Clivia is a plant as beautiful as it is easy to care for, very popular for its striking flowering, which it produces only once a year in spring, and which is of warm and very showy colors.
If you want to enjoy in your own home or garden the company of this plant so seen in homes around the world because of its colorful flowers, join us in this article in which we show you what the care of crops is with this practical guide to gardening.
Characteristics of the clivias
These are the main characteristics of clivia plants :
- Clivias are a genus of plants that have their origin in South Africa.
- These are evergreen and non-woody plants that grow from bulbs .
- Its leaves are of an intense dark green, long and quite narrow, which grow directly from the roots, without forming a visible stem.
- Its flowers are of warm tones. They usually have orange flowers , although there are species that have them yellow, white or red. They are tubular in shape, small in size but are associated in inflorescences that are born from a single, fairly long stem.
- Clivia has the ability to constantly produce a large number of shoots , which can be used for reproduction or left to provide more density to the plant.
- These plants reach heights of approximately 50 cm.
Clivia care – practical guide
As a summary, we can indicate these aspects to take into account when caring for a clivia plant :
- Light: clivia supports very different environments in this regard.
- Temperature: it has a temperate climate, tending to warm.
- Irrigation: it is not very demanding with the irrigations, thanking them spaced.
- Subscriber: monthly in the warm months, quarterly in the cold ones.
Clivia location
The clivia is grateful to be in a location with a lot of light , although it is better to avoid direct sunlight on it, especially in areas with a high intensity sun. Exposing these plants to direct sunlight can end up burning their leaves, causing yellowish or brown marks to appear on them. If you see them, move your clivia to a more guarded location.
However, between autumn and winter it is necessary for the plant to spend at least two months at a temperature below 10 ° C , or it will not flower the following spring.
How to water clivias
As we have said before, this plant is not very demanding in terms of its watering. In fact, it tolerates excess humidity very poorly, as is the case with many bulbs. In the warm months, especially in spring, give it moderate waterings that keep its soil or substrate always slightly humid, but never waterlogged. If the pot has a plate under it, remove the excess water from the irrigation about 10 minutes after watering, to allow the roots to breathe.
In winter, on the other hand, it is important to water only just enough, giving the plant minimal humidity. In fact, there are those who advise against watering it at all during the two months of hibernation .
Subscriber
Like most plants, clivias appreciate the contribution of fertilizer especially during their flowering months , due to the greater activity they have. Use organic compost , such as worm castings , compost, or bokashi . These fertilizers provide the plant with a large number of benefits, without synthetic chemicals and for very little money.
If you doubt which one to decide on, worm castings are a very rare choice, and it is one of the most complete organic fertilizers that exist. Give your clivia a contribution of it once a month and space it out once every three months in the cold season.
Soil, substrate and transplantation of clivias
Despite the enormous expansion capacity of its roots, clivias do not need to be transplanted every year. By transplanting clivias once every two years , the plant will be healthy and will flower properly. Don’t worry if you see the roots pile up a bit earlier, once every two years is fine. Start with a pot that is about 8 inches in diameter, and expand from there.
The substrate must offer good drainage , so coarse sand or coconut fiber are very good options.
Other care of the clivias
The clivia does not need any type of pruning. Instead, you should be aware of removing dry or damaged leaves , as well as cleaning them from dust from time to time with a damp cloth with just water, returning them to the bright green color and a cleaner surface so that they can perform better. photosynthesis.
