How to rescue a clivia (Clivia miniata) whose roots have completely dried out after no watering all summer

It is already autumn now, and many gardeners' clivias went without water all summer, so the roots have shriveled badly, are covered in wrinkles, and have completely dried out, but they have not completely died. So how should you deal with this?

Summer is a tough time for clivias, and generally people choose not to water them or to water very little. For large clivia plants, not watering is not a big problem, because over just one or two months its roots will shrivel but still have flesh inside. Once autumn comes, we can completely repot it: remove all the old potting soil, pull off the roots that have completely dried out, cut off the rotten roots, then find a washbasin, add water, add rooting liquid, and add a little carbendazim, and soak the shriveled clivia roots in it. Make sure the water covers all the roots. Generally, after soaking for 3 to 5 hours, the roots will inevitably absorb enough water and plump up again. While absorbing water, the wounds come into contact with the carbendazim, which prevents infection, and the roots can also absorb the rooting liquid in the water, so after planting they can quickly grow new roots. Once you see the roots gradually plumping up with water, just plant them in fresh soil.

For the growing mix, you must prepare a good soil. Xiao Qi generally uses three materials: peanut shells, small expanded clay pellets, and large sphagnum peat granules, mixed in a 1:1 ratio. When planting, fill a certain amount of soil into the middle of the roots so the roots are evenly spread around the pot, then gradually firm the soil and water it thoroughly. When watering thoroughly, do not forget to add a little rooting liquid and carbendazim again, or you can directly pour on the water you soaked the roots in. When watering, turn the pot as you pour so the water is distributed evenly around the sides, and you can also water twice more, so the potting soil thoroughly absorbs water. Then place the clivia somewhere with a little scattered light and definitely good ventilation. Planted this way, in at most two weeks, its wilted, dehydrated leaves will gradually perk up and become firm again, and once you see it start growing new leaves, gradually increase the light. By then its roots will have grown out and developed well, and we can return to normal light, normal fertilizing, and normal watering care.

During the recovery period, whenever the top 1 to 2 cm of the potting soil has dried out, water it thoroughly directly. As long as ventilation is good and it gets a little scattered light, your clivia will easily recover and be completely brought back to life. After it has recovered, supplement appropriately with a multi-element fertilizer, then switch to a phosphorus-potassium fertilizer, give it plenty of light, and create a temperature difference of around 10 degrees Celsius; it will easily and quickly grow leaves and quickly produce beautiful flowers.