How to Pot and Plant Clivia Seedlings and Fertilize Them Scientifically
Clivia
When clivia is propagated by seed and carefully managed, it can generally bloom in 3-4 years.
When the clivia fruit ripens and its outer skin turns red, harvest it and let it dry in the shade for about 1 week, then shell out the seeds and select them one by one. The key to good seedling emergence lies in properly controlling temperature and moisture. The potting soil temperature should be 20°C-25°C. Water with a fine-spouted watering can and keep the potting soil moist at all times; it must not dry out or become waterlogged. The pot can be covered with glass, then with a layer of white paper to keep warm and retain moisture, so the seeds germinate steadily. They generally take root in about 30 days and can produce leaves in 50-60 days. After the seedlings produce leaves, gradually remove the glass, and after about half a month they can be moved into separate pots. For dividing the seedlings, choose No. 2 tube pots and grow them in fertile humus sandy loam. The roots of 3-month-old seedlings can reach more than 3 cm long, and they can grow 2-4 leaves in the same year. In the spring of the second year, repot into No. 1 tube pots or chrysanthemum pots, and by the end of the year they can grow to 7-10 leaves. In the third year, repot into No. 2 pots, using 30 grams of horse hoof pieces as base fertilizer.
When the seedlings grow to 5-6 leaves, they enter the vigorous growth stage and need a sufficient supply of water and fertilizer. About every 10 days, along with watering, apply additional decomposed dilute liquid fertilizer. During the growing period, water at the right times and check for water needs to keep the potting soil moist. In midsummer, protect them from rain and prevent waterlogging, and avoid direct sunlight. Frequently sprinkle water on the leaves to wash off dust, lower the temperature, and increase air humidity. With this care, by the fourth year the leaves will have grown to about 20, and the plant can begin to show flowers; there will be few flowers that year, and they will gradually increase afterward.