Clivia Grow Guide: How to Grow and Care for Clivia

Clivia is a warm-weather plant that blooms in distinctive and vibrant trumpet-shaped flowers that grow in clusters, typically in shades of orange, yellow, and red. Named after Lady Florentina Clive, this native South African plant also goes by the common name bush lily. They are members of the amaryllis family, and grow dark green foliage with long flat leaves. Clivia flower clusters grow on top of vertical flower stalks. Clivias also produce offsets, which are smaller flower buds that grow around the base of the main plant, which can be repotted and used to start their own larger clivia plants.

There are a number of different varieties of clivia plant that gardeners can grow as houseplants or outside in their gardens in the right climate.

1. 1. Clivia caulescens: This type of clivia is an evergreen variety of the flower that grows tube shaped flowers drooping down from the plant’s central stalk.
2. 2. Clivia gardenii: This variety of clivia is a perennial flower that grows in a slight trumpet shape in shades of red and green.
3. 3. Clivia miniata: Clivia miniata flowers are short and funnel-shaped, growing in shades of yellow, red, and orange, with deep green foliage.
4. 4. Clivia mirabilis: This is the most recently discovered variety of clivia. Its flowers are long and trumpet-like and droop from their central stalk.
5. 5. Clivia nobilis: This variety of clivia has a larger bush of long pointy foliage, in which the clusters of hanging flowers grow with green ends.
6. 6. Clivia robusta: This variety grows in late fall to mid-winter and boasts flowers that arch out from the tall stalks. This is also the tallest variety of clivia, growing up to five feet tall.

Growers can plant clivia flowers from late winter to early spring to make the most of its first active season, which lasts from spring to fall. Keep in mind that you should only plant clivia in the ground if you live in USDA hardiness zones 9 to 11. If you have colder winters, you should plant clivia in a pot. If you're repotting a clivia plant during the winter, make sure to keep your plant indoors until spring.

Planting clivia from seed can be a time-consuming process, and it can be several years before you see your first flowers. Gardeners looking to enjoy their clivia's bright blooms earlier, follow these steps for planting your clivia from offsets.

1. 1. Choose your location. Choose whether you want to plant your clivia in an indoor or outdoor pot. Clivias prefer indirect light and partial shade if you're planting outdoors, so choose a location out of the direct sun if you plant clivia outdoors.
2. 2. Prepare your soil. Before you re-pot your clivia offset, choose a good quality potting mix with a little peat moss or sand in it. Loosen your soil to make sure that it is well-draining which can help you avoid root rot.
3. 3. Re-pot your clivia offset. Once you've filled your container with potting mix, dig a hole larger than your plant's fleshy roots. Gently remove the clivia offset from the parent plant in its container and place it in the hole in your soil. Cover its roots with additional soil and water immediately, checking the base of the container to ensure the water is draining properly.

Here are some additional tips for caring for your growing clivia plants.

1. 1. Water your clivia plant sparingly. Clivia plants do not like too much water, and too much watering can lead to root rot. Allow the soil to completely dry for a few days between waterings to make sure that you’re not waterlogging your plant.
2. 2. Fertilize your plant. Clivia plants enjoy being fed using organic fertilizer. Feed your clivia plants once a month.
3. 3. Make sure your plants are warm in the winter. If you live in a climate with a cold winter, move any outdoor plants indoors. During this winter rest period, do not water or feed your plants.

Clivia contains a small amount of the alkaloid lycorine, which is poisonous if ingested. Humans need to ingest large amounts of the plant for the poisonous effects to manifest. However, clivia can be dangerous for pets, such as cats or dogs, if they ingest the plant.

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