Mother Earth’s Garden

88 opinions for Caring For Shamrock Plants

• St. Patrick’s Day Blog Carnival
  Mar 14, 2008 at 11:14 pm

  [...] Over at Mother Earth Garden, Linette will walk you through caring for Shamrocks. [...]

• St. Patrick’s Day Blog Carnival at Babylune
  Mar 15, 2008 at 12:40 pm

  [...] Comments St. Patrick’s Day Blog Carnival on Caring For Shamrock PlantsJanne on $30 Cash Giveaway at Mother Earth’s Gardenjodi on Monarch Butterflies Love [...]

• 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?

• Britt
  Aug 21, 2008 at 3:43 am

  I have a green shamrock plant and some leaves look like they have been burnt, other have shiveled spots on it but the leaves are pretty healthy over all, and have lasted a long time…does anyone know what’s going on??

  Your best bet is to email me the answer, I would like to know whats going on!

  Thanks
  brittBRATTxX@hotmail.com

• Jackie
  Aug 27, 2008 at 3:51 am

  On St. Patricks day, my boss purchased shamrock plants for my entire department. We’re now having a contest to see which plant looks best. My plant was full and seemed be a bit crowded in the existing pot, so I purchased one 2″ larger and re-potted it using soil which contained miracle grow. My plant has grown significantly and is now towering over everyone else’s. I keep it under a desk light during the day and it rest’s at night. During the weekend - I leave it sitting near a window. It is thriving and blooms constantly. Even the leaves are larger than the palm of my hands - it’s amazing. It seems that it looks thinner simply because each stem is long. Should I try cutting it back some?

• Richard Stickel
  Aug 28, 2008 at 3:30 am

  jackie: if i were you i would leave it alone it sounds like it is doing fine.But i would have never used miracle grow but thats just my opinion

• Linette
  Aug 28, 2008 at 3:45 am

  Jackie, I totally agree with Richard, if it’s doing well I wouldn’t trim it. I’d let it grow.

• Beverly
  Sep 5, 2008 at 3:03 am

  I have a Shamrock plant which is doing good. Is it wrong to water it from the bottom? I didn’t know it’s a bulb plant but have heard that plants like a Cyclamen should be watered from the bottom or else very carefully around the top edge of the plant so as not to get the bulb wet. I have watered it from the top but I raise all the very fine stems and white flowers so as not to get wet–they look so fragile to be saturated with water. Suggestions please.

• Richard Stickel
  Sep 5, 2008 at 6:27 am

  WELL BEVERLY I HAVE WATERED MY SHAMROCK FROM BOTH THE TOP AND BOTTOM AND NEVER WORRIED IF THE LEAVES GOT WET OR NOT AND IT IS DOING FINE.

• linette
  Sep 5, 2008 at 6:47 am

  Beverly, Richard is totally right I don’t think it matters. Just don’t let your shamrock plant sit in water. After about 15-20 minutes if there’s water sitting in the tray, dump it out.

• Richard Stickel
  Sep 5, 2008 at 8:23 am

  also like linette said dont let it sit in water

• Amanda
  Sep 11, 2008 at 9:07 am

  I received my Shamrock as a gift over a year ago. It has never done very well, but it is still alive. Atmost it has maybe 5-10 stems with leaves, but they don’t live longer than a couple weeks. I water it once a week and never have the soil soaked, but I don’t know why it won’t grow. Can you please help me!

• Richard Stickel
  Sep 13, 2008 at 9:39 pm

  WELL AMANDA MAYBE ITS YOUR POTTING SOIL,I USE ORGANIC POTTING SOIL AND ABOUT EVERY 2 MONTHS I WATER WITH ORGANIC LIQUID FISH FERTILIZER 1 TBL PER GAL OF WATER.
  ALSO FOR BEVERLY I SET MY SHAMROCK OUT IN THE RAIN BUT JUST MAKE SURE IT DRAINS WELL AFTER IT IS BROUGHT IN

• Linette
  Sep 14, 2008 at 8:24 am

  Thanks Richard:) I so appreciate it when you chime in. Who knew a post about shamrock plants would cause such a stir:-) I had a shamrock plant for several years, but I’m far from an expert.

• Richard Stickel
  Sep 15, 2008 at 12:21 am

  HEY LINETTE: IAM FAR FROM BEING AN EXPERT ON SHAMROCKS MYSELF, BUT I KNOW WHAT WORKS FOR ME.TODAY IAM IN THE PROCESS OF BRINGING IN MY SPIDER,IVY,KOLANCHEO PLANTS ALONG WITH MY JERLUSALEM CHERRY FOR WINTER SO THEY GET ACCUSTOMED TO THE LIGHT AND TEMPERATURE CHANGE BEFORE HAVING TO TURN ON THE HEAT

• Barbara
  Oct 5, 2008 at 11:24 am

  I bought a purple shamrock about 3 months ago and at the same time I purchased one for my neighbor. She placed her’s on her screened porch which gets the afternoon sun but is filtered by the screen and has plenty of air flowing through. I put mine on my porch, didn’t do good and looked like it was dying so I put it outside on my carport in the shade, no luck kept looking worse, put it in filtered sun, no luck again. My neighbor’s just kept looking better so I took my droopy plant over to her house and placed it by hers. Not only did mine perk up but it is getting fuller and producing flowers. One of our neighbors was having problems with hers too and only had one stem left on it. She brought it over and put it with the two of ours and now her’s is going like gang buster. It must be the location because we watered the same. I have loads of plants of all kinds but this shamrock is the only one I have had problems with. At least I can see it from my Florida room and can still enjoy it. We all laugh about it since I am so good with all my others but can’t seem to grow a shamrock. By the way, this is my second one. I killed the first one about 4 years ago!!

• Gary
  Oct 6, 2008 at 6:08 am

  Sorry about the unfinsihed E-mail above. Anyway, can anyone tell me when and how I should let my Shamrock enter dormancy here in the Northeast? I am guessing late November or early December and letting it stay there with just a bit of water now and then until mid-March. Thanks, anyone. Gary

• Richard Stickel
  Oct 7, 2008 at 5:24 am

  Well Gary i live in the northern panhandle of WV and i moved my shamrock inside and its blooming like crazy so i just let it go and it will enter dormancy by its self

• Donna
  Oct 26, 2008 at 4:52 am

  Hello fellow shamrock lovers! I am looking for info on caring for my purple and green shamrocks.
  I live in St.Paul Minnesota and brought these back from my native home of Alabama in April. I planted them in a large plastic pot and had it outside on our step landing on the north face of our home. It has done awesome but do I bring it in now for wintertime and what suggestions do any of you have for how to care fore it now? Thank you so much for any help. God Bless, Donna

• Beverly
  Oct 26, 2008 at 1:20 pm

  Donna,
  I keep my Shamrock inside all year and it’s on a table in my bedroom which gets the east/south sun. But I do angle the vertical blinds so it doesn’t get really hot sun, otherwise the leaves close up as they do at nighttime. I use Miracle Gro or Schultz fertilizer once a month and water regularly from the top around the edge of the pot.

• Richard Stickel
  Oct 27, 2008 at 1:16 am

  Donna: i hope you have your shamrock inside by now.They cannot stay outdoors over winter. i have mine in a 1st fl bathroom with a skylight and it is doing great.I water it once a month and do not fertilize during the winter.In the spring i start fertilizing in the spring and continue about once a month till fall. I use a organic liquid fish fertilizer ` Tbl spoon per gal of water

• Erin
  Oct 27, 2008 at 7:23 am

  if i leave my shamrock plant in the dark for 24 hours will the leaves stay “closed”?

• Gary
  Oct 27, 2008 at 9:43 am

  Richard: Thanks for the info in your response to Donna with respect to watering shamrocks while they are dormant over the winter months. Like so many of the site’s correspondents, I have learned what to do, but not necessarily when to do it. Now I know, water lightly once a month and no fertilizer until the spring.

• Richard Stickel
  Oct 27, 2008 at 10:52 pm

  YOU GOT IT RIGHT NOW ….GARY

• Richard Stickel
  Oct 30, 2008 at 9:36 pm

  erin: WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO LEAVE YOUR SHAMROCK PLANT IN THE DARK FOR 24 HRS IN THE 1ST PLACE

• Anne
  Feb 26, 2009 at 3:27 am

  I am having a similar problem as Britt’s post - I have four of five very healthy shamrock plants at home, and I brought one into work. I dont’ sit near a window, but the plant seems to be doing alright under fluorescent light - however, just recently it started to have some “burnt” spots on the leaves - right around the edges of the most mature leaves - and they don’t look as purple on the backs as younger healthier leaves. Any ideas as to why the burnt marks are appearing more and more? Thanks! -Anne

• Carla
  Mar 22, 2009 at 3:14 am

  I think shamrock plants are beautiful: however I just bought a home and the backyard is full of them. Any ideas on how to get rid of them. My backyard has very tall pines and was covered with about 7 inches of pine needles. We cleared away all the pine needles and wow the amount of shamrock bulbs is unreal. I want to plant grass the soil is so healthy and really don’t want to spray round-up. Any suggests are welcome

• linette
  Mar 23, 2009 at 1:41 am

  Carla~ Sorry but completely different plant than what we’re talking about here:-(

• Eric
  Mar 29, 2009 at 12:10 am

  My cat knocked over my Shamrock plant and most of the shoots off the root bulbs. I re-potted the bulbs with shoots in one pot and re-potted the bare bulbs in another. The bulbs with shoots seems to be recovering, while the bulbs with no shoots are doing nothing. Did the shock send them into dormancy? Do they need any special care to recover?

• Richard Stickel
  Mar 31, 2009 at 6:30 am

  I WOULDNT SAY THAT THE BULBS WENT DORMANT BUT THAT THEY JUST NEED TIME TO REGROW ROOTS.I WOULD KEEPTHEM WATERED AND BE PATIENT AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS

• GAry Perkinson
  Mar 31, 2009 at 8:48 am

  Hey, Richard: Here it is the end of a chilly March ouside DC and I am wondering if I should take my plant out of dormancy now or wait a couple of weeks. I’ve lightly watered it once a month during the winter, per your recommendation last Fall, and it looks good. Gary

• Richard Stickel
  Mar 31, 2009 at 11:24 am

  wow gary i cant remember yesterday let alone last fall but if we are talking about a shamrock
  plant i wouldntput it outside just yet,i would wait till at least mid april.here in WV the last frost is around may 10th so i dont put mine out in sunroom until after that.minr did bloom all winter

• Amber
  Apr 14, 2009 at 4:02 am

  I’ve had my shamrock for about 4 weeks now. I planted it from bulbs and it took off rather fast. Now the stems are 6-8 inches high. My concern is that the stems are so high they can no longer support themselves. My coworker refers to it as “leggy.” The plants are sitting near a window and get both sunlight and movement when I have a window open. I don’t think temperature is a problem, it’s usually in the mid 60-70s in our office. Should I be concerned with the height of the stems? Should I cut it back?

• Richard Stickel
  Apr 16, 2009 at 11:09 pm

  well i have had my shamrock plant for several years and the stems get about 7 inches tall and then bloom and die and new ones start so i have never cut it back

• Ian, FL
  Apr 17, 2009 at 3:16 am

  I have a had a green Shamrock for five(5) years and it has never gone dormant and constantly blooms. The first 4 years all summer it was in the outdoor shade and was misted twice a day by a drip system that was misting some ferns we have. I was wonder about this lack of dormancy? is it because we live in a warmer climate. so far no signs of distress or diseases. I mist it once a day during the cold weather

• Rodney
  Apr 24, 2009 at 7:55 pm

  Hello,
  When I lived in the States I always had shamrock plants in my house. They always did very well unless I had to move them. I live in Spain now and have been looking for some with no luck. I went out to my balcony yesterday and have a large dying plant I was thinking of throwing out. When I looked underneath I found quite a crop of large dark green shamrocks. They look identical to the ones I had in the states, but the stems are a bit shorter. Are these the same as the others? And are they suitable for transplanting and keeping as a houseplant? I can’t imagine how they got there, but I was happy to find them.

• Grace
  Apr 29, 2009 at 3:22 am

  I was given a very small shamrock approx. 15 years ago. It has sat in my office ever since. I’ve repotted it twice to larger clay pots. I did not know it is suppose to go dormant. It has thrived in a window with blinds. I tilt them when the sun is very hot. Now we have downsized our
  offices and I am in a room without windows and will need to take it home. I am terrified the move will kill it. I love this plant. Are there any tips as to when to move it (time of day) or should I just leave it in the office where it is now getting some light from a distant window?

• Richard Stickel
  Apr 29, 2009 at 9:40 pm

  JUST DO IT GRACE, IT WILL DIE WITHOUT LIGHT

• jerzgrrrl72
  May 5, 2009 at 12:06 am

  HELP!!! I have part of a Shamrock plant which was brought over from Europe following WWII. I’m 36 now, and the plant is obviously older than me, and is like a family heirloom. At one point in December, I must have accidentally over-watered it, as I found about 2″ of standing water in it when I returned from the Holidays. I immediately dumped it out, and dried off the soil w/paper towels, and subsequently, replanted it. After about 3 wks, a new stem showed up, and I thought it was doing fine. My apt. is in the back of the building next to pine trees, and doesn’t get a lot of sunlight, so I thought perhaps moving the plant out to the deck would give it some much-needed sunlight, and revive it. I water it using an Aquaglobe, and it also has some Miracle Grow sticks in the soil.
  Now, the last remaining surviving stem is barely opening and it just kind of lies there limp and suffering. What do I need to do to bring this plant back to its beautiful glory?!!! I refuse to be responsible for killing off a cherished family heirloom! Do I need to divide the corm (bulb) and start over, or bring the plant back inside?

  PLEASE SOMEONE HELP–I AM DESPERATE AND I LOVE THIS PLANT DEARLY!!!

  Thanks

• Richard Stickel
  May 5, 2009 at 7:16 am

  WELL JERZRRRGIRL THE 1ST THING I WOULD DO IS TAKE OUT THE AQUAGLOBE AND LET THE SOIL DRY OUT BEFORE WATERING IT AGAIN AND GET RID OF THE MIRACLE GRO STICKS.I ONLY FEED MY SHAMROCK ABOUT EVERYOTHER MONTH AND I USE 1 TBL SPOON OF LIQUID FISH ELMULSION PER GAL OF WATER AND FEED ALL OF MY PLANTS.MY SHAMROCK IS DOING JUST FINE AND IS ALWAYS IN BLOOM

• Kathy
  May 29, 2009 at 9:13 am

  I have lots of roses and flowers in pots. I seem to have shamrocks growing in every single potted plant I have outside on my deck. Do they grow wild? I ask since I never planted any shamrocks. I did have a plant that died a few years ago and then this year they are growing everywhere. I get the pretty orange blooms and I just noticed the other day that they close up at night.

• Annie
  Jun 7, 2009 at 9:01 am

  I , too love my red and green plants, someone I know gave me some great tips to grow and transplant the bulbs using the soil for African Violets. Since I have done this I have such healthy and perlific plants and have given many bulbs away as gifts to friends…try it!
  APB

• Deb
  Jun 9, 2009 at 12:14 am

  I am one of those people who cannot grow anything, but I can grow shamrocks! I have had a shamrock plant in my bedroom for 25 years now and it just keeps going. It’s near a window with light all afternoon. I water the plant once a week on the same day and water it thoroughly. I do get flowers several times a year. I always panic when the dormant period arrives and I start getting shriveled brown leaves. But I pull them off and resist overwatering the plant. After a while I get new growth and as others have said, it is stronger than before. Shamrocks are great plants as they can survive even when you are away for awhile. Once you return and water them again, they come right back.

• Stephen Hill
  Jun 9, 2009 at 2:13 am

  From one red & purple Shamrock plant given to me as a gift, I have cultivated a forest of them by taking one stem and potting them in all kinds of containers, then you see the tiniest little baby shamrock leave & stalks popping up through the soil. I have a large one hanging in my kitchen window in indirect sunlight, but also in every window of the house I have potted them in small jars, tiny bottles with only one or two stalks, pepper tins, all kinds of containers, and I love them. But lately all of my Shamrocks don’t seem to be doing well, especiallly the bigger ones, they just seem kind of lethargic & unhealthy, droopy stalks, ect. I only water them every 2-3 days, but I’ve never given them any kind of fertilizer. Would some fertilizer help, or do they go dormant in summertime or what ?? Please help, I love these plants !!!

• Mindi
  Jun 10, 2009 at 4:01 am

  I received 3 shamrock bulbs as “freebies” from a gardening company when I placed an order. I have no idea what to do with them. Should I put them outside or inside? If outside, how far to space them, how high do they grow or spread? If indoors, one bulb per container? Thamks!

• tony
  Jun 11, 2009 at 3:17 am

  my purple shamrock is getting rust spots on the leaves and looking puny. what do i need to do to help the poor thing

• Stacey
  Jun 11, 2009 at 8:25 am

  I have had shamrocks for nearly 10 years and have only grown them outside since I moved to SC last year. They are doing so well that we had to separate them this spring. Now that they are growing again, I am getting the rust spots on only one of the five sections that I have divided the original shamrock into. At first it was only on the lower leaves, but now it seems to have spread to most of the very large plant. PLEASE if someone knows what this is or can tell me how to get rid of it, I would GREATLY appreciate it!!

• pannebeckerl@yahoo .com
  Jun 18, 2009 at 10:38 pm

  I live between 5 and 6 zone .wouldlike to know if my shamrock plant will live outside in this zone

• Wes B
  Jun 29, 2009 at 4:48 am

  Shamrock plants …one plant can be turned into hundreds of plants. They grow into these long stringing bulbs. Break them apart and each of these pieces will grow more plants. I just took a plant pot and made several more plant pots which I will give to friends.

• linette
  Jun 30, 2009 at 2:24 am

  pannebeckerl~ Shamrock plants can be put outside during the summer (I would put them in a sheltered location), but will have to be brought in before it frosts in the fall, or it won’t survive in a zone 5 or 6. In some of the southern zones where it doesn’t get below freezing you can leave your shamrock plant outdoors all year round.

  tony~ Make sure your shamrock is getting enough sunlight, and you don’t let it sit in water. Richard has some great tips above if you read through them. Fish emulsion makes a great fertilizer, about once a month during the summer months.

• ncurls
  Jul 1, 2009 at 6:30 am

  I love my shamrock, and it’s been so happy and healthy. But recently, the leaves have spots and the tips of the leaves look shrivled, they’re all dry and brown and look like they’ve been burned.

  The plant went from being georgous and healthy and green and flowery to sad and spotty and burned.

  What did I do wrong? Any way to fix?

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