Fertilization Techniques for Edible Fungi and How to Prevent Root Rot in Clivia in Spring

Spring is the season when Clivia grows most vigorously, but improper water and fertilizer management can easily lead to root rot. The main causes are as follows.

First, overwatering

Whether they are small seedlings or large plants, Clivia must never be overwatered. Once there is too much water, the temperature rises, and ventilation is poor, Clivia will definitely suffer root rot.

Second, the soil is too fresh

Whether you use leaf mold soil, horse manure soil, or peat soil to make a nutrient soil mix, it must be fully fermented. If some fresh soil is put into the pot, under high temperatures this fresh soil will heat up as it ferments and scorch the fleshy roots.

Third, the fertilizer is not fully fermented

When feeding Clivia soybean cake, hemp seeds, fishy water, and the like, these must all be fully fermented first. If some fresh fertilizer is applied to the potting soil, it will also generate high temperatures and scorch the fleshy roots;

Fourth, applying too much fertilizer causes root rot

In particular, chemical fertilizers must not be applied in excess, because chemical fertilizers are too harsh. Although they can quickly promote leaf growth in the short term, excessive fertilization damages the fleshy roots too much and can easily cause shrinkage and root rot. Fifth, using porcelain pots or plastic pots with very poor air permeability to grow Clivia

Because air permeability is poor, the roots and stems are smothered and rot.

Sixth, the temperature is too high

Especially during the seedling stage, keeping the bottom temperature at 22°C is enough, but some people leave the seedling pots and boxes on a heated brick bed or radiator for a long time, and as a result the seedlings quickly have their roots smothered and rotted.

Based on the situations above, if we pay attention to targeted prevention, root rot in Clivia can be avoided.

But if something still goes wrong and you find that your Clivia has already developed root rot, there is no need to worry. Simply knock the plant out of the pot, cut off the rotten roots, coat the cut surfaces with charcoal or soot, then replace the soil and repot it. If the fleshy roots have completely rotted away, that is not a problem either. You can pinch off all the rotten roots, then wash the roots and stems with clean water, and place them in coarse sand to encourage new roots to form, and cut off part of the leaves.