Reasons for and solutions to arrow clamping in clivia, plus notes on watering edible fungi
Clivia is known for flowers in one season, fruit in three seasons, and foliage in all four seasons, so it is one of the potted plants grown in many homes. But some friends have asked what to do when the clivia grown at home has its arrow clamped. Today, the editor will introduce the reasons for and solutions to arrow clamping in clivia.
Arrow clamping refers to the phenomenon in which the flower arrow of clivia has not yet fully grown out and is clamped inside the rosette while blooming. The flowers produced by a clamped arrow cannot fully display themselves and wither and rot inside the rosette, greatly affecting the ornamental value of clivia. This is the phenomenon flower lovers least want to see.
1. Unsuitable temperature. The suitable growth temperature for clivia is 15-25°C. Below 15°C, growth becomes poor. Especially before the scape emerges, if the temperature does not reach above 15°C, the scape is difficult to push out. Before clivia blooms, you should often observe whether the bulb of the potted plant has bulging marks. Once found, it indicates that the arrow may be about to shoot, and the temperature should be adjusted in time to help the scape emerge.
2. Insufficient temperature difference. Clivia's growth habit favors a large day-night temperature difference. If the temperature difference is small, the scape is difficult to push out. After flower bud differentiation and before the arrow shoots, the temperature should be controlled at about 10°C, and then shooting the arrow is easier; otherwise, arrow clamping will occur.
3. Insufficient fertilization is another cause of arrow clamping. In autumn, the plant is in the reproductive growth stage, and its fertilizer demand grows larger and larger. If fertilizer supply is insufficient at this time, it is very likely to affect scape emergence. After clivia has been grown for 3 years, the number of fertilizer applications must be increased once autumn arrives. It is best to apply liquid fertilizer with a relatively high phosphorus content, and alternating nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium is preferable. When necessary, a 0.2% potassium dihydrogen phosphate foliar fertilizer can be added to promote flower bud formation and earlier flowering.
4. Improper watering. When clivia is shooting its arrow, if it lacks water, scape growth will also be hindered and arrow clamping will result. Generally, when the arrow is shooting, increase the amount of watering and keep the potting soil moist, rather than watering only after it has dried out completely; otherwise, the bulb and leaves will suffer from lack of water, hindering the plant's physiological activities and causing arrow clamping that affects flowering.
5. Excessive pressure from the bulb. When the plant shifts into reproductive growth, pay constant attention to changes in the bulb. If the bulb bulges and one side becomes enlarged, it indicates that the flower arrow is developing. At this time, fertilization should be stopped for 2 weeks; otherwise, the leaf sheaths and bulb will become harder and the pressure greater. If arrow clamping is caused by excessive pressure from the bulb, use a sharp knife to cut open the leaf sheath clamping the arrow scape by 1.5 cm, to reduce the pressure of the leaf sheath base on the arrow scape and encourage the scape to emerge.
Reasons for and solutions to arrow clamping in clivia:
1. Adjust fertilization: When autumn arrives, clivia shifts into the reproductive growth stage, and its fertilizer demand increases. If fertilization is improper, it is not conducive to scape emergence. Therefore, attention should be paid to adjusting fertilization. Generally, after clivia has been grown for 3 full years, the number of fertilizer applications must be increased in autumn. It is best to use liquid fertilizer with relatively high phosphorus content. When necessary, 20% potassium dihydrogen phosphate should also be added to promote flower bud differentiation and formation, quickly "shoot the arrow," and bring flowering earlier.
2. Adjust watering: Water can keep the clivia plant in a normal posture. Only when the cells and tissues in the plant contain sufficient water can normal physiological activities proceed. If clivia lacks water, it cannot shoot the arrow and bloom, and the leaves will appear shriveled, withered, drooping, and curled. Therefore, when the arrow is shooting, the conventional watering method of "water when wet, water when dry" should be broken, and the amount of watering should be appropriately increased. The potting soil must never be allowed to dry out completely; otherwise, arrow clamping will occur and flowering will be affected.
3. Adjust temperature: The most suitable growth temperature for clivia is 15°C-25°C. Below 15°C, it is very difficult for the scape to emerge and bloom. If you find that the pseudobulb of clivia is bulging and newly grown leaves show an "arrow channel" (referring to the trace left when the newly grown leaves are squeezed by the flower scape after clivia flower bud differentiation and the beginning of scape emergence), then this is a sign of "shooting the arrow." At this time, attention should be paid to adjusting the temperature so that it reaches 25°C during the day and is controlled at 15°C at night, thus maintaining a 10°C temperature difference and making arrow shooting relatively easy.
4. Reduce pressure: Because the pressure from the leaf sheath and pseudobulb is too great, the arrow scape is clamped inside and cannot emerge. This is another cause of arrow clamping. If this situation occurs, use a disinfected razor blade to cut open the leaf sheath clamping the arrow scape by 1.5 cm, relax the pressure of the leaf sheath base on the arrow scape, and encourage the arrow scape to emerge.
The above is what the editor has introduced about the reasons for and solutions to clivia arrow clamping. I hope this article is of some help to everyone in solving this problem.