Clivia is an evergreen tropical plant from the Amaryllis family. It can be found in the bright forests of South Africa, and as a houseplant - around the world. Beautiful dark green leaves and delicate, similar to small lilies, flowers have amazing charm. Flowering occurs with enviable regularity, but even without it, the mop of long leaves is very beautiful. Due to this, clivia is very popular among gardeners. In addition, she is very unpretentious and easy to care for.
Botanical Description
Clivia is an evergreen perennial with a branched, superficial rhizome. Unlike many representatives of the Amaryllis family, the plant does not have bulbs. However, it cannot be called a full-fledged rhizome.
Large fleshy leaves are closely adjacent to each other. They grow in the same plane opposite. Although the plant does not have a stem as such, a small thickened shoot is formed from a bundle of foliage. The height of room clivia is about 40-60 cm. The xiphoid dark green leaves with a shiny surface are quite elastic. They can be easily bent. The length of the sheet plate is 40-75 cm, and the width is 5-8 cm. The edge of the sheet is narrowed and the side surface is smooth. Sometimes the leaves have a shallow notch along the central vein. Every year, 5-6 leaves are added to the outlet.
The flowering period of clivia falls on February-March. A ribbed peduncle 20-40 cm long appears from the center of the leaf rosette. At its top, up to 30 buds bloom, collected in an umbrella inflorescence of 15-20 cm in diameter. Flowers in the form of bells with six petals open in turn and delight the owners for up to three weeks. Their petals are colored red, orange or pink. In the center are long stamens and ovary. Flowering is accompanied by the release of aroma of varying intensity. It captures a mixture of notes of vanilla, nutmeg, rose and grass. After pollination, the fruit ripens - the fleshy berry.
Types of clivia
Clivia is not very diverse. The genus combines only 3 varieties.
Clivia Gardena. Long tapeworm leaves grow up to 50 cm in height. Their smooth dark green surface is covered with parallel relief strips. The edge of the leaf is pointed. On an upright cylindrical peduncle, small red bells bloom. They are collected in umbrella inflorescences up to 15 buds. Flowers bloom in winter.
Clivia cinnabar (miniata) or clivia orange. Strap-like dense leaves of dark green color grow up to 70 cm in length. Red-orange flowers with a yellow core are collected in a lush umbrella. It contains up to 20 buds. Flowering occurs at the beginning of spring. It is this species that is very popular in home floriculture and has become the basis for decorative varieties.
Clivia is beautiful. A more compact variety grows about 30 cm in height. It forms a dense rosette of xiphoid leaves with a pointed edge. On a dense fleshy peduncle 30-50 cm long, 40-60 flowers can bloom. Smaller bell-shaped buds with a small tube are painted in salmon or reddish tint. Each petal is crowned with a greenish pointed tip. Its length is about 2 cm.
Propagation Features
Clivia can be propagated by seed or vegetatively. Even self-grown and harvested seeds give a good harvest. Before sowing, planting material is soaked for a day in warm water. Swollen seeds are distributed in boxes with sand and peat soil. You can add some turfy earth and perlite. Crops are made in grooves to a depth of 2 cm. The container is covered with a film and kept under ambient lighting and a temperature of + 20 ... + 25 ° C. Regularly moisten the soil and remove condensation.
Shoots appear after 1-1.5 months. Plants with two leaves gently dive in separate pots filled with a mixture of leaf humus, sod and clay soil. Seedlings develop rather slowly. Flowering should be expected after the fifth year of life.
Amateur gardeners are more likely to propagate clivia vegetatively. Moreover, an adult plant regularly gives children. During transplantation, with great care, remove the plant from the pot and partially release it from the soil. The lateral processes (children) are carefully separated. For normal development, they must have 4 or more leaves. Plants are planted in small pots with soil for adult clivia. At first, watering is carried out less frequently, and the air temperature is slightly increased. Flowering is expected from 3-4 years.
Care Secrets
Clivia flower is undemanding in nature. However, between the plant, which is forced to survive, and full of life, a flowering specimen, there is a big difference. To get the latter, you need to make a little effort.
Lighting. Clivia needs a room with bright diffused light. Direct rays cause burns and damage to leaves. The flower can be kept on the eastern or western windowsill, and also set in the depths of the southern room. With a lack of light, clivia ceases to bloom.
Temperature. The plant develops best at a temperature of + 20 ... + 25 ° C. On hot days, you should regularly ventilate the room, but you can not leave the flower in the draft. In winter, it is important to ensure a period of rest. To do this, clivia is transferred to a cooler room with a temperature of + 12 ... + 14 ° C. After a few months of this content, a flower arrow appears. This means that it is time to return clivia to a warm room (+ 18 ... + 20 ° C).
Humidity. The plant is not demanding on air humidity and easily adapts to any conditions. Smooth leaves should be regularly cleaned from dust or bathed. Use soft water so that no lime stains remain.
Watering. Clivia soil does not need to be excessively moistened. Watering should be moderate, without stagnation of water. In winter they are reduced even more. Most abundantly water the plant during budding and flowering. Water is used well purified, warmer than room temperature.
Fertilizer. With the advent of the buds, clivia is fed twice a month with a mineral complex with a low nitrogen content. At the end of summer, feeding is stopped.
Transfer. Clivia rhizome is very tender. It is sensitive to any damage that leads to illness and lack of flowering. Therefore, a transplant is carried out only when absolutely necessary, when the roots begin to peek out of the pot. The flower feels good in a tight container. Drainage material is poured into the bottom (expanded clay, pebbles, shards). The transplant itself is carried out by the method of transshipment. The empty space in the pot is filled with a soil mixture composed as follows:
- turf land (2 parts);
- sheet land (2 parts);
- river sand (1 part).
Diseases and pests. Clivia is sensitive to fungal diseases (powdery mildew, gray rot). The infection develops especially actively with dampness, stagnation of water in the soil and low temperatures. To help the plant cope with the disease, it must be transplanted into fresh, disinfected soil, as well as treat the soil and vegetation with a fungicide (Champion, Topaz). Among parasites in clivia, aphids, scale insects and mealybugs are especially active. Pests can be collected by hand or treated with an insecticide (Actellik, Aktara). The drug is diluted according to the instructions and sprayed on the crown, and also poured into the soil. Penetrating into the juice, the chemical also makes it poisonous. Insects feed on leaves and die.
Blooming clivia
Healthy plants annually throw a peduncle with a bunch of delicate flowers. Often several arrows appear on the bush at once. If clivia does not bloom, it is necessary to adjust the care. Be sure to provide a rest period with cool content. The rest of the time you need more intense lighting. When the flower arrow appeared, you should not change the conditions of detention and move the plants, otherwise the buds may fall without blossoming. To increase the development of flower stalk and flowers directly helps to increase the temperature of water for irrigation.
Sometimes a stressful situation helps to stimulate the appearance of flowers. The flower is placed in a dark and cool room for several days. Even when all the flowers have withered, watering and top dressing continue until the end of summer. As a result, flowering may repeat.
