought purple leaf Oxalis

After buying purple-leaf Oxalis, first choose a comfortable potting soil environment for it. The best choice of potting soil is loose, fertile, well-drained, neutral-acidic soil. There is no need to water and fertilize frequently for the time being. Just give it appropriate light and ventilation, and place it in a warm environment to acclimate.

2. Specific breeding methods

1. Light: It likes light, but when you first buy it, since it has not yet adapted to the new environment, you need to put it in a place with soft light for maintenance, and then gradually give it sufficient light. It should be noted that you should not place it directly under strong light to avoid burning the leaves. Purple-leafed Oxalis has a strong phototaxis. When caring for it, place it on a balcony or windowsill, and change the position of the plant frequently to ensure even light on all sides.

2. Temperature: It likes a warm environment. When you just buy it, you can place it in an environment with a temperature of about 16℃﹣22℃ for maintenance, which will allow it to better adapt to the new growth environment. It is not cold-resistant and will stop growing when the temperature drops below 10℃, and the leaves will wither at 0℃, so when caring for it in winter, you must pay attention to the temperature which must not drop below 0℃, and it is best to keep it above 5℃.

3. Watering: It likes a humid environment, and watering should adhere to the principle of "don't water unless it's dry, and water thoroughly when you do". In spring and autumn, you can water it once a day to keep the soil moist but not waterlogged. When the temperature reaches above 30℃ in summer, the plant is in a semi-dormant and dormant state, so watering must be controlled. You can spray some water around it and also pay attention to ventilation. When the temperature drops below 10℃ in winter, water the plants to prevent bulb rot.

4. Fertilization: It likes fertilizer, but it does not need fertilizer when it is just bought. Once it resumes normal growth, you can start fertilizing again. Under normal circumstances, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium compound fertilizer can be applied once a month. Pay attention to the concentration when applying fertilizer. Too high a concentration will burn the bulbs and affect growth. When fertilizing, do not splash liquid fertilizer onto the leaves, otherwise it will easily cause leaf diseases. In the summer months of July and August, it is in a dormant state, so fertilization needs to be stopped.