Clivia tips and tricks
- To get the best out of your Clivias feed them before and after flowering with a fertiliser for flowering plants such as 3:1:5.
- If you aren’t interested in growing Clivias from seed, it is best to cut off the flower stalks as soon as the flowers have faded. ...
- Amaryllis caterpillar can be a nuisance on your Clivias. They start by damaging the leaves and then move down to the crown of the Clivia. ...
- Split your Clivias every 3-5 years to ensure that they don’t become root bound.
- When dividing Clivias try and keep them in clumps of 3-5 rhizomes. This will ensure that they flower the following year.
- Only divide or transplant Clivias after flowering.
What do you need to grow Clivias?
The first thing you need to know about growing clivia plants is that they require rich potting soil with a bit peat added to the mix. Make sure to never repot your clivia until the fleshy roots have entirely outgrown the pot. Once it’s established, a cliva plant needs regular food to thrive.
How do you care for Clivias in South Africa?
During this time (the growing season), your clivia plant will need a lot of warmth, light, water and fertilization. Average home temperatures of about 70 to 75 degrees F and about a ten degree drop at night are the best and will make the plant thrive. These temperatures match the conditions in the plant's native South Africa.
Can you put Clivias in compost?
The clivia flowers and leaves can be placed in your compost if they are not affected by fungal growth or disease. They will break down quickly and turn into great compost for your garden. Feeding outdoor clivia plants with pelleted chicken manure at the start of spring.
Can You transplant a Clivia plant?
You may wish to transplant your clivia, but you need to understand that it will usually deter the plant from producing the next year's blooms. Old plants often have 15 to 20 leaves so you will sometimes be forced to transfer you plant to a new pot.
What is the best fertilizer for clivia?
20-20-20 fertilizerDuring the spring and summer growing seasons, a clivia needs regular watering but should be allowed to become dry to the touch between waterings. An automatic weekly watering will often be too much and can cause rot. Fertilize once a month with a half-strength dilute solution of 20-20-20 fertilizer.
How do I get my clivia to bloom?
Hold the plants dormant until 8 weeks before show time. To bring the plants out of dormancy, begin watering and gradually raise the temperature to 60 degrees F. Flower buds should begin to show about two weeks after the temperature is raised.
Should I fertilize clivia?
Clivia plants need to be fertilized in the spring just after blooming. Once you begin the fertilization process, you can do so monthly with a water-soluble, potassium-rich fertilizer. The mixture needs to be 20-20-20 at half the recommended strength. It is recommended you discontinue fertilizing over the colder months.
How often should I water clivia?
once a weekClivia care A Clivia needs moderate irrigation. It is sufficient to water once a week and keep the soil a little moist. In the winter period it is sufficient to water once every 2 weeks.
Is Epsom salt good for clivias?
This can be remedied by using magnesium sulphate or Epsom Salts. There are several different ways to germinate clivia seeds, but perhaps the easiest way for the novice is to simply place them on the surface of a pot containing your seed-raising mix. The mix can either be in pots (not too large) or seed-raising trays.
Why are the leaves on my clivia turning yellow?
Over-Watering Clivias develop yellow leaves and root rot if they are over-watered. They grow best when kept barely moist in pots with excellent drainage. Clivias bloom more freely when their roots are crowded, so don't re-pot until the bulb starts to push out of the container.
Do clivias like coffee grounds?
Used coffee grounds can also be added to the soil with beneficial results. These will acidify the soil. A handful, sprinkled over a square metre should be an ideal application rate.
Can you over water clivias?
Over-watering will cause root rot so allow excess water to drain away. Don't use a pot saucer but put your pots on feet instead. Terracotta pots are best as they absorb excess moisture. Reduce watering in autumn and stop watering in winter.
When should I stop watering my clivia?
The clivia must have a rest period during most of the late winter months. The soil should be dry to maintain a dormant period. The rest period should continue through most of the winter months and not be broken by light waterings until the end of January or early in February.
Why are the tips of my clivia leaves going brown?
Your plant is called a Clivia Plant. The leaves are turning brown because you are over fertilizing the plant, excess salts from the fertilizer. Slow growing plants in low light require very little plant food. Too much fertilizer is worse than not enough.
Do clivias like sun or shade?
GROWING CLIVIAS Clivias will grow in shade, but may become 'leggy' if grown in deep shade. They will still flower, but not prolifically. Aim for good light in autumn and spring, but avoid strong sunlight in the summer months. Best grown in fertile, well-drained soil.
When should you repot clivias?
Clivia is a plant that shouldn't be moved around too much. It likes living in tight spaces and doesn't cope well with being repotted frequently. So you should thus only repot every 2 or 3 years and preferably in spring.
What time of year do clivias flower?
Most bloom in spring, but flowering times do vary, depending on the species Clivia gardenii, for instance, blooms from autumn to spring, bringing welcome colour to the winter garden. They produce strong flower stems that are topped with heads of large funnel-shaped flowers in vibrant hues of yellow, orange, and red.
Do clivias flower every year?
Although Clivia in the garden may flower for many years without being fertilised, the flowers do tend to become more scarce and smaller. A good regular fertilisation will keep the plant healthy and producing flowers each year. Clivia are subject to weather conditions like other plants.
Do clivias like sun or shade?
GROWING CLIVIAS Clivias will grow in shade, but may become 'leggy' if grown in deep shade. They will still flower, but not prolifically. Aim for good light in autumn and spring, but avoid strong sunlight in the summer months. Best grown in fertile, well-drained soil.
When should I start watering my clivia?
WATERClivias prefer to be kept on the dry side. ... During the growing season, which begins after the "Winter Rest" and continues through October, water thoroughly (until water drains freely from the hole in the bottom of the pot) when the top inch of the potting mix becomes dry to the touch.More items...
Where does clivia grow?
Growing Clivia – Care For Clivia Plant. Clivia plants are native to South Africa and have become quite popular with collectors. These unusual plants derived their name from the Lady Florentina Clive and are so exquisite that they fetch a hefty price—upwards of $50 or more per plant.
What is the color of a clivia?
The attraction to clivia plants can be found in their stunning blooms, which vary in color from pale orange to red. The fragrant, trumpet-like flowers are similar to that of amaryllis but smaller. Unlike the amaryllis, clivias retain their foliage year-round.
How long does it take for a clivia to bloom?
Although difficult to propagate, division is the preferred method. While you can propagate from seed, it generally takes about three to five years before plants will bloom whereas offshoots take about one or two years. Printer Friendly Version. This article was last updated on 07/26/21. Read more about Clivia.
When do clivias bloom?
Following a dry rest period in fall, clivias usually begin blooming in winter—around February give or take. Without this period of rest, the plant will continue to put out foliage rather than flowers. These plants also bloom better when slightly potbound.
What is a clivia plant?
How to Grow Clivia Plant. The clivia plant, also known as kafir-lily is a beautiful houseplant you can grow relatively easily. The clivia plant has heavy textured green strap-like leaves. The flowers are smooth petaled, with varied colors ranging from brick red to salmon, red and yellow. It is truly a beautiful indoor houseplant.
When does a clivia plant grow?
It has its active growth period in early spring to early fall. During this time (the growing season), your clivia plant will need a lot of warmth, light, water and fertilization. Average home temperatures of about 70 to 75 degrees F and about a ten degree drop at night are the best and will make the plant thrive.
How long does it take for a clivia to bloom?
Under home conditions, it takes about 5 to 7 years to make a clivia bloom from seeds. Image by nettsu.
What temperature do clivia bulbs need?
During the growing season, the bulbs require temperatures of about 60 to 80 degrees F. In the winter, tolerable temperatures range between 50 and 55 degrees F. There are 3 or 4 popular species of clivia plants, as well as several common hybrids.
How to make a flowering plant from seeds?
To do it, remove some of the pollen from one flower and place it on the stigma (tip of elongated appendage in the center of the flower) of another flower. You can plant single seed s in 3 inch pots of sterilized sand and loam.
When does a clivia flower?
Your clivia plant should bloom in April, but it may not flower until June or even early July. One note about flowers: some people like clivia for its foliage so they keep their plant in the window garden (or a planter) for the whole year. It’s important to note that this won’t hurt the plant.
Can you grow clivia in a pot?
If you want to grow your clivia plants outdoors, remember to place the pot in a shady area of your garden. You may also use it for landscaping. It’s probably the best to keep it in a container. This way, you can bring it in the house before the first frost.
Where to grow clivia
Grow clivia as a house plant, in a conservatory, or a greenhouse that’s heated in winter. Clivia needs a minimum temperature of 5°C and may suffer frost damage at lower temperatures. Site clivia in bright light but out of direct sunlight and avoid placing in hot centrally-heated rooms or close to heat sources such as a radiator or fire.
Caring for clivia
Adjusting watering to the season and giving the plant a ‘rest’ over winter is key to getting clivia to flower every year.
How and when to repot clivia
Clivia needs repotting only once the existing pot is full of roots. Move up to the next pot size only, gradually increasing the size over time. Ultimately, clivia thrives in a good-sized pot of at least 20cm in diameter.
How to propagate clivia
Raise new clivia plants either from seed or by cutting off outer sections of the plant, known as offsets. Propagated plants can take several years to produce flowers
Growing clivia: problem solving
Siting your clivia in the right location and paying attention to watering, avoids most potential problems. Brown patches, tips, or edges to the leaves are caused either by sun scorch, too little water, or by frost. Always take care not to over-water, and in particular, letting the plant sit in water which can cause the fleshy roots to rot.
How to keep clivias from freezing?
Do not let the plant freeze. Reduce water to once a week. In mid-January bring those clivias out of the dark and into the light.
When does a clivia bloom?
It takes a bit of work to force your clivia into bloom, but once you get into the rhythm, it’s really simple. Buy one now–it’ll bloom in March or April and then follow the advice below to ensure blooms next year. You’ll be so happy to show off this beauty.
Clivia: The Basics
Clivia is native to the tropical forests in southern areas of Africa. It thrives when grown indoors at comfortable room temperatures. Most types of Clivia in cultivation have orange flowers, but there are some yellow-flowered cultivars available.
Light Requirements For Clivia Plants
Grow this plant with proper amounts of light and water. Clivia loves natural light, but when it is placed in direct sunlight it can burn, so letting it be an indoor plant is a perfect choice.
Watering Clivia Plants
Overwatering is a common cause of Clivia plant decline. Many people think that watering plants daily is how every plant lives, but some plants like the Clivia plant cannot live with that much water intake. They prefer to be watered when the soil is dry (so not very frequently).
Ambient Temperature & Indoor Humidity for Clivia Plants
The perfect temperature for this plant is 50-75 degrees Fareinheight. So if your indoor temperature is within that range, then it will thrive in your home.
Fertilizing Clivia Plants
Clivia Plants grown in containers will need supplemental nutrition from plant fertilizer. Fortunately, there are lots of high-quality slow-release fertilizers available that work very well for Clivia plants. Here are some fertilizers that are well-suited to Clivia:
Planter Pots For Clivia
Clivia plants should be planted in a pot that has great drainage. You do not want to overfill them with water because they could drown, so housing them in a pot that has great drainage holes at the bottom is ideal. The holes help with getting rid of the excess water that the plant does not need or want.
Potting Mix For Clivia Plants
Choose a well-drained houseplant potting mix for Clivia plants. High-quality soil mixes generally contain perlite, which helps hold air in the soil so it’s nice and fluffy. Water drains freely out of the soil so that the plant is in moist soil (not wet muddy soil).
How long does it take for a clivia to bloom?
It is possible to force clivia to bloom once the initial flowering period is over. Clivia needs a cold period of 25-30 days in order to bloom.
When does clivia bloom?
Once owned only by the wealthy, clivia is now available for sale in many greenhouses. Clivia may catch your eye due to its beautiful blooms in February and March when little else is blooming.
What color should I plant clivias in my garden?
Pot up regularly until they are strong enough for your garden bed. Be bold and mix orange and purple by creating a border of clivias and back them up with giant cranesbills (Geranium maderense) with their fabulous fern-like foliage. Getty.
What plants are similar to clivias?
Foamflower ( Tiarella sp) Ajuga sp. Lilyturf ( Liriope sp) The leaves of all these plants provide a striking contrast to clivias. Go for a mass display of clivias so you aren't providing different care for different plants - but mix up your colours with red, orange and yellow. Getty.
What are some good winter flowers to plant in the shade?
Clivias are luminous and lovely on a gloomy winter’s day as they shine like little beacons of orange, red, yellow and cream under the shade of a tree. Clivias or kaffir lilies ( C. miniata) are the go-to plant for winter flowering in a dry, dark corner of your garden with their fat clusters ...
How long does it take for a clivia to grow?
Clivias are slow growers and it can take up to five years for a seed to grow into a flowering plant. Keep in a warm, protected, ventilated spot out of direct sunlight. Water in spring and summer, ensuring soil is damp but not wet and fertilise every couple of weeks.
When do clivias come out?
How to grow clivias from seed. The big red or yellow berries (it depends on flower colour) arrive in early spring as flowering dies down. You can pick the berries then and remove the flesh around the dark, pearl-like seeds.
What caterpillars eat greens?
Ditto for white fly and thrips. The black and yellow striped amaryllis caterpillar is hungry for greens. Pick them off and destroy or use an organic pesticide. Mealybugs, aphids, scale and mites thrive in warm, damp conditions and suck the vital sap juices from your plants.
What do snails eat?
Snails and slugs eat foliage, new growth, buds and flowers. Pick them off and destroy or lay sharp objects on top of your soil. Fungus gnats produce larvae that eat new roots and carry fungal spores. Use yellow sticky card traps to attract adults. Ditto for white fly and thrips.
