Techniques for Dividing Clivia miniata, and Points to Note About Root Rot

Once Clivia miniata (kaffir lily) reaches maturity, it can produce new shoots. When these new shoots are broken off and grown into new plants, this is called asexual propagation of Clivia miniata. According to the position where the shoots emerge, they can be divided into stem-side shoots, stem-base shoots and leaf-axil shoots; all of these shoots grow from the stem. When the shoots have grown to 6-7 leaves, the stem-base shoots and stem-side shoots can be divided. The best time to divide them is in spring and autumn, at the same time as repotting and changing the soil. This is because temperatures are lower at these times, so the wounds from division are less likely to become infected or rot. Leaf-axil shoots, however, can only be considered for division after the leaf on the side where the shoot emerges has naturally fallen off and the entire shoot is exposed; by then the shoot is usually fairly large.

Division methods: you can cut the shoot off or break it off by hand. Cutting is mostly used for stem-base shoots, where the connection between the offset and the mother plant is large and breaking by hand makes it hard for the shoot to keep roots; cutting with a knife takes the needed rhizome off together with the shoot, which can raise the shoot's survival rate. Breaking by hand is mostly used for stem-side shoots or leaf-axil shoots, because both of these grow on the outer side of the stem. When doing this, hold the mother plant's pseudobulb with one hand and grip the base of the shoot with the other, then bend it gently. Be especially careful that the new plant retains some roots, as this is what makes it easy to keep alive. At the wound left after breaking off the shoot, be sure to apply plant ash, charcoal powder or gentian violet to disinfect it, and let it dry in the air for 4-5 hours until the wound is dry before potting it up. Note that the growing medium near the wound should be mixed with some river sand, and do not water too heavily; this helps the wound recover as quickly as possible and prevents it from rotting.