These beautiful plants can be a little fussy if their growing conditions aren't just right and they escape into a state of dormancy when they experience stress. Our Guide to False Shamrock Plants will give you a good idea of the preferred care routine to keep the plant in good shape. Most importantly:

• Keep it at a cool temperature (60 - 70º  F. and 15 degrees cooler at night) and away from a heat vent. It will faint and attempt dormancy if it heats up. The low end of the temperature range will delay the summer dormancy.
• Grow it in a pot with a drain hole and water with attention. Remove any decorative wrapping around the plant's pot. Water thoroughly, making the potting mixture moist and check back after 15 minutes to remove any water sitting in the plant's run-off dish.
• When the plant is in active growth, keep the soil barely moist and allow the soil to just dry between waterings. After flowering, if the plant begins to die-back, taper watering and then keep the soil dry during the period of dormancy.
• Humidity above 50% when in active growth will support a healthy plant with attractive leaves.

Leave the limp leaves on the plant until they have become completely brown because they can pop back to full strength once the correct care is given, if that happens quickly enough. Do your best to stick with the routine for care in the guide and once you find the right balance in your home the plant should be much less fussy.

Courtesy of NYBG Plant Information Service