What is the latest method for planting Clivia seeds?
Clivia is a perennial evergreen herbaceous plant, also known as sword-leaf lycoris, large-leaf lycoris, etc. Its plant shape is dignified and graceful, its leaves are verdant and upright, its flowers are large and brightly colored, and its fruits are bright red. Its leaves, flowers, and fruits are all beautiful, and it is known as viewing flowers for one season, viewing fruits for three seasons, and viewing leaves for all four seasons. Its flowering period lasts as long as forty to fifty days, and it can bloom in early spring. Now let us take a look at how to plant Clivia seeds!
Seed Collection
Clivia requires artificial pollination to obtain fruit. When the flower is cracked open and 2 to 3 days later the flower bud matures and the stigma secretes sticky liquid, that is the time for pollination. When pollinating, use a new small brush to dip up the pollen from the stamens and gently shake it onto the stigma of the pistil. To increase the seed-setting rate, pollination can be done once between 9 and 10 am and once between 2 and 3 pm, and the seeds can mature after about 8 to 9 months. When the fruit skin gradually changes from green to blackish purple, the fruit cluster can be cut off, and after 10 to 20 days the seeds can be peeled out.
Sowing Substrate
The sowing substrate for Clivia can use wood shavings, or wood bran or fine sand, and some also use leaf mold, but wood shavings or wood bran are best. Then find a plastic basket, or a breathable fired clay pot can also be used. Taking wood shavings as the substrate soil as an example, first disinfect it, then soak the disinfected wood shavings thoroughly with water, put them in the basket, press them down a bit, and level them.
Seed Soaking and Germination Promotion
Before sowing Clivia, the seeds should be soaked. The seeds can be placed in warm water at 30 to 35°C and soaked for 20 to 30 minutes, then taken out and aired for 1 to 2 hours (at this time, if they can be soaked in 10% sodium phosphate solution for 20 to 30 minutes, taken out and washed, and then soaked in clean water for 10 to 15 hours, that would be even better), and then they can be sown into the culture soil.
⟦NL>Sowing Method
When sowing Clivia seeds, place them one by one with the small eye facing down, spaced apart, and arranged in order. After arranging them, cover the seeds with 2 to 3 cm of wood shavings, and gently press them flat and neat. After the above steps are completed, spray them thoroughly with water, and place the basket in a breathable and ventilated place, and that is done. Breeding should be based on the principles of ventilation and breathability, and maintaining moisture.
Seedling Management
1. Moisture retention: When raising Clivia seedlings, attention should be paid to moisture retention. Usually, it is enough to see that the wood shavings are moist. There is no need to water every day. Too much water will cause the seeds to become too wet and rot. If it is too dry and then watered again, there will be no moisture, and if the seeds are too dry they cannot sprout.
2. Heat preservation: The seedling-raising temperature for Clivia is generally between 15 and 30°C. Do not place the seeds in a place above 10°C. It is best to keep it above 10°C and below 32°C. In places that are too cold, lights can be used to keep them warm.
3. Water quality: When watering Clivia seedlings, water quality must be strictly controlled. Tap water needs to be left standing for a day before watering. Do not use tap water directly, because tap water contains chlorine, which affects seed germination.
4. Germination: If Clivia seeds are cared for well, they generally germinate in half a month, and some even earlier. After germination, it is best not to keep turning them over to look all day, because after germination the sprouts will hold the wood shavings into a ball to facilitate growth.
5. Seedling raising: About forty-five days after sowing Clivia, the germinated seeds become longer and longer, the roots grow downward, and tender green small leaves will emerge beside the seeds and naturally grow upward. Usually, good care and proper watering are enough.