Only three things are needed for kaffir lily (Clivia miniata) care: leaves grow fast and it blooms with dozens of flowers every year

Kaffir lily (Clivia miniata) is not only for viewing its flowers, but also for viewing its leaves. If the leaves do not grow well and it does not bloom when it should, then it loses its ornamental value. I have been growing kaffir lilies for at least nearly twenty years. At the beginning I had a plastic greenhouse, specifically for growing some flowers to sell at the market, but in recent years I no longer sell them. Now at home I have several dozen pots of flowers, large and small, and over these years of growing flowers I have accumulated quite a lot of experience. Flowers like the kaffir lily, I also did not grow them very well at first. I used a lot of soil and fertilizer, and tried many different things. Later, the experience told me that for growing kaffir lilies, only three things are best. After using them, the leaves are jet-black and glossy, and it blooms every year, sometimes even twice a year. Up to now I have always used these three things to grow kaffir lilies.

Natural black soil. Natural black soil refers to black, loose soil in which no plants have ever been grown. This kind of soil is not found just anywhere. It is a layer of black soil formed from leaves and weeds in forests after decades to over a hundred years of decay, also called humus soil. But the quality of humus soil varies from place to place. I have basically used all kinds of humus soil, and the quality difference is simply enormous. Now I use natural black soil from the primeval forests of the Changbai Mountains in Northeast China. I feel very good about using this natural black soil to grow kaffir lilies. The leaves grow fast, and blooming goes without saying. Normally there is no need to fertilize, and it does not matter much whether you water a little more or a little less. Some of my kaffir lilies have gone five or six consecutive years without repotting and without fertilizing, and they are still very vigorous.

Another characteristic of this soil is that the organic matter in it can cycle and regenerate. Without using any fertilizer, it can be used continuously for at least ten years with no problem at all. Nowadays this kind of soil is sold in many places online, and very cheaply, but the authentic natural black soil is only sold by local people. People from other places also sell it, but the quality cannot be guaranteed.

Besides using natural black soil, I also mix a small amount of river sand into the soil, generally about two parts in ten, and after mixing, it can be used for transplanting. As for fertilizer and such, basically there is no need to apply it. In addition, I also cover the surface of the flower pot with a layer of decomposed pine needles. Do not underestimate this layer of pine needles, its role is great: it preserves water and fertilizer, and can also prevent heat in summer and keep warm in winter. After a long time it also turns into very good fertilizer. Therefore, to grow kaffir lilies you only need to use these three things, and even a beginner will grow kaffir lilies extremely well.