A Complete Guide to Clivia Care: Learn How to Grow the "Gentleman Among Flowers"
Clivia, also called large-leaved lycoris, is a perennial ornamental flower of the genus Clivia in the amaryllis family (Amaryllidaceae); with proper care it can live for decades. Clivia has extremely high ornamental value, and many people grow it at home, yet it often happens that it only grows leaves and does not bloom. Below is an introduction to some tips for caring for clivia, “the gentleman among flowers”: clivia care tips.
1. The water-when-dry, water-thoroughly watering method
Watering clivia is absolutely crucial; too much or too little water will cause problems, leaving the clivia either with root rot or dried out. The root system of clivia is a fleshy root system that can itself store a certain amount of water, so clivia does not need to be watered especially frequently.
Clivia sold in flower markets is generally grown in very loose soil covered with pine needles, so water drains away faster, and the soil's ability to hold water is not strong; therefore it needs a thorough watering about every 3 days. If garden soil is used to grow clivia, because garden soil is fairly dense and holds water well, watering once every one to two weeks is enough; too much water easily causes water to collect at the bottom of the pot, making the roots damp, soft and rotten.
The most scientific way to water clivia is to water when dry and water thoroughly, watering according to the actual condition of the soil. The so-called water-when-dry, water-thoroughly method means observing and touching the surface soil, and once the top 2 or 3 cm of soil has dried out completely, giving the clivia one thorough watering.
2. An appropriate amount of light
Clivia is relatively well suited to being placed on a sunny south-facing balcony, but in summer take care to move the clivia to a shaded spot indoors, avoiding the intense direct sunlight of summer; in the other seasons it can be placed directly on the balcony. In addition, for clivia grown indoors, turn the pot 180 degrees once every week to ensure both sides of the leaves receive the same light and to prevent the leaves from growing crooked.
3. An appropriate amount of fertiliser
Clivia likes fertiliser, especially in autumn, when its demand for fertiliser is very high. At this time you can repot it, placing a layer of base fertiliser at the bottom of the pot, mainly made from decomposed bean dregs, bone meal and the like. Also pay attention to timely top-dressing: about once every half a month, apply fermented fishy water or bean-cake water. Bean-cake water is equivalent to a nitrogen fertiliser, and fishy water is equivalent to a phosphorus fertiliser; timely top-dressing can store up enough nutrients for flowering the following year.
4. How to repot clivia
Repotting at regular intervals can keep the potting soil fertile and keep the clivia growing better. Before repotting, stop watering for one to two weeks so that the potting soil stays relatively dry, making it easier to separate from the flowerpot. Then turn the pot upside down and gently take out the clivia together with its potting soil. Afterwards, clear away the clumps of soil clinging to the clivia's roots, wash the soil off the roots clean with water, cut off the clivia's dead roots and rotten roots, and then place the root wounds in a potassium permanganate solution to disinfect them. After that, prepare new potting soil, mixing leaf mould, pine needles and bone meal in a certain ratio, first filling the gaps around the roots with soil and then potting it up. After potting, water thoroughly, place it in a spot with scattered light, and after 2-3 days, move the clivia to the balcony.