What are the correct methods for fertilizing clivia?

Clivia is a flowering plant that loves fertilizer, and the various mineral elements it needs come mainly from the potting soil. Clivia does not have high demands for fertilizer quality; fertilizer made by fermenting sesame, soybeans, river shrimp and the like is suitable. First, cook the sesame and soybeans and let them cool; wash the river shrimp, then pour each in a 1/3 proportion into a container to ferment. After about one month, open the container lid and smell a sour, foul odor, which indicates the fertilizer has fermented and decomposed and is ready to use.

After processing, the fertilizer made this way can be divided into three states: diluted with water at a ratio of 1 water to 4 fertilizer, it is liquid fertilizer; the fermented fertilizer that has been dried and ground into powder is dry fertilizer; the fermented fertilizer in a porridge-like paste is solid fertilizer.

When top-dressing clivia, the key is to master the amount of fertilizer and the ratio of water to fertilizer.

Use of dry fertilizer

Scatter a certain amount of dry fertilizer into the surface soil of the flower pot, mix it evenly and lightly, then water it so the roots can absorb it easily. For the amount of dry fertilizer, generally use half a spoon for small seedlings, 2 spoons for medium clivia, and 4 spoons for large clivia.

Use of liquid fertilizer

Usually, one week after the clivia seedlings are potted, especially when they are unfolding leaves, start applying liquid fertilizer; this can promote well-developed seedling roots, strengthen their ability to resist disease and fungal damage, and make the leaves gradually thick and glossy. For small seedlings, a fertilizer-to-water ratio of 1:40 is better, while for large and medium clivia, 1:20 is better. Generally, after applying liquid fertilizer early in the morning, water once, and the amount of water should not be too much. This can both help the fertilizer dissolve and rinse the newly grown fleshy roots to prevent damage to the new roots, and in summer it can also avoid breeding pathogens. Dilute fertilizer water can be applied once a week as a top dressing; be careful not to apply concentrated fertilizer, because the stimulation of concentrated fertilizer will make new roots rust, and in severe cases will cause the new roots to shrivel.

Use of solid fertilizer

First scrape a small trench along the edge of the pot, evenly sprinkle in the solid fertilizer, then cover it with soil. The amount of fertilizer depends on how many leaves there are and how large they are. Small seedlings generally should not use solid fertilizer; for medium clivia, 50 grams at a time, and for large clivia, 75-100 grams at a time is suitable. When fertilizing, be careful not to splash it on the leaves; if it accidentally drips on them, rinse it off promptly with clean water, or wipe it clean with a soft wet cloth. The frequency and amount of fertilizing should increase or decrease with the seasons. In winter, clivia grows relatively vigorously, so top-dress appropriately: once a week for small seedlings, once every 10 days for medium and large clivia, and the concentration can be somewhat higher; in the spring and autumn growing seasons, the concentration should be weaker. In summer, if

measures are taken to lower the temperature, and there is enough humidity, and the sunlight is sufficient but not intense, you can continue fertilizing, but the amount should be less than in winter and spring; if the temperature is above 24°C, stop fertilizing or reduce it, and also stop fertilizing in the rainy season. On cloudy days, it is best not to fertilize, because photosynthesis cannot occur on cloudy days, and after fertilizing it is not easy to absorb, and the roots soaking in fertilizer water will lead to root rot.