How to trim the roots when repotting a clivia? Detailed method

Gardeners may run into these problems when growing clivia. The longer a clivia is grown, the more its root system grows; as the roots multiply, the potting soil decreases. At this point the clivia's growth becomes increasingly poor. That is when we need to repot it and give the clivia a proper root trim.

So how should the root trimming be done? Many beginner gardeners do not really understand how to trim clivia roots, and some may be encountering clivia for the first time and are seeing root trimming for the first time too. So today Hua'er Gu is here to introduce the method for trimming clivia's root system.

1. Clean off the soil

When trimming clivia roots, we first need to shake off the soil clinging to the roots. We take the clivia out of the pot and withhold water for a few days so the soil is easy to remove without causing excessive damage to the roots. We gently pat the outer area of the roots and soil with the palm of the hand. Let the soil separate completely from the roots. We slowly clean off the soil, then rinse the clivia's roots clean with clear water.

2. Trim the roots

The clivia's roots are fleshy. Although they look rather thick and sturdy, they are in fact very fragile. In day-to-day care, as old roots rot and new roots grow, many roots will become rotten or hollow and dried out over the course of long-term growth. Trimming its roots means cutting off those roots that have already begun to rot or have already dried out.

3. Root trimming method

The technique of root trimming is actually very simple. When you can use your hands, do not use tools. For example, to shake off the soil, we should best use our hands directly rather than tools, so as not to damage the new roots. When trimming roots, the rotten roots and hollow roots that we can clear away by hand should all be handled as much as possible directly and gently with the hands. Using tools makes it relatively easy to cause damage such as breakage to the new roots.

After clearing away the rotten roots and hollow roots, if we find that some new roots have been badly damaged, we need to disinfect them. Common disinfectants include potassium permanganate and carbendazim. If the damage is relatively slight, we can simply leave it alone and continue potting it up for care.