Three Reductions and One Increase for Clivia in Summer, Plus a Discussion of Fertilization Techniques for Edible Mushrooms

1. Reduce temperature. In summer, place Clivia in a ventilated spot. If the ambient temperature is above 35°C, moisture in the soil evaporates too quickly, causing Clivia's water and nutrient supply to fall short of demand. Therefore, it is best to place the Clivia pot on a water pool or water basin (raised on a wooden board), and frequently spray water around the plant and on the leaves to improve the temperature and humidity environment for Clivia, so that it can grow in a small environment below 25°C with humidity of 60-70%.

2. Reduce light. Clivia should not be exposed to scorching sun, so in summer Clivia should be placed in a well-ventilated environment without direct strong light. It is best to place the potted plant under a shade shed, with sunlight coming through the gaps in the shade shed, so that the plant receives weaker sunlight. If it is placed in a spot where direct sunlight is blocked at noon but sunlight can be seen in the morning and evening, that is most ideal. Generally, summer shading should reach 60-70%.

3. Reduce fertilizer. When the room temperature rises to 25°C, the amount of fertilizer applied should be reduced. Summer temperatures are high, and Clivia is in a semi-dormant or dormant state. During this period, its root absorption capacity is weak. If slightly too much fertilizer is applied, the fertilizer accumulates around the root system later, easily causing root rot and stem rot. However, during this period, if the temperature of Clivia's growing environment is lowered below 25°C, then some dilute liquid fertilizer can be appropriately applied to promote its growth and shorten its dormant period. If the temperature drops below 20°C and the humidity also meets the requirements, then fertilizer can be applied as usual.

4. Increase humidity. In the hot summer, Clivia grows slowly and its roots absorb little water, but the amount of water evaporated from the leaf surface is very large. Therefore, Clivia cannot lack water. When watering, adhere to the principle of watering when half-dry, and watering thoroughly when watering. But do not water as soon as the surface soil looks dry. Otherwise, the potting soil will later remain in a moist state, and root rot and yellow leaves are very likely. When watering, be sure to take care not to let water run into the leaf center, so as to avoid heart rot and cause "decapitation".