How to grow a Clivia miniata bonsai? A full breakdown of care methods

Soil: Use loose, fertile neutral or slightly acidic humus soil. Fertilizing: Fertilize in appropriate amounts, and never apply concentrated fertilizer or raw fertilizer that has not been fermented and decomposed. Watering: Always water thoroughly; water more after buds appear, and control watering when room temperature is low to prevent the potting soil from becoming too wet. Temperature: Give it a growing environment of 15-20°C, and do not let it go below 10°C.

1. Soil

The native habitat of Clivia miniata is under the large trees of high-altitude forests in southern Africa, where the roots grow into layers of fallen leaves that have accumulated over many years. Clivia miniata bonsai should use loose, fertile neutral or slightly acidic humus soil. The growing soil can be mixed from 65% humus soil, 20% clean sand, and 15% fine furnace ash. The relative humidity of the soil should be around 40%. If the soil is compacted and drainage is poor, it will cause root rot. When changing the soil in spring, it is best to buy special soil for planting; the special soil is leaf mold, which is extremely suitable for the growth of Clivia miniata.

2. Fertilizing

For Clivia miniata, apply a solid fertilizer once in winter, apply less nitrogen fertilizer, and apply more phosphorus fertilizer and potassium fertilizer. Eggshell powder and decomposed fishy water are very good phosphorus fertilizers, and bran ash and tobacco ash are readily available potassium fertilizers. A compound fertilizer of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium can also be applied to encourage it to sprout more new plants and leaves. Fertilizing must be done in appropriate amounts, and never apply concentrated fertilizer or raw fertilizer that has not been fermented and decomposed; otherwise, it easily causes scorched or rotten leaf tips. In winter, if spots appear on new leaves and the root system turns yellow, it indicates excessive fertilizing, while new leaves being narrow, thin, and especially pale in color is a sign of fertilizer deficiency.

3. Watering

The soil should not be too dry or too wet, and each watering must be thorough; after buds appear, water a little more. About every 20 days, combine watering with applying fermented soybean cake water, diluted fishy water, and water chestnut water, etc., combining watering and fertilizing. When room temperature is low, control watering to prevent the potting soil from becoming too wet; overly wet potting soil will cause the plant to rot at the roots and die, but the potting soil must not be allowed to become too dry either.

4. Temperature

The suitable growing temperature for Clivia miniata in winter is 15-20°C, and it is best not to go below 10°C. After the flower stalk emerges, the temperature should be kept at around 18°C, and the day-night temperature difference should preferably be around 10°C; otherwise, the flower stalk will bloom before reaching the proper height, easily forming "clip stalk." When the outdoor temperature at night is below 10°C, Clivia miniata should be moved indoors. When the indoor temperature is below 10°C, in addition to covering the surface of the potting soil with a 1 cm thick layer of charcoal powder for insulation, the flowerpot should also be placed in a warm, sunny spot indoors. When the indoor temperature is especially low, a plastic film can be placed over the flowerpot to raise the temperature, but the temperature inside the cover must not exceed 25°C; if it does, ventilate promptly to cool it down.

5. Light

Clivia miniata easily blooms under short-day conditions. Exposure to blazing sun and direct summer sunlight can cause sunscald and inhibit growth. From May to September each year, it should be grown under a shade shed or in a semi-shaded environment without direct sunlight. But in winter, the longer the sunlight exposure, the better. When blooming, weak light can prolong the flowering period. It likes warmth and coolness, and fears severe cold and intense heat; generally it grows well at 18-20°C, and stops growing below 5°C. After Clivia miniata is brought indoors, light is restricted, so the flowerpot needs to be moved manually for adjustment. Under normal circumstances, during the day the flowerpot should be placed in a sunny spot indoors so that sunlight can reach the plant. Before blooming, at night the flowerpot should also be placed under a fluorescent lamp to supplement light. Because the two rows of leaves of Clivia miniata are opposite, if the light remains in one position for a long time, the leaves will grow unevenly and affect the ornamental effect. Therefore, when adjusting light, attention should be paid to the direction of the leaves, and the side facing the sun should be changed about every 10 days. There are two ways to place the flowerpot indoors: one is to place the leaves parallel to the sunny window, and the other is to place the leaves perpendicular to the sunny window; the latter works better than the former.

6. Flowering period control

The flowering period of Clivia miniata is mostly from December to March of the following year. The way to prolong the flowering period is to place it in a dark place when the flowers are about to open, appropriately control watering, and keep the temperature at 8-12°C. In this way, the flowering period can be extended by 10-20 days.