Notes on watering edible fungi and how to help clivia get through summer safely
Clivia originates from the subtropical forests of South Africa, where it is warm as spring all year round, with an average temperature of no lower than 10°C, a maximum temperature of no more than 22°C, and annual rainfall of 500-1500 mm. Clivia has adapted to this warm, moist natural environment with moderate wetness and dryness. When cultivating clivia by hand, you need to create an artificial micro-environment close to its place of origin so that clivia can grow and develop better.
Clivia is a medium-light flower that likes the soft light of spring and autumn and avoids harsh sun exposure. Summer light is intense, the sun blazing, and the days are long while the nights are short, far removed from its native environment. Therefore in summer you must properly manage growth factors such as temperature, moisture and light to suit clivia's needs for growth and development. If you go against its growth patterns, phenomena such as withered leaves, yellow leaves, root rot and stem rot will inevitably appear.
Create a cool, ventilated and moist micro-environment
Clivia prefers a cool, moist and ventilated climate environment. In summer, clivia should be placed in a ventilated spot with half shade and half sun. You can also set up a shade shed or use shade netting for shading, and spray around the pot and on the ground to lower the temperature around the plant and raise the air humidity around the pot. The place where clivia is placed must be ventilated; stagnant air easily invites diseases and pests such as rot disease and scale insects.
Master the amount of watering
Clivia's roots are fleshy roots and have a certain ability to resist drought, but being in drought and lacking water for a long time will also affect its growth and development. Too much water will cause the root mass to suffocate and rot. Therefore, mastering the moisture content of the potting soil for clivia is an important task in summer clivia management.
For clivia, the suitable moisture content of the potting soil is a state where it can be pinched into a ball by hand and falls apart with a gentle press. If a high moisture content state is maintained for a relatively long time, it will inevitably have an adverse effect on clivia's roots. The pot should be placed in a place with air circulation to speed up water evaporation so that the moisture content of the potting soil drops to a suitable level as quickly as possible.
In summer the air humidity is relatively high, and the water in the potting soil evaporates relatively slowly. If the soil has not dried through and you water again, root rot and yellow leaves are likely to occur. Clivia likes constantly renewed water. Watering not only adds moisture to the potting soil but also brings in new air, which is beneficial to root development.
Light
Clivia avoids harsh sun and blazing sunlight. During the high-temperature period from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., clivia should be placed indoors or in a corner of the balcony, or under a shade shed that has been set up. Before 10 a.m. and after 4 p.m. it can receive soft light. This management measure should be maintained until it cools down.
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