What to Do About Root Rot in Clivia? Latest Causes and Control Methods

Many growers often run into various problems when growing Clivia, especially when a perfectly healthy Clivia seedling suddenly goes downhill, yet a check of the plant itself turns up nothing wrong. At this point you need to check the roots, because with larger plantings there are always some spots that get overlooked. Below, the editor introduces several common causes of root rot and their control.

1. Fertilizer burning the roots

In the early stage of raising seedlings, many growers place base fertilizer to help Clivia grow better, but when the base fertilizer is placed, not much soil is covered over it, which means that once the Clivia root system grows even slightly, the tender young roots come into direct contact with the base fertilizer, causing severe root burn. Another case is the habit of regular topdressing later on, which leads to fertilizer accumulating in excess; when water is poured during topdressing, the fertilizer breaks down rapidly, then clings to the root system, also causing root burn. So in the early stage, the soil covering the base fertilizer should be 5-8 cm, or even more, and later topdressing should depend on the situation - only topdress if there is a nutrient deficiency.

2. Waterlogging

Waterlogging is a fairly common cause of root rot, and also a mistake many growers often make. Many friends choose sprinkler irrigation for convenience, which causes many Clivia plants to receive uneven water, and it is not easy to notice; the water at the bottom then soaks the Clivia roots and eventually causes rot. You can insert a stick into the soil at the edge of the Clivia pot, then put in a dry stick, and judge whether there is waterlogging by how moist it is. If grown in pots, you can make holes in the bottom to prevent waterlogging and let excess water drain out.

3. Pathogens

Clivia has a relatively low incidence of disease among plants, but once it appears it very easily infects other seedlings. The most common disease is root rot. When it strikes there are obvious symptoms: first the Clivia looks listless and lifeless, then the roots appear extremely wet and give off an off odor. After it occurs, it is best to replace the growing soil, remove the rotted roots, and later drench the roots with a 1200-fold dilution of 70% dexon to achieve control.

4. Unsuitable soil

Clivia is a plant that prefers acidity, so if the soil is alkaline it will seriously cause problems with its roots. If the soil chosen is heavy and tends to compact, root rot can also occur, because such soil seriously hinders normal root growth. In this case you must change the soil at once, keep the soil pH at around 6-6.5, and make sure the soil is fine; soil with low stickiness after watering is the first choice, and to improve aeration you can also mix in some sand.

The above are several causes of root rot in Clivia, and the control methods are introduced here as well, for growers to learn from. For more information, you can follow our website.