How to grow Clivia

1. Soil

When caring for Clivia, you need to use loose, breathable, fertile and well-drained soil, and pay attention to the soil preparation method. 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. The soil you prepare yourself needs to be disinfected and sterilized before use. It can be disinfected with disinfectant solution or by exposing it to the sun. Or you can buy special soil from a flower shop.

2. Lighting

Clivia likes light, but can only accept diffuse light and is afraid of strong light. The light in late spring, summer and early autumn is very strong, so it should be placed in a slightly dim place indoors and not exposed to direct sunlight, otherwise it will easily get sunburned. The light in early spring, late autumn and winter is very soft. You can place the Clivia in a place with good light and let it get more sun to promote better photosynthesis. The leaves will become greener and it will bloom better.

3. Temperature

The temperature suitable for the growth of Clivia is between 15 and 25℃. It is afraid of high temperatures and is not very cold-resistant, so temperature control measures must be taken in time in summer and winter. When the temperature exceeds 30℃ in summer, ventilation should be strengthened, strong light should be blocked in time, and water should be sprayed frequently to cool down. In winter, if the temperature drops below 5℃, you need to move to a warm place. It is best to control the temperature at around 10℃ to avoid frostbite.

4. Watering

Clivia likes a humid environment, but it is afraid of waterlogging. Its roots are fleshy and will easily rot if there is too much water. Therefore, you don't need to water it too often. Just water it when you find the soil is dry. If the soil is moist, don't water it yet. The specific watering frequency depends on the season. In spring and autumn, it is usually once every four or five days, in summer, once every one or two days, and in winter, water should be controlled appropriately, and once a week or so is enough. If the climate is relatively dry, you can spray water on the plants frequently to increase the humidity.

5. Fertilization

It is a plant that likes fertilizer. When planting it in a pot, you should spread base fertilizer at the bottom of the pot. 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. The specific type of fertilizer is determined according to the growth stage. In the early stage of germination, diluted compound fertilizer solution can be applied, preferably with more nitrogen, to promote better germination. Before flowering, apply fertilizers rich in phosphorus and potassium, stop using nitrogen fertilizer, and avoid excessive growth. You can dilute the potassium dihydrogen phosphate fertilizer and then spray the fertilizer solution. It consumes a lot of nutrients during the flowering period, and needs topdressing after the flowering period to promote recovery as soon as possible. At this time, compound fertilizer containing multiple elements can be applied.

6. Pests and diseases

If the environment provided during the maintenance of Clivia is not suitable, such as the ventilation is too poor, watering or spraying is too frequent, or the temperature is too high, it will be easily infected by pests and diseases. Once discovered, it must be treated as soon as possible to avoid death. Common diseases include leaf spot, anthracnose, soft rot, etc. They need to be isolated first, then the diseased parts should be pruned and disinfected with fungicides. The most common insect pest is scale insect. If the number of pests is small, you can just scrape them off. If the number of pests is large, you need to spray 1000 times diluted 25% phosmet emulsifiable concentrate to treat them.

7. Repotting

1. Time: During the maintenance of Clivia, it is necessary to repot it once a year so that it will have enough space for growth and the soil will not easily become hardened, which can promote more vigorous growth of Clivia. Repotting is usually done in March in spring or around October in autumn when the climate is suitable, which can help it resume growth as soon as possible.

2. Repotting: If you want to repot the Clivia, you need to cut off the water supply one week in advance so that it will be easier to remove the pot. Take out the plant with the soil ball, carefully remove the soil ball and expose the root system. You also need to trim off rotten roots, dead roots, old roots, etc., leaving only healthy roots. After pruning, you need to disinfect and sterilize it by soaking it in a solution of carbendazim for a while.

3. Potting soil: The original potting soil cannot be reused. Choose a slightly larger flowerpot with drainage holes at the bottom. The soil can be prepared using the above method, or you can purchase nutrient soil.

4. Planting in pots: Prepare the potting soil and plant the Clivia after the wounds have dried. First, lay expanded clay at the bottom of the flowerpot to improve air permeability and water permeability, then add soil, base fertilizer, and plants, and slowly fill and compact the soil. After planting, water it thoroughly in time and maintain it in a warm, semi-shaded and well-ventilated environment. If the environment is suitable, it will soon resume normal growth.

8. Division

Clivia is generally propagated by division. First, take out the Clivia, carefully remove the soil at the roots, and prepare a sterilized knife. Then find the axillary buds that can be divided, and carefully remove the small buds with a knife. After removing it, dry the wound, root it in water, and then plant it in the soil after the roots grow out. This way the survival rate will be higher and the rooting speed will be faster.

What to do if Clivia is pinched by an arrow

Clivia is prone to getting its arrows stuck, so once discovered, it needs to be treated as soon as possible. You can cover the Clivia completely with a black plastic bag, or move it to a light-proof place and keep it out of the sun. This will encourage the flower arrows to grow taller and thus ensure successful arrow growth. Also pay attention to the temperature difference between morning and evening. A large temperature difference during the flowering period will make it easier for arrows to form. It is best to control the temperature at around 25 degrees during the day and around 15 degrees at night, so that the flower arrows can emerge quickly. You can also prepare slightly thicker strips of cloth and use them to help the leaves on both sides of the Clivia. This way, there is enough space to help the flower arrows grow out as quickly as possible.

What to do if Clivia root rots

1. Strictly control water: Clivia has fleshy roots and is afraid of waterlogging. If the amount of water is not well controlled during watering, root rot will easily occur, seriously hindering growth. When watering it, the amount must be strictly controlled. The soil only needs to be slightly moist, and there should be no accumulation of water to avoid root rot.

2. Reasonable fertilization: Root rot of Clivia may also be caused by improper fertilization. Although it likes fertilizer, it is afraid of concentrated fertilizer and raw fertilizer. If concentrated fertilizer or raw fertilizer is applied, it is easy to cause fertilizer damage, which will lead to root rot. When applying topdressing to it, you should follow the method of applying thin fertilizers frequently. It is best to dilute the fertilizer and then apply the liquid fertilizer.

3. Treatment method: No matter what the cause of the root rot, once discovered, the plant must be removed from the soil as soon as possible, and the roots must be trimmed. All rotten roots must be cut off and disinfected. The original soil cannot be used anymore. Pour it all out, prepare new soil, and repot the plant. If treated in time, it can resume growth.

How does Clivia survive the winter?

Although Clivia blooms in winter and spring, its cold resistance is not very high. After winter, it needs to be moved indoors and the temperature must be controlled at around 10 degrees, especially in northern regions, it must be placed indoors. After winter, its growth rate slows down, and the frequency of watering should be reduced. Water it only after the soil becomes dry. If there is heating indoors and the climate is dry, you can spray water frequently. In addition, it is necessary to expose it to more sunlight. The light is soft in winter, so it is best to place it in a well-lit place indoors and expose it to more sunlight, which will help it survive the winter and bloom.