oxalis.org

Welcome to Oxalis.org, my long awaited personalized website dedicated to the plant, Oxalis.

Though Oxalis has a bad reputation of being a widespread cosmopolitan weed, many exciting species are discovered and cultivated mainly from tropical and subtropical regions and are grown as perennials. Each individual species in itself is a prized possession and with proper care can grow successfully year after year.

Here in New York City, it can be difficult to give Oxalis an ideal condition to sustain good growth. Part of my objective is to offer suggestion and information on how it is possible to grow Oxalis outside even during adverse conditions and still create an acceptable environment to allow normal growth and flowering habits of the plants.

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I learned long ago that really only the Regnellii species grew indoors. I eventually figured out that in order for winter growing plants to survive the harsh NYC winters, I had to make a three tiered cold frame, which is heated by using a house fan and accordion tubing. The house fan is situated near a radiator. Though it is not air tight, I can keep the temperature 10 to 15 degrees warmer inside than the outside air temperature. Problems arise when the temperatures fall below 15 degrees F.

In my opinion Oxalis like night time temperatures 40 to 45 degrees and 60 plus in the day time. That's the overall objective.

When temperatures drop into the lower 20's, I use a thermal blanket and cover the top and doors of the frame. There's lots of condensation inside on the clear plastic of the frame. The blanket does get covered in snow and ice, but it tends to eventually melt as inside the frame is warmer than the surroundings. The Oxalis are nice and snug. Just don' t get your hands wet while watering at 20 degrees! Oxalis always need good air circulation. That's one of the problems with growing them indoors.

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