Caring For Shamrock Plants
Everyone thinks of Shamrocks as the three leaf symbol of St. Patrick’s Day. Many don’t know there is an actual shamrock plant. Shamrock plants are a tender potted plant that grows from a bulb like root system. The Shamrock plant is a popular gift this time of year but many recipients don’t know how to care for their new plant.
Shamrocks plants are easily grown as houseplants, they enjoy bright indirect sunlight. Since Shamrocks grow from a bulb, they enjoy a period of dormancy every year. During the winter months trim back the plants brown leaves, give the plant very little water, and place it in a cool place so it can go dormant for a month or two.
In the spring begin watering your shamrock plant and give it a dose of organic fertilizer to bring it back to life.
In the summer your shamrock can be placed outside in a shady location, and watered regularly. If it’s properly cared for your shamrock plant will reward you with small delicate white flowers.
Tags: shamrock, shamrock plant, shamrock plant care, St. Patricks dayRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Container gardening, Holidays, How to Grow Stuff
40 opinions for Caring For Shamrock Plants
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Mar 14, 2008 at 11:14 pm
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Peggy
Mar 15, 2008 at 1:03 pm
I also did not know that there is a shamrock plant!
Richard Stickel
Mar 17, 2008 at 3:09 am
i have had a shamrock plant but never knew it should have a dormant time
Sandy
Mar 17, 2008 at 6:05 am
My father had both green and purple shamrock plalnts. He died 5 years ago and I killed his plants. Just got new ones and am glad to read they are easy to care for. Maybe these will go to my kids.
St. Patrick’s Day around b5 Media
Mar 17, 2008 at 1:07 pm
[…] From “Mother Earth’s Garden,” How to care for shamrock plants […]
Karen
Mar 20, 2008 at 12:48 am
I received a lovely shamrock plant as a gift. I keep it at work. Last Friday, it was unfortunately watered twice for the weekend. When I came in Monday, it was sitting in way too much water and all the stems/leaves had drooped over the sides. After taking measures to dry it out, it still hasn’t recovered. Is there any hope?
linette
Mar 20, 2008 at 7:23 am
Karen, I would give it some time before you panic too much. It may have thrown the plant into a dormancy stage. Even if the current foliage dies back from the stress of sitting in too much water the plant itself should survive. Just keep it in front of a sunny window and keep an eye on it for a few weeks. If the foliage dies off, just trim it back and watch for new shoots from the bulbs.
Richard Stickel
Mar 20, 2008 at 8:40 pm
my shamrock plant has bloomed twice over the winter and this is supposed to be the dormant
time.
Carol Robinson
Mar 26, 2008 at 4:24 am
Should the shramock be in a clay pot or is plastic with drainage OK
Richard Stickel
Mar 26, 2008 at 9:37 pm
WELL CAROL I HAVE MY SHAMROCK IN A CLAY POT BUT I FAVOR CLAY POTS OVER PLASTIC.
THATS JUST ME.
Linette
Mar 27, 2008 at 12:12 pm
Carol ~ I agree with Richard. I favor clay over plastic, but I don’t think the shamrock plant will care as long as it’s watered regularly, but doesn’t sit in water. I think if you have good drainage any pot will work.
Dave
Mar 30, 2008 at 9:46 pm
in light of the prominance of Irish culture in this country, why do we know so little about shamrocks. I thought they were mythical, until I recently found them on sale for St. Pat’ s at my grocery store
Richard Stickel
Mar 31, 2008 at 9:15 pm
now what about peace lillys i have 2 and one is blooming like crazy and the other one just sporadic
suzan
Apr 8, 2008 at 3:33 am
My shamrock was giving to me on st. Patricks day. did great for 2 weeks, i did over water it a bit when i got home after 3 days of being away. then i noticed little nats in it and it began to die. they seem so delicate to pray soap that is usaully used for those bugs. What do you suggest??
linette
Apr 8, 2008 at 11:28 am
Make sure you keep it more on the dry side, they don’t like to be over watered at all. I would try a tablespoon of dish soap mixed with water in a sprayer, and give your shamrock plant a light spritz.
Dave
Apr 8, 2008 at 2:36 pm
The instructions that came with plant said keep moist. I noticed it starts to droop when the soil is dry. Puzzled about the advise to keep it on the dry side.
alease devine
Apr 9, 2008 at 3:48 am
I have green and purple shamrock in my flower beds. They are dormant in the winter, because I leave them in the bed all winter. They are in direct sun, which they seem to love. I may seperate them everyother year. They are a beautiful border plant, bloom all spring and summer. Now, for the last three years, I have that orange stuff under their leaves, which kills the leaf. I need help to get rid of this because I love for them to be thick and full of blooms.
I have read that they need to be dormant for a period. This orange stuff looks like a fungus and I have removed the dried up leaves and the new ones get it also.
Linette
Apr 9, 2008 at 4:50 am
I absolutely would not let them stand in water. A good indication for most plants is to feel the soil, if the top layer is dry it’s time to water. If you’re waiting until you can blow the soil away like dust, you’re definitely not watering enough (and yes the plant will probably droop).
I have a weekly routine to water my plants on Tuesday, until the soil is soaked, but they’re not standing in water. I do a finger check before I water them, and if they’re still wet for some reason I don’t water, and revisit them later in the week. All of my houseplants plants thrive very well on this schedule.
Most plants like to dry out at least a little between watering and do not like to sit in water. If you don’t allow the top layer of soil to at least become dry to the touch (in other words, if the plant is constantly moist) your plant stands a good chance of growing mold and mildew which attracts the gnats mentioned above.
I hope that explains it better:)
snow
Apr 9, 2008 at 10:51 pm
I have shamrock, I grow this plant almost over 1.5 months. Some of the leaves are wihte and become dry.
What is happening to my plant?
Jeff
Apr 24, 2008 at 10:32 pm
My otherwise very healthy green shamrock is developing little white spots of the leaves and it looks like something is chewing on it—but I don’t see any critters. Also some of the leaves are crinkling up at the corners. What’s going on??
Gary Perkinson
May 5, 2008 at 1:18 am
I have had a shamrock plant for several years and it has always done well, especially in the summer when we take it to a house near the ocean. We place it on a small stand on our screened-in porch, out of direct sunlight, and it positively thrives. It usually gets through its winter dormancy fine, but this year it is not doing well and it already is May. I notice the bulbs are at or on the top of the soil in the clay planter. Should I re-plant? Add soil to cover bulbs? Or what? Thanks for your help
John Merkel
May 7, 2008 at 1:43 am
my shammrock plant (purple) shows major signs of dying. The leaves are getting rust looking and dying. What causes this and what should I do to save the plant?
Thank you
linette
May 7, 2008 at 11:50 am
Gary- I would add a little soil to recover the bulbs first. If the bulbs are looking crowded you may also want to increase their pot size, and re-pot them the next pot size up. I’m not sure without seeing them.
John- Again not sure without seeing exactly what’s wrong, but possibly they’ve been over fertilized? You never want to fertilize Shamrock while they are in the dormant stage.
linette
May 7, 2008 at 11:53 am
Jeff- So hard to say without seeing the spots. My first guess would be spider mites. Give the leaves a light spritz with some warm soapy water.
katie
May 21, 2008 at 7:34 am
I got my Shamrock about three months ago. I did not know that they needed full sunlight and they died, but I have been able to revive them. I keep the soil damp, and I keep them in sun. About 3 weeks ago, one of my plants turned orange and died. Now it is starting to happen to another plant. What, if anything, can I do to save them? Also, what is happening to them?
Rosie
Jun 3, 2008 at 10:59 am
I was given a shamrock as a gift. I took it home and now it’s ugly and dying. It is all dried out with only two stems kind of green. Should I replant it, where do I put it, does it need vitamins?
Richard Stickel
Jun 6, 2008 at 4:39 am
well rosie here is what i would do: 1st cut it back even with the rim of the pot,and if you want to repot it now is the time.2nd after repotting water it just till the soil is damp and place it in a dim area and keep an eye out for new growth. when that starts move the plant into a bright area away from direct sun.let it dryout between watering and only dampen the soil when it needs it.Good luck
Dave
Jun 6, 2008 at 2:53 pm
I love my shamrock plant. And I believe I have experienced good luck since getting it. I don’t believe you can go wrong if you water regularly but somewhat moderatly. Keep a good eye on it. Here in an Diego we get periods of Santa Ana-very hot, dry and windy. I take it inside during these extreme periods. Good Luck.
Donna
Jun 10, 2008 at 9:32 am
I just got a Shamrock from someone who neglected it. Since watering it and cleaning out the dead leaves etc, it seems to be doing better. However, it has white splotches on it like something toxic was sprayed on it. Should I cut those leaves off? Or will they eventually be replaced by new growth?
linette
Jun 11, 2008 at 12:36 am
Donna, I would cut them off, unless it’s a major part of the plant. Just to be safe.
If it’s a major part of the plant, or most of the leaves you can hold off and see what happens.
Teresa Dwiggins
Jun 23, 2008 at 1:24 am
I was taking care of my daughter’s shamrock plant while she is in Ireland. She loves this plant! It rained and the plant was accidentally left standing in water for 2-3 days. All outer leaves have turned yellow and fallen. Now the inner leaves are beginning to go. I have removed it from the pot and periodically wrapped it in paper towels to help dry it out. Is there any help you can offer? I’m desperate! Thank you!
linette
Jun 23, 2008 at 12:37 pm
Teresa, getting the soil dried out is a very good idea for the short term. It may have just thrown the plant into a dormant phase, and may come out if it with a little TLC. After you get the excess moisture out of the soil, place the plant in a sunny location, and only water it when the top layer of soil is dry to the touch. This plant goes through dormant stages, and can come back even when it appears to be dead.
Richard Stickel
Jun 23, 2008 at 10:20 pm
TRESAi I WOULD ALL OF THE ABOVE THINGS THAT LINETTE SUGGESTED EXCEPT I WOULD PLACE THE PLANT IS A PARTLY SHADED AREA.
ALSO I WOULD CUT IT BACK EVEN WITH THE POT RIM AND WATER IS SPARCLY AFTER IT HAS DRIED AND WATCH FOR NEW GROWTH TO START AFTER A FEW WEEKS.GOOD LUCK
GOOD LUCK
Sharon
Jul 19, 2008 at 12:44 am
When I repotted my shamrock it became a disaster. I ended up cutting off the stems to use above the roots and planted them about 2 -3 inches below the top of the soil. The plant took off but is there a better way to repot?
June Little
Jul 21, 2008 at 4:10 pm
I recently aquired shamrock bulbs and planted them in the soil which came with it as well as the plastic pot. They sprouted quickly and the stems are from 7-9 inches long and I have no idea what to do with them.
I did repot some in a larger container and buried them deeper. They seem to be living.
Any help will be appreciated.
Gary
Jul 23, 2008 at 5:09 am
June: Having been helped immeasurably last May by Linette and others with my life-threatened shamrock, let me suggest a couple of things, keep the pot in strong natural light but out of direct sunshine (regardless of what others tell you in re “sunshine”), water sparingly when the plan is dry to touch and turn it occasionally so that all areas of the shamrock get its share of light. Good luck with your plant. P.S. treat it lovingly, like it’s a pet or another member of the family and it will reward you with countless hours of enjoyment. I hear it also helps if you can talk to it in Gaelic or at least with an Irish accent. Good luck.
Teresa
Jul 26, 2008 at 9:07 am
linette and Richard, Just wanted to report that my daughter’s plant is again thriving. I let it dry out for a couple of days on our porch out of the direct North Carolina sun, cut off the dead stems, repotted it into a little larger pot and watered it only when it felt dry on top. I am also the only person allowed to water it until my daughter returns (this weekend, thank goodness)! Thank you so much for your help! -Teresa
linette
Jul 28, 2008 at 12:48 pm
Thanks Teresa and Gary, it’s so good to know that the information here has been helpful to others and their shamrock plants:) Thanks for stopping back and leaving such wonderful feedback.
Norlene
Aug 1, 2008 at 2:57 am
A friend of mime is willing to let me have a start of her purple shamrock. How do I do this? Do I need to let it root in water first?
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