Oxalis is a genus of small herbaceous plants from the family Oxalidaceae. These plants are native to South America, Southern Africa, and tropical regions. However, you will notice that these have also been spreading to other regions because of their beautiful flowers. The plant has over 850 species that people can select from and each of them has unique characteristics that make the flowers amazing. You should note that these plants are also quite easy to keep maintained which is why they have been gaining a lot of popularity nowadays.
Why Is My Oxalis Drooping?
If you are also thinking about growing oxalis in your garden, then keep in mind that there are also some problems that you can run into with the plant. When it comes to this, users have recently been asking the question “Why is my oxalis drooping?”. If you are getting the same problem with your plant, then going through this article should help you in finding some reasons behind the issue as well as ways that can be used to fix them.
- Oxalis Being Dormant
When growing oxalis in your garden, people should understand that these plants can go dormant during summers. This stage is quite normal for these flowers and the drooping is mostly due to this. Keep in mind that the dormancy on your oxalis will stay for several months after which the plant should get upright again. Though, it is best that you first confirm if the problem is from the plant is dormant or not.
For this, you can observe the color of the leaves on your oxalis. If these have a brownish shade on them while the plant is drooping, then it is most likely dormant. On the other hand, if the plant is still colorful then something might be wrong with it. The dormancy state usually gets fixed on its own but if you want your plant to come out of it forcefully then some steps can be followed.
Start by pruning your oxalis and then removing all of its dead foliage. Make sure that you remove all the dead branches and leaves from the plant before proceeding to the next step. You can now move your oxalis to a dark spot that has a cold temperature. This should help the plant in encouraging new growth so that it can come out of its dormancy and start growing new flowers. Keep in mind that the plant can take a few days to become upright which is why waiting patiently is important.
- Oxalis Not Receiving Proper Water
Aside from dormancy, another reason why these plants might be drooping can be due to improper watering. When it comes to this, people should understand that there are several factors that they need to keep in check. If your oxalis is drooping, then first confirm if your problem is from underwatering or overwatering.
The best way to do this is by sticking your fingers inside the soil around your plant. If you notice that the soil is only moist up to 1 inch and the rest is dry, then you have been underwatering your plant. On the other hand, if the soil is moist even below 2 inches, then you have been overwatering your oxalis.
Keeping this in mind, you should provide your plant with sufficient water so that issues like these can be avoided. One of the best ways to ensure that you don’t overwater the plant is by having a drainage system in your garden.
- Pest Infestation
Finally, one more reason why your oxalis might be drooping can be due to pest infestation. If this happens then there is a high chance that your plant will die within a few days. People can easily notice the problem by close observation as their oxalis should have bite marks and damage on their stems.
The only way to deal with this problem is by keeping your plant healthy and adding fungicides to it. There are tons of brands that manufacture chemicals that can kill pests like these. These are usually mixed with fertilizers which boost the growth of your flowers along with keeping them safe. Just make sure that you add the product in a controlled quantity as too much of it can also cause problems.