How to grow Clivia miniata without soil? Detailed methods and steps

Soilless cultivation of Clivia miniata can be started from the following aspects:

1. Growing medium. Peat soil, vermiculite, expanded clay pebbles, perlite, etc. can be used, with expanded clay pebbles and perlite being the most ideal.

2. Prepare the nutrient solution. The formula for making the nutrient solution yourself is, per liter of water, 68.5 mg of monopotassium phosphate, 132 mg of ammonium sulfate, 174 mg of potassium sulfate, 246 mg of magnesium sulfate, and 236 mg of calcium nitrate, with trace elements at standard amounts. You can also buy soilless cultivation nutrient solution or Clivia miniata-specific nutrient solution sold on the market, and dilute it with cool boiled water at the specified multiple.

3. Select seedlings and wash the roots. Take a Clivia miniata plant with vigorous growth and a good plant shape out of the flower pot, shake off the old soil, being careful not to damage the roots, place it in water close to the ambient temperature to soak, wash the roots clean, and at the same time remove rotten roots, then place its roots in the prepared nutrient solution and soak for 8 hours to 12 hours so it fully absorbs nutrients.

4. Planting and potting. Choose a slightly deep plastic pot or ceramic pot, line the bottom of the pot with a thick layer of plastic sheeting, first place 2 cm to 5 cm of water-soaked expanded clay pebbles on top of it, then fill a layer of moist perlite about 2 cm to 5 cm thick, and press it down slightly. Lay the Clivia miniata horizontally in a large flower pot, add moist perlite among the roots, hold up the root mass with both hands and gently place it in the pot, trying not to let the perlite packed among the roots fall off, then fill moist perlite in from all around until the flower pot is 80 percent full, noting that it only needs to be buried up to the root crown. Finally, add a layer of expanded clay pebbles on top to prevent the perlite particles from being washed away when adding water or pouring in nutrient solution, or unsightly green algae appearing on the surface of the medium due to sunlight, and place a shallow saucer under the bottom of the flower pot to prevent water seepage.

5. Add and pour the nutrient solution. After the Clivia miniata plant is planted, pour in the prepared nutrient solution until water seeps out from the drainage hole at the bottom of the pot, and at the same time spray some clean water on the leaves.

6. Daily management. Its requirements for light, temperature, and air humidity are the same as for ordinary soil cultivation. Any seepage collected in the shallow saucer should be promptly poured back into the pot until no more nutrient solution seeps out. Generally, for a large pot, apply nutrient solution once every 2 weeks, with an amount of 200 ml to 300 ml; for small and medium pots, apply nutrient solution once a week, with an amount of 50 ml to 100 ml. Before and during flowering, nutrient solution should be supplemented several more times, and water should be added once a week.

To prevent accidents, you can first try with small seedlings, and after gaining a little experience, switch to mature plants for soilless cultivation.