If you want your clivia (Clivia miniata), you don’t need any gardening training, just a little knowledge about its origins and requirements. The clivia – also known as strap leaf comes from South Africa and is one of the most popular flowering houseplants. With its strong, overhanging leaves and bright orange-red flowers, it adds tropical flair to your home all year round.
This is the right location
For your clivia to thrive, it needs a bright spot without direct sunlight. It is best to place it in an east or west-facing window. In summer, it loves fresh air – a balcony or terrace are ideal summer quarters. But beware: during flowering, the clivia does not like changing locations. Mark the pot so that you can realign it exactly every time you put it back. This way you avoid flower drop.
Substrate and pot
Don’t skimp on the substrate: Use a nutrient-rich, loamy and well-drained soil with a pH value of around 6. A small, heavy pot prevents the clivia from tipping over – because its fleshy roots grow vigorously in width. Repotting is only necessary every three to four years when the roots reach the soil surface. Be particularly careful not to damage the delicate roots.
Water and fertilize correctly
Keep the root ball evenly moist, but avoid waterlogging. In winter, give the plant a rest: water sparingly so that the root ball remains almost dry. From March, the clivia will enjoy more water again – and regular fertilizer applications. A liquid fertilizer every two weeks from spring to autumn is completely sufficient.
No flowering without a cold shock
Many hobby gardeners despair because their clivia simply won’t flower. The reason is simple: the plant needs a cold stimulus. From October, place them in a cool place with temperatures between 10 and 12 degrees for at least two months. This “winter rest” stimulates flower formation – and you will be rewarded with magnificent umbels in spring.
Klivie propagation made easy
After flowering, the clivia forms so-called sprouts – small daughter plants that you carefully separate when repotting. Place them in pots with a well-drained substrate and put them in a bright spot. After a few weeks, they will form their own roots – and you will soon have a new, flowering plant.
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Caring for Klivie is worth it!
If you want to look after your clivia, the most important things are light, rest and the right soil. With a little patience and the necessary cold stimulus in winter, your clivia will reward you with bright flowers every year. And best of all, the clivia is robust, easy to care for and hardly ever sick. A perfect plant for anyone who loves beauty without stress.
Source: My beautiful garden
