Goodnight, Shamrock

Did you know that Shamrocks go to sleep at night? During the day, their little leaves and flowers open up towards the sun, and then at night, they hang their little heads. My mom has a few Shamrocks and the first time I saw them "sleeping," I told her she needed to remember to water her plants before we went to bed. What a sweet little plant that puts itself to bed in the evenings. This folding up at night is known as nyctinstic movements. Your Shamrocks will enjoy indirect sunlight in your home for the next few months, but then they will start to look dead or dying. The Shamrock (Oxalis, of which there are many varieties) is a bulb, and it will go into a time of dormancy. Once the foliage has browned, you can remove it and place the plant in a cool, dark location for a few months. Once new green growth is showing, you can move it to a sunny location again and it will bloom and grow through the winter. The Shamrock pictured was a gift from my MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) secret sister. Happy St. Patrick's Day!