It’s Shamrock Time!

Is there a better month of the year than March?  The Gallagher Clan thinks not!

Spring’s arrival, March madness, St. Patrick’s Day and lots and lots of Shamrocks!

The Gallagher leprechauns will be busy this week delivering a wee bit o’ Irish to brighten our customer’s day.  What a great way to get ready for St. Patrick’s Day!

Some of our friends have become quite prolific shamrock growers.  So we have started the Gallagher Shamrock Club for all of our customers who continue to grow healthy Gallagher Shamrocks year after year.  If you’d like to be in the club, send us a picture of your Gallagher Shamrock from last year or before and you’ll become a proud member!  Take a look at Chris Childress’ wonderful plants at SelfLube in Coopersville, MI.  Congratulations Chris, you’ve earned your membership! Chris tells us beyond his green thumb, he has a little bit ‘o Irish luck because SelfLube is located on O’Malley Dr.

The shamrock plant is recognized the world over as the badge of Ireland. It was the Celtic druids who started the shamrock on its path to Irish glory! They believed the no. 3 to be a perfect number and, as such, to have inherent mystical powers. No one is quite sure why they believed this but it is possible the number signified totality.  That is, past, present and future, or sky, earth and underground.

Growing Shamrocks as House Plants

They are very easy to care for plants, but they do have a few cultural requirements.
Shamrocks grow best when they are grown in bright light but not direct sun,
relatively cool temperatures and plenty of fresh air.
Keep the soil evenly moist when your Shamrocks are actively growing,
but allow them to slowly dry out and go into dormancy when they begin to lose vigor.

The Shamrock’s Dormant Period

Like all bulb type plants, Shamrocks require a period of dormancy every once in a while. Shamrock Plants grown in containers will need two or three rest periods every year to continue growing their best.
When your Shamrock plant starts looking a little punky, stop watering and as the leaves all turn brown, pull them off.  Set the planter somewhere that it will remain cool and dry for about two or three months.
Note: The purple leaved varieties of Shamrocks only need about a month of rest.
After your Shamrocks have enjoyed their ‘vacation’ you can resume watering
and give them a shot of all purpose house plant food (10-10-10).
In a very short time you will be rewarded with a happy new Shamrock!