Clivia cultivation methods and techniques

Clivia is a very popular indoor foliage plant. Before flowering, it needs sufficient nutrients, especially phosphorus and potassium fertilizers, to promote flower bud differentiation and flower formation. Learn about breeding methods and techniques below.

1. Lighting management

Clivia likes scattered light and avoids direct sunlight. Light management in different seasons is as follows:

Spring and Autumn: Place the Clivia in a bright place indoors, such as near a windowsill, to receive 4-6 hours of diffuse light to promote leaf photosynthesis, making the leaves grow wider, greener and more lustrous.

Summer: The sunlight is strong and needs to be shaded by 50%-70%. You can use sunshade nets or curtains to block the sunlight to prevent the leaves from being burned, causing yellow spots or drying up.

Winter: You can increase the lighting time appropriately and place it in a sunny place indoors to help the plant accumulate nutrients and prepare for flowering.

2. Temperature Control

The suitable temperature for Clivia to grow is between 15℃-25℃:

Summer: When the temperature exceeds 30℃, plant growth will be inhibited and cooling measures need to be taken, such as spraying water mist around the plants to lower the temperature through water evaporation and heat absorption, while increasing ventilation.

Winter: Keep warm. When the temperature is below 10℃, Clivia grows slowly, and when it is below 5℃, it may suffer from frost damage. It should be moved to a warm place indoors and the room temperature should be kept at 15℃-20℃.

3. Watering points

The fleshy roots of Clivia have a certain water storage capacity, so watering should not be too frequent. Follow the principle of "water when dry and water when wet", that is, water after the soil surface is 2-3 cm dry, and water thoroughly each time.

During the peak growth periods in spring and autumn, water the plants every 2-3 days. The temperature is high in summer and water evaporates quickly, but Clivia is in a semi-dormant state, so the amount of watering should be reduced, and watering should be done once every 5-7 days, preferably in the morning or evening. When the indoor temperature is low in winter, you can water it once every 7-10 days to keep the soil slightly moist.

4. Fertilization tips

Clivia likes fertilizer, but fertilization should be appropriate and timely: in spring and autumn, apply thin liquid fertilizer, such as decomposed cake fertilizer water, every 1-2 months to provide nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and other nutrients needed for plant growth.

Applying additional phosphorus and potassium fertilizers, such as potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution, during the arrow-forming period can promote flower bud differentiation and flower development, making the flowers brighter in color and larger in size. No fertilizer is generally applied in summer and winter. The high temperature in summer makes the plant grow slowly, and fertilization can easily cause fertilizer damage. In winter, the growth of Clivia basically stagnates and the demand for fertilizer is very little.

5. Soil Selection

Clivia is suitable for growing in loose, fertile, well-drained soil: you can choose leaf mold, pine needle soil, and river sand and mix them in a ratio of 3:2:1. Leaf mold and pine needle soil are rich in humus and can provide abundant nutrients, while river sand enhances the soil's air permeability and drainage. Replace part of the soil when repotting in spring every 1-2 years to maintain soil fertility and good air permeability.

6. Flowerpot Selection

It is not advisable to use a flowerpot that is too short or too large, as Clivia has a well-developed root system and needs sufficient space to grow. When repotting, choose one that is one size larger than the original pot. You can place some stones or gravel at the bottom of the pot to improve the air permeability and drainage of the soil.

The above is an introduction to the key points of Clivia cultivation . Clivia does not like drought or overwatering. Keep the soil moist but do not over-soak it, otherwise it will cause root rot. To make the leaves grow evenly, you need to turn the flower pot regularly.