Clivia plants are highly popular by plant lovers for several reasons. They are brightly colored and the lily or trumpet shaped blooms are large and can be up to two or three inches in size. The flowers are gathered together in a dense cluster which make superb posies and displays etc. Clivia’s bloom in the late spring or early summer when the weather is clement and the days are long. As the plants can grow up to three feet high and wide the main problem with growing clivia’s is to ensure they do not tip over. The following tips should give you all the pointers that you need to successfully grow these plants.
Light
Clivia’s like most plants love light, but do not place them in direct sunlight as this will scorch the leaves and can destroy the flowers. Indirect light is the best, and the plant will happily live in the garden during the summer if you leave it in the shade.
Water
Again like so many other flowing plants, a clivia needs ample water, but not too much. If anything a clivia thrives in slightly dry soil so the best advice is after watering allow the top half of the soil to dry before watering again. If you see orange or pale stains anywhere on the plant this indicates that you are watering the plant too much.
Fertilizer
Once the clivia has stopped blooming then you need to prepare it for the next year. This is normally in the early or late summer, and it is time to start feeding it with indoor plant food. It is a good idea not to use full strength fertilizer and to dilute it by half. A golden rule with clivias is to never feed them during the winter period when the plant is resting. Let the plant rest for a month or so then encourage it to grow with a mixture that is potassium rich.
Temperature
Any clivia plant will not flourish in temperatures below fifty degrees centigrade. Ideally temperatures around sixty five to seventy during the spring and when the plant is flowering are the best. During the resting period normally during the months of November, December, and January the plant is quite happy with temperatures around fifty degrees. As for humidity the clivia can survive in average household conditions.
Flowering
It is a good idea that your pot to grow the plants is not too big, and you should keep it root-bound to a ceramic pot of medium size. This will encourage the plant to flower more often and for a longer period. The plant will also flower better if you leave it in a cooler place to rest during the winter, you will see the benefits in the summer. When the plant has been thoroughly rested you can once again bring it out to a brighter and warmer area and feed it again, you will see the improvement when it blooms.
