It's the right time to repot your clivia - get to it once the weather turns cold

Autumn is the golden season for clivia growth. Every year when this season comes around, it's time to repot your clivia.

There are two reasons for repotting: first, the clivia seedling has grown, and the small pot can no longer accommodate the development of its root system, so it should be moved into a pot one size larger; second, a large clivia plant has been growing in the same pot for a year, and the nutrients in the potting soil are almost exhausted and no longer worth reusing, so fresh growing medium should be provided.

From years of experience caring for clivia: seedlings with 2 to 4 leaves should be planted in pots 10 cm in diameter; plants with 5 to 8 leaves should use pots 13 cm in diameter; those with 9 to 12 leaves should use pots 17 cm in diameter; those with 13 to 16 leaves should use pots 23 cm in diameter; and mature plants with more than 17 leaves should use large pots 27 cm to 33 cm in diameter. Note that you should avoid using plastic pots, porcelain pots or Nanni pots to grow clivia; simple terracotta pots are best. The small holes in the bottom of a terracotta pot help the clivia's roots breathe.

In autumn, clivia grows vigorously and needs a relatively large amount of fertilizer. Besides placing fermented soybean cake residue, bone meal, roasted hemp seeds or rabbit manure at the bottom of the pot as a base fertilizer when repotting, you can also put some roasted dried sesame or pig blood powder on the upper part of the potting soil. If conditions allow, apply fermented soybean cake water or fishy water once every half month.

In addition, to make the clivia bloom normally, do not rush to move it indoors after autumn begins. It should be kept outdoors for about 10 days at a low temperature of around 5°C. A short period at around 5°C will not harm it. During the low-temperature treatment, water less and stop fertilizing; give it appropriate light during the day, and at night the clivia can tolerate a short period at around 0°C. After the low-temperature treatment, move it indoors and keep it in a spot not exposed to direct sunlight, maintaining a room temperature of 10°C to 15°C.