Fertilising guide
How to fertilise Oxalis Triangularis 'Mijke' (Oxalis triangularis 'Mijke')— schedule & NPK
Also called green shamrock, Mijke oxalis.
More about oxalis triangularis 'mijke'
About Oxalis Triangularis 'Mijke'
Oxalis triangularis 'Mijke' · also called green shamrock, Mijke oxalis · houseplant
Oxalis triangularis 'Mijke' is the bright-green form of the false shamrock, with the same triangular trifoliate leaves that fold down each evening and reopen by day. It grows from small bulbs, flushes quickly in good light, and naturally cycles through dormancy. Easy and rewarding, it brings nyctinastic leaf movement and dainty pale blooms to a windowsill.
Growth habit: Clumping, bulbous perennial forming a low mound of nyctinastic trifoliate leaves on slender stalks; foliage opens and closes daily and the plant cycles through periods of dormancy.
What fertiliser oxalis triangularis 'mijke' actually wants — and why
Oxalis Triangularis 'Mijke' is an easy, light foliage feeder — a half-strength balanced liquid feed through the growing months keeps it green without forcing weak, sappy growth.
A balanced general houseplant feed (roughly even N-P-K) is exactly right — it is grown for foliage, so steady, moderate nitrogen for healthy leaves is the goal, not a bloom or root formula.
For the language behind the three numbers on the bottle — what nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium each do — see the NPK ratio explained entry. The short version for oxalis triangularis 'mijke': match the feed to the job the plant is doing right now, not to a generic “plant food” on the shelf.
How often to feed oxalis triangularis 'mijke', and which months
Feeding only earns its keep while the plant is in active growth and can use the nutrients — pour feed into a dormant or low-light plant and it simply builds up as root-burning salt. For oxalis triangularis 'mijke':
Feed monthly with a balanced, diluted liquid fertiliser during active growth in spring and summer. Stop feeding entirely when the plant enters dormancy and the foliage dies back, resuming only when new growth appears. Treat that as monthly between spring through early autumn (roughly March to September); ease off in autumn and stop entirely in the low light of winter.
The dormant-season rule matters more than the exact interval: skip feeding entirely when oxalis triangularis 'mijke' is resting. For the wider context on indoor feeding rhythms across the seasons, the houseplant fertiliser schedule walks through the year month by month.
What strength to mix for oxalis triangularis 'mijke'
Half strength is the safe default for oxalis triangularis 'mijke' — houseplant feeds are formulated strong, and the diluted dose is gentler on the roots while still ample for foliage.
Feeding always goes onto already-damp soil, never dry roots — water oxalis triangularis 'mijke' first if the soil is dry, then apply the diluted feed. The companion question is when to water at all, covered in the oxalis triangularis 'mijke' watering schedule.
Signs you are over-feeding oxalis triangularis 'mijke'
Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for oxalis triangularis 'mijke':
- Brown, crispy leaf tips and edges with no sign of underwatering.
- A white, crusty salt deposit on the soil surface or pot rim.
- Weak, pale, stretched new growth that flops.
- Lower leaves yellow and drop while the soil is correctly watered.
Signs you are under-feeding oxalis triangularis 'mijke'
- Uniformly pale or yellow-green leaves, oldest first.
- Noticeably small new leaves and stalled growth in good light and season.
- A generally tired, lacklustre look despite correct watering and light.
If the symptoms point at watering, light or roots rather than nutrition, the full oxalis triangularis 'mijke' care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.
Flushing and leaching the salts
Flush the pot of oxalis triangularis 'mijke' with plain water until it runs freely from the base every couple of months in the feeding season — it washes out the fertiliser salts that cause brown tips.
Organic vs synthetic feeds for oxalis triangularis 'mijke'
Organic options
A diluted seaweed or worm-casting feed, or fish emulsion if you can tolerate the smell indoors. UK: Westland or Baby Bio Organic, dilute seaweed; US: Espoma Indoor! or Neptune's Harvest fish & seaweed. Slow, gentle and hard to overdo.
Synthetic / liquid feeds
A general-purpose houseplant liquid at half strength — UK: Baby Bio, Westland Houseplant Feed or Phostrogen; US: Miracle-Gro Indoor Plant Food or Schultz. Convenient and fast-acting; the only risk is overdoing it.
Brand names are examples, not endorsements, and UK and US ranges differ — check the label’s own NPK and dilution rate, since formulations change.
Fertilising oxalis triangularis 'mijke' — frequently asked questions
What fertiliser does oxalis triangularis 'mijke' need?
A balanced general houseplant feed (roughly even N-P-K) is exactly right — it is grown for foliage, so steady, moderate nitrogen for healthy leaves is the goal, not a bloom or root formula. Oxalis Triangularis 'Mijke' is an easy, light foliage feeder — a half-strength balanced liquid feed through the growing months keeps it green without forcing weak, sappy growth.
How often should I feed oxalis triangularis 'mijke'?
Feed monthly with a balanced, diluted liquid fertiliser during active growth in spring and summer. Stop feeding entirely when the plant enters dormancy and the foliage dies back, resuming only when new growth appears. Feed monthly with a balanced, diluted liquid fertiliser during active growth in spring and summer. Stop feeding entirely when the plant enters dormancy and the foliage dies back, resuming only when new growth appears. Treat that as monthly between spring through early autumn (roughly March to September); ease off in autumn and stop entirely in the low light of winter.
What strength of feed for oxalis triangularis 'mijke'?
Half strength is the safe default for oxalis triangularis 'mijke' — houseplant feeds are formulated strong, and the diluted dose is gentler on the roots while still ample for foliage.
What does over-feeding oxalis triangularis 'mijke' look like?
Brown, crispy leaf tips and edges with no sign of underwatering. A white, crusty salt deposit on the soil surface or pot rim. Weak, pale, stretched new growth that flops. Lower leaves yellow and drop while the soil is correctly watered. Feeding oxalis triangularis 'mijke' year-round on a fixed schedule, including dark winter months, is the most common mistake — it cannot use the nutrients in low light and the surplus simply burns the roots and crusts the soil.
Should I flush the soil of oxalis triangularis 'mijke'?
Flush the pot of oxalis triangularis 'mijke' with plain water until it runs freely from the base every couple of months in the feeding season — it washes out the fertiliser salts that cause brown tips.
Keep reading
- Oxalis Triangularis 'Mijke' care — the full brief (light, soil, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water oxalis triangularis 'mijke' — the watering schedule
- The houseplant fertiliser schedule — feeding through the year
- NPK ratio explained — what the three numbers on the bottle mean
- How to fertilise snake plant
- How to fertilise dracaena
- How to fertilise peperomia
- All 3899 fertilising guides in the Growli library