CLIVIA

Clivia miniate

Clivias are native to South Africa and produce a beautiful, single, red, orange, or yellow flower in early spring.

HOW NOT TO KILL IT

Location – From spring to late fall, keep the plant in a heated room. In winter, move it to a room that is 50F (10C) for 3 months to rest – this will help initiate a flower bud. Then return it to its spring-to-fall position.

Light – Provide bright, but indirect light.

Watering + Feeding – From spring to late fall, keep the potting mix moist. Reduce watering in winter so that the mix is almost dry. Feed once a month from spring to fall, and not at all during winter.

Care – Wipe the leaves occasionally. Don’t move the pot when the plant is flowering or in a bud. After flowering, cut off the dead flower spike at the base. The plant may produce a second flower in late summer. Clivias like to be snug, so repot the plant after flowering only if the roots are bursting out of the pot.

BLEACHED OR BROWN ON THE LEAVES?
The leaves are sunburned.

BROWN LEAVES AT THE BASE OF YOUR PLANT?
This happens when the older leaves are dying back.

SAVE IT
This is normal. Just gently pull away any brown leaves.

YELLOW LEAVES?
This could be due to underfeeding, or under- or overwatering.

SAVE IT
Make sure you are using the correct watering and feeding regimen for the season

SHORT FLOWER SPIKE? NO FLOWER IN SPRING?
This is most likely due to a lack of rest in winter, but it could be because the pot is too large, or because your plant was underwatered after being rested.

SAVE IT
It has been rested, make sure you keep the potting mix moist. Check that the pot is not too big – the root ball should only be 1in (2-3cm) away from the edge of the pot.

 



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