Please help me save flatmate’s plant!

[Tafelberg]

My flatmate has a beautiful sorrel (I think) plant that was doing really well before she went away for a few months. She left it in the care of my other flatmate who unfortunately overwatered it and it suffered severely. On the advice of my mum, who is keen on gardening, we replanted it (removing as much of the soaked soil as possible) with new compost and pebbles at the bottom of the new pot, but it isn’t recovering. It’s clearly not quite dead yet as the leaves still open in daylight and shut at night but it’s a sorry sight - I will add pictures of before it was overwatered and now Can it be saved? Can anyone give me any advice on bringing it back from the brink please?

Here it is before...

...and now

Oh dear! That doesn't look healthy. I don't think there's anything more that you can do except hope for the best. How long was it overwatered for?

Oh dear. It does look sad. I would replace it. Sorry that doesnt help.

www.houseplantsexpert.com/false-shamrock-plant.html

@Modestandatinybitsexy I’m not sure - I think only once or twice. I looked after it for a couple of weeks when my flatmate went away and it was fine, then I went away myself and my other flatmate took over and that’s when the damage was done. She said she only overwatered it once but surely that wouldn’t have caused so much damage?

@HappyHammy yeah I think we might have to. I feel awful (even though it’s not my fault) - it looks so very sorry for itself

Anyone know if MiracleGro would be worth a shot?

I think its beyond help. The bulb may be rotten. Have you dug it up to have a look at the bulb and roots. You can buy them on ebay.

OP I spent a minute or 2 looking at the first photo thinking 'that looks fine' before realising it was the 'before' photo 😀

I concur, it's beyond hope I think. Mind you, all plants nearly meet their Maker when I'm in charge of them so I'm not one to give advice.

I know it's sad, but not sure why you wouldn't just buy a new one and put it in the same pot - and even tell her. I mean it's a plant, it's not like you killed her cat by overfeeding it?
I do think this plant is deceased and no more, sorry.

It is Oxalis triangularis - don't give up on it yet! Like most Oxalis it is pretty tough - I actually grow it outside all year round, in free draining soil and with a jolly good mulch over the crown in autumn to protect it from frost! It likes a neutral to alkaline soil, with lots of added grit to help drainage. Try repotting again in an alkaline potting medium and add loads of fine horticultural grit or perlite, cut back the growth, don't water for a while and don't feed until it is actually showing signs of new growth. You could also try putting it outside for a while in a shady, warm spot, but somewhere where it will not get waterlogged by rain. How long until your flatmate gets back and notices? Good luck

@EarringsandLipstick ha! How I wish that was the after picture!

@onalongsabbatical I know it seems like an overreaction but it was the one plant she said several times before she left that she really loves and needed special attention. She does know it’s been overwatered and that we’re trying to save it, just not the extent of its deterioration.

@HappyHammy I did look at the roots and bulb when we repotted it - they didn’t look rotten to me but I am definitely no expert

@Beekeeper1 thanks for the helpful advice and encouragement. I think I will leave it alone for a bit longer as it’s not long since we reported and my mum said they take a while to recover from the “shock” of that, but if it doesn’t improve I’ll try your suggestions. Thank you!

PS she’s away for at least another month or two so fingers crossed...

It could be that it has just gone into natural dormancy anyway, as they do, and will start growing again when it is ready🤞

My oxalis does this and the miraculously recovers, so I'm of the "do nothing" camp. Ensure it's not bone dry and then it should revive from this dormancy.

Anyone know if MiracleGro would be worth a shot? No!!! the last thing a sick plant needs is a heavy rich meal.

I mean it's a plant, it's not like you killed her cat by overfeeding it? This is why you need to be very careful who you entrust your plants to. "It's not like you killed her cat" indeed!

Wow @MereDintofPandiculation sorry I have never had any plants of my own so have no idea at all...I won’t touch MiracleGro.

@StrikingMatches I really hope you’re right. Just praying it comes back to life before my flatmate comes home.

I just thought I’d come back to this thread and post a positive update! The plant has been back in my care for a while now and while it’s nowhere near its former glory, it’s definitely come back to life - new stalks and leaves have grown and are continuing to grow so I’m really hopeful eventually it’ll be back to its best. Picture attached. Thank you everyone who encouraged me not to give up on it!

Well done OP, you've brought it back from the brink! I think now would be a prudent time to feed it, whilst still watering sparingly. Hopefully it'll be looking more like its old self by the time your mate returns.

Buy a new one - that's what you do when a hamster dies in your care!

Well done 👍🏻

It's a very pretty plant

@TheNoodlesIncident thank you! What would be best to feed it with?

@Mischance oh god don’t. After the trauma of this plant incident I’m never taking on someone’s actual pet!

@LaurieFairyCake thanks, it really is. Believe it or not I’m actually considering getting one myself after all this

I’ve got these and they are ridiculously hard to kill. When I first got mine it died back completely and now it’s huge. You can easily split the roots to make more plants too (they die back and then spring up again). Glad it’s doing better!