What are the care essentials for hydroponic clivia?
Clivia is native to southern Africa, growing beneath trees, so it fears both heat and cold, prefers a semi-shaded and humid environment, and dreads strong direct sunlight. Its optimal growing temperature is between 18 and 22°C; below 5°C or above 30°C, growth is inhibited. Clivia likes a well-ventilated environment, and hydroponic clivia is suitable for indoor cultivation.
Clivia can also be grown hydroponically, and the method is as follows:
Container selection
To grow clivia hydroponically, you must first choose a good container. Generally, a transparent glass container is best; if you are growing a single seedling, a glass jar will do. If you want to grow a large number hydroponically, you can use thin iron wire to make a metal mesh with holes one cm in diameter, then make a glass hydroponic box slightly smaller than the metal mesh; or you can substitute a goldfish tank. Then place the metal mesh over the hydroponic box and insert the clivia seedlings through the mesh holes into the nutrient solution, with the depth of the flower roots in the solution not exceeding the pseudobulb at the base of the roots.
Nutrient solution preparation
Nutrient solutions come in inorganic and organic types. The inorganic nutrient solution can be prepared in the following proportions: calcium 1.5 g, ferrous sulfate 0.01 g, urea g, monopotassium phosphate 1 g, magnesium sulfate 0.5 g. After these 5 inorganic salts are all assembled, dissolve them in 1000 g of water and it is ready to use. The organic nutrient solution is prepared as follows: 100 g of roasted hemp seed meal, 100 g of bone meal (made from unsalted fresh bones), 150 g of soybean cake meal, 50 g of roasted sesame meal, then dissolve in 1000 g of water. Comparing the two nutrient solutions above, the organic fertilizer has richer components but a lower nutrient content, while the inorganic fertilizer has relatively simple components but strong fertilizer effect and quick results. To make up for each other's shortcomings, the two can be used in combination. If used alone, apply the inorganic fertilizer once a week and the organic fertilizer once every 5 days.
Water
For hydroponic clivia, you cannot use tap water directly; you must use aged water. So-called aged water means putting tap water in a container and exposing it to sunlight for 3—5 days, so that bleaching powder and other chlorides harmful to clivia roots settle out. In aged water, judging by appearance, the sediment changes from strip-like to clump-like, and the water color is best when green. After the water is well aged, when submerging the root area it must not submerge the pseudobulb. If the water level is too shallow, the clivia cannot get an adequate water supply; if the water level is too deep (submerging the pseudobulb), it will cause root rot. During cultivation, pay attention to observing changes in water quality. If you find the roots turning somewhat yellow or black, it means the water is both low in oxygen and low in nutrients, and you must change the water immediately.
Air, sunlight, temperature
Whether the aeration of the hydroponic clivia roots can be handled well is the key to success or failure in hydroponics. After a period of cultivation, a layer of moss grows on the roots of hydroponic clivia. When the moss is too thick, it severely affects root respiration and corrodes the nutrient solution. At this time, you need to use a soft, clean bristle brush to gently brush away the moss layer on the roots (there is no need to brush it very clean, since a small amount of moss on the roots has little effect). In addition, you should frequently check whether the oxygen in the water is sufficient. The way to check is: put two or three small fish into the hydroponic box. If the small fish swim around freely in the water, it means the water is not low in oxygen; if the small fish always float to the surface with their mouths and gills exposed to breathe, it means the water is low in oxygen.
After discovering that the water is low in oxygen, you must supplement oxygen. There are two methods: one is to change the water, and the other is to use a small oxygen pump to supply oxygen to the water. In terms of sunlight handling, clivia is a semi-shade, semi-sun plant, so pay attention to lighting; especially in summer, avoid direct strong sunlight and let it receive scattered light. In addition, according to the light-facing characteristic of clivia leaves, make sure the leaves receive light evenly; otherwise the leaves will vary in length and their growth direction will also be uneven front to back, so generally adjust the lighting angle once every two or three days. In terms of temperature handling, the environmental temperature for adult clivia is best at 11°C-25°C, while seedlings can be slightly higher, 20°C-35°C is fine. When growing clivia in water, you must master the day-night temperature difference; in winter, keep it around 20°C during the day and not lower than 15°C at night.