Clivia cultivation methods and precautions

1. Temperature

Clivia prefers a slightly cool climate, is afraid of high temperatures, and cannot tolerate high temperatures. The temperature that is conducive to its growth is between 15 and 25 degrees Celsius. When the temperature exceeds 30℃ or is below 10℃, temperature control measures must be taken in time. In the hot summer, ventilation should be strengthened, strong light should be blocked in time, and water should be sprayed frequently to cool down. In winter, you should move indoors and control the temperature properly to keep warm. Note that there should be a large temperature difference between day and night during its flowering period. It is best to control the temperature between 5 and 15℃ so that the flower arrows can emerge as scheduled.

2. Lighting

Clivia likes light and has a certain degree of shade tolerance, but is afraid of strong sunlight. The light in late spring, summer and early autumn is relatively strong, so you need to block out the sunlight in time to avoid sunburn. The light in early spring, late autumn and winter is very soft. At this time, you can put it in a well-lit place and let it get more sun to meet its needs for light. This way, it will grow vigorously and develop flower arrows and bloom better.

3. Watering

The roots of Clivia are fleshy, have a certain degree of drought resistance, and are afraid of waterlogging. You don't need to water it too often, just water it when you find the soil is dry. If the soil is moist, there is no need to water it. If you water it too frequently, the plants will not be able to absorb the moisture and the roots will easily become rotten. In addition, it has certain requirements for air humidity. If the climate is relatively dry, it is recommended to place a basin of clean water around the flower pot, or spray water around frequently to increase the humidity.

4. Fertilization

Clivia is a plant that likes fertilizer. When cultivating it, you should put fertilizer in the flowerpot as base fertilizer. You can use decomposed organic fertilizer as base fertilizer. During the peak growing season, a lot of nutrients are consumed, so top dressing is needed in time. Especially before and after flowering, it is necessary to spray potassium dihydrogen phosphate fertilizer solution to supplement the fertilizer with phosphorus and potassium elements to promote better flowering. In addition, it is recommended to wipe the leaves regularly with a wet cloth during the maintenance of Clivia, which can make the leaves greener.

5. Soil

When growing Clivia, you should also pay attention to the soil used. It has high requirements for the soil, which must be loose, breathable, permeable and rich in fertility. You can mix leaf mold and river sand in the ratio of 7:3, or you can mix peat soil, pine needle soil, perlite and decomposed peanut shells in the ratio of 2:2:1:1. Please note that the soil you prepare yourself needs to be disinfected before use to prevent the presence of insect eggs and pathogens.

6. Repotting

1. Repotting time: Clivia needs to be repotted every year. The time is usually chosen in March to April in spring or around September in autumn. The climate and temperature are more suitable, which is conducive to its recovery and can also reduce damage to the Clivia.

2. Remove the flower from the pot and trim the roots: When you are preparing to repot, cut off the water supply in advance. It will be enough to cut off the water supply for about a week. This way there will be a gap between the flower pot and the soil, making it easier to remove the flower pot and reducing damage to the root system. After removing the Clivia from the pot, trim off the rotten roots, old roots and dead roots, and apply carbendazim to the wounds for disinfection. After disinfection, place the wounds in a cool place to dry.

3. Prepare the potting soil: Choose a flowerpot that is larger than the original one to meet the space requirements. The soil can be prepared according to the above method, ensuring it is loose, breathable and fertile.

4. Planting in pots: When planting in pots, first put a layer of expanded clay at the bottom of the pot to improve air permeability and water permeability. Then put in the soil, spread a layer of decomposed fertilizer as base fertilizer, then spread a layer of nutrient soil, and plant the Clivia into the soil. After planting, it is necessary to water it thoroughly in time to allow the Clivia to be closely integrated with the potting soil. Finally, keep it in a warm, ventilated and semi-shaded environment. If the environment is suitable, it will resume growth soon.

7. Pests and diseases

If the environment provided during the maintenance of Clivia is not suitable, such as poor ventilation, high humidity or high temperature, it is easy to be infected by diseases and pests. Common diseases include leaf spot, anthracnose, soft rot, etc. No matter which disease is discovered, the plant must be isolated as soon as possible and sprayed with fungicides to treat it. Common insect pests include scale insects, which suck the sap inside the plant, causing yellow leaves and even sooty disease. After discovery, scrape it off as soon as possible. If the number of pests is large, spray 1000 times diluted 25% phosmet emulsifiable concentrate to eliminate it.

8. Division

Clivia is generally propagated by division. Cut off the water supply for the Clivia in advance so that it will be easier to remove from the pot. After removing the plant from the pot, loosen the soil to expose the roots. Use a sterilized knife to remove the small Clivia that sprouts from the mother plant. If it has roots, just plant it directly in the soil. If it has no roots, you can grow it in water first, and then transplant it into the soil after it takes root.

What to do if Clivia is pinched by an arrow

1. Put on a black bag: If the flower arrow of Clivia is pinched, put it in a black plastic bag to completely block the light. This can promote the growth of the flower arrow, so that the flower arrow grows faster. Generally, it will recover in three or four days.

2. Increase the temperature difference between day and night: The problem of Clivia's arrow being pinched is probably caused by an unsuitable environment. During the arrow drawing period, you must pay attention to the temperature difference, and try to make the temperature difference between morning and evening larger, so that it is easier to draw the arrow. For example, control the temperature at around 25℃ during the day and provide an environment of 15℃ at night, which is conducive to drawing arrows.

3. Tie the leaves with cloth strips: When the Clivia is in the process of flower arrows formation, you can also use cloth strips to tie up the leaves on both sides separately. This can encourage the flower arrow in the middle to emerge, which is beneficial to its flowering.

What to do if Clivia root rots

The roots of Clivia are fleshy and afraid of waterlogging. Root rot is usually caused by overwatering, which will seriously affect growth and even kill the entire plant. Once root rot is discovered, the plant should be removed from the pot and the roots should be trimmed as soon as possible. All rotten roots should be removed and sterilized. The original soil can no longer be used and needs to be completely disposed of and new nutrient soil prepared. After preparation, replant it in the pot. If managed properly, it may continue to take root. Note that the frequency and amount of watering should be controlled in the later stage, and water accumulation is strictly prohibited.