Perennials are one of the best plants you can grow. It’s good to know that you don’t have to grow a particular plant every year or every season.
You can be sure that they will stay with you for a long time. Sometimes certain perennials are passed down from one generation to the next. Although they tend to be long-lived, they also need to be cared for and treated properly.
A perennial plant can be damaged and die if it is not allowed to grow in the right conditions. Here we discuss one of our favorite perennial houseplants; The Clivia plant.
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Contents
Clivia plant background
| common name | Clivia, bush lily, kefir lily |
| botanical name | Clivia miniata |
| Family | amaryllidaceae |
| light | little light |
| Temperature | 60 degrees F to 75 degrees F |
| the type of soil | well-drained soil |
| soil pH | 6.1 to 7.8 |
| Origin | South Africa |
| Toxicity | Toxic. |
what is clivia Also known as bush lily, kaffir lily or birth lily, clivia is a flowering plant in the family Amaryllidaceae, it is native to the warm climate of Africa from South.
The plant is known to have subspecies, namely C. gardenia, C. minata, C. caulescens, C. mirabilis, C. nobilis, C. robusta, C. minata. However, the clivia minata is the most cultivated in the world; it is found in different places of the world, namely Australia, the United States, Belgium and China.
The clivia minata has an orange color with yellow centers, the flowers are also available in red, orange, yellow or cream flowers. The clivia plant is closely related to Amaryllis, they also share common similarities in their flower shapes, but clivia flowers are smaller and also have different colors.
They can grow to around 18 inches in height and spread up to around 12 inches (30 cm).
In the 19th century, an English explorer, artist, author and naturalist, William John Burchell, harvested the plant, which he named “forest cyrtanthus” from its origin, and brought it to England. Later, in Victorian times, the plant became known to the wealthy.
Lady Charlotte Percy, Duchess of the Clive family, was the first to grow them and the plant was given the name “CLIVIA”. After that, the plant became popular and this led to the expansion of the plant to other countries.
Apart from the fact that the Clivia plant is very beautiful and pleasant, it is also popular because it is easy to grow. The clivia plant can tolerate a little neglect and grow well. This amazing plant is excellent for beginning gardeners.
The clivia plant is expensive, as it has a high ornamental value and does not bloom on time. Although clivia is easy to grow, you need to model the plant’s natural habitat to grow it in your home. Read on to learn everything you need to know about growing and caring for clivia.
Quick tips
While clivia is awesome, it takes a long time to produce flowers, i.e. years. Growing your clivia from seed takes patience. That is why they are expensive to buy.
Requirements for Clivia Plant Propagation
Grow Clivia at home? Here is everything you need.
a. light
In its natural habitat, the clivia grew under the tree and in shady places. This means that Clivias grow best in bright, indirect light. if you are growing clivia outdoors, it is best to keep them in partial shade for indirect light.
If grown as a houseplant, they benefit from indirect or filtered light.
Clivia is a low-light lover, which means she can survive in anything but bright light. if you must place them near a bright light, be sure to protect them with a curtain.
2. water
Clivia likes to stay dry. The most important thing to keep in mind when considering watering clivia is to keep them moist and not to overwater. You can also use the soak and dry technique; to make sure you don’t overwater your plant.
You can also check the topsoil to see if your plant needs water or not. Remember to adjust your watering schedule based on your temperature, environment, and season.
3rd floor
According to the native environment, clivia grows on organic matter, i.e. rotting logs, which indicates that this amazing plant is not picky about soil. Clivia can be grown in any type of soil; however, it must be well permeable. You can use a mixture of peat moss, perlite and sand. Clivia is known to enjoy organic matter in its soil, such as leaf mold, compost, and bark. Clivia grows best in soil with a pH of 6.1 to 7.8.
4. Humidity
Unlike most tropical plants, Clivia plants are those that do not require high humidity or a humid environment. They like and thrive best in a dry environment; that’s as long as the temperature is perfect. They should not be placed in a narrow area.
Image: Farm with white flowers. buy from them†5. Temperature
During the growing season, clivia enjoy a temperature range of 60 degrees F to 75 degrees F. Never place your plant below 40 degrees F. They like cool conditions; They don’t mind a bit of heat though.
6. Fertilizer
You can use synthetic or organic fertilizers for your plant during the growing season. Be careful, however, not to apply the fertilizer at the foot of the plant so as not to damage your plant. You also need to dilute the fertilizer halfway. You should also stop feeding your plant as soon as it begins to go dormant.
Clivia Plant Propagation
Clivia can be propagated by seed and division. Propagating your clivia by seed is quite easy and you just need to be patient with it, as clivia is a slow growing plant but it will be worth the wait in the end. Follow the guide below to spread the amazing clivia.
a. Division
- Generate a healthy and mature clivia plant.
- Carefully separate the roots from the soil and divide the plant.
- Cutting the plant can damage the root, shoots or buds, so be careful.
- Prepare a high-quality potting mix and place the split cutting in the ground.
- Water the plant well and keep it at a temperature of 60 degrees F.
2. Seed
- The seeds are extracted from the berries, so the berries are picked when ripe. The gooseberry is an indication that the seed is not yet ready for planting.
- Dry the berries for about 2 weeks and start peeling them when the skin shrinks.
- Sow the seed in a good quality potting soil, in a pot or in trays.
- Make sure the seeds are 3 inches deep in the container.
- Cover the seeds with compost, as clivia does well with organic matter.
- Set the pot or boxes at a temperature of 70 degrees F until the seeds begin to germinate.
- If you see the seed, lower the temperature to about 60 degrees F
- Let the plant grow and be patient. Indeed, clivia plants take 3 to 4 years to go from seed to flowering.
Clivia plant: How to take care of your Clivia plant?
- It is important to place your plant in low light; your plant may suffer burns.
- Water droplets can cause brown spots on plant leaves. this is when misting is not recommended for Clivia plants. Misting can also promote fungal diseases.
- Your plant’s foliage can turn yellow if your plant gets too much or too little water.
- Overwatering your plant can cause root rot, so creating a watering schedule will control your watering levels.
- Your Clivia plant does not need to be pruned; however, you must remove the remaining faded leaves and flowers.
- Clivia plants do not like to be disturbed; therefore, you may not need to repot your plant for years.
- The color of your plant determines the color of the berries. That is, orange clivia plants produce red berries, while yellow and cream clivia plants produce yellow berries. However, the color of its berries does not determine the color of the plant as it grows.
final thoughts
Clivia plants are very special and beautiful, once in the house you cannot ignore their beauty and their contribution to your interior. Clivia plants are very easy to care for; however, you must follow their basic grooming routine. Although they can tolerate some neglect, they still want attention.
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