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Feb 5, 2016 5:31 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Lisa Olson
Washington DC (Zone 7a)
Best way to repot Clivia? Years-old plant, generously given to me. In fact, three plants in one single pot. None too happy. Suggestions?
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Feb 5, 2016 6:51 PM CST
Name: tarev
San Joaquin County, CA (Zone 9b)
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Can you tell us where you have the plant indoors, light direction (north, south, west, east), your watering regimen and the ambient temperature around the plant.

Typically the plant does not mind being in its container for a long time, seems happier actually, but it does prefer to be on the dry side, since it has such thick roots, so your planting media has to be very well draining too.

I got mine to bloom in late winter, after I gave it a cool dry rest for in late Fall. Temps then was at the range of 50 to 55F. Then I brought it indoors in January. I like this plant, so low maintenance and always lush looking as long as kept in shade and on the dry side.
Last edited by tarev Feb 5, 2016 6:56 PM Icon for preview
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Feb 5, 2016 9:30 PM CST
Name: Elaine
Sarasota, Fl
The one constant in life is change
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Lisa, a picture of your plant would help us to help you. Clivias do seem to like to be fairly crowded in their pot to bloom well. Several crowns or fans of leaves in one pot is good. Like daylilies, agapanthus and other clump-forming plants, they seem to want to form a clump before they will bloom dependably.

I was given a single-fan plant by my kids as a gift some years ago, and it bloomed the year I got it, but has not ever bloomed again. I think it had been divided from a larger clump and had already made it's growth to bloom that year, but maybe it will bloom again now that it has several fans in the pot again.

If the leaves don't look healthy, it's possible that just adding some fresh potting soil and a dose of timed-release pelleted fertilizer in the spring would bring them back to their normal selves. I add a small handful of alfalfa pellets to mine each spring, as well. It's very healthy looking.

Like tarev, I am giving mine a cool, dry dormant period right now. Once our weather warms up in a couple of weeks I'll give it a little fertilizer and start watering it sparingly again.
Elaine

"Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm." –Winston Churchill
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Feb 6, 2016 12:53 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Lisa Olson
Washington DC (Zone 7a)
The medium is dry and looks healthy. Think the bulbs were planted too deeply?
Thumb of 2016-02-06/5601Lisa/5067d2
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Feb 6, 2016 4:16 PM CST
Name: Elaine
Sarasota, Fl
The one constant in life is change
Amaryllis Tropicals Multi-Region Gardener Orchids Master Gardener: Florida Irises
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Hm, I think they look ok. It's natural to lose a leaf or two in the winter. They aren't at all crowded in that pot either. When there are so many crowns in the pot that you can't see the soil, it's time to re-pot.

I'd leave them be for now, keep them on the cool and dry side for another month or so, then add a few handfuls of fresh potting mix to cover those rogue roots that are up out of the soil, and a teaspoon or so of slow-release plant food. Start watering more, keep them in bright shade and gradually warmer temps and see what happens.

Don't despair if they don't bloom this year. They look like fairly young plants to me and they are very slow growing at their best. Mine has some leaves that are nearly 2ft. long - this is the plant that hasn't bloomed for 3 years, but I have great hopes for this spring!
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Elaine

"Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm." –Winston Churchill
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Feb 7, 2016 8:13 AM CST
Name: Sally
central Maryland (Zone 7b)
See you in the funny papers!
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I agree with the last post. They look perfectly fine and not in need of repotting. I keep mine cool and dry for winter. I think I have buds appearing on one of them. I divided a large one last year and have two individuals that do not have buds.
If yo want to repot, wait until spring.
Plant it and they will come.
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Feb 7, 2016 12:40 PM CST
Name: tarev
San Joaquin County, CA (Zone 9b)
Give PEACE a chance!
Adeniums Cat Lover Garden Photography Region: California Houseplants Plays in the sandbox
Orchids Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Composter Cactus and Succulents Dragonflies Hummingbirder
Your plant still looks ok there Lisa..if it were mine, I will not repot yet either. There is a certain maturity it needs before it will bloom, usually they count the leaves, the more leaves, the more mature and ready it should be, provided all other cultural needs are met.
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Feb 7, 2016 4:00 PM CST
Name: Sally
central Maryland (Zone 7b)
See you in the funny papers!
Charter ATP Member Frogs and Toads Houseplants Keeper of Poultry Vegetable Grower Region: Maryland
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I just noticed you said years-old. I'm surprised it only has what it has, if its years old. I think you should repot, in a couple months, and see what's going on down below. I'm concerned about the roots. Meanwhile, keep cool and on the dry side.
Plant it and they will come.
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Feb 10, 2016 7:50 PM CST
Name: Gita Veskimets
Baltimore or Nottingham MD-212 (Zone 7a)
Life is "mind over matter". If I d
I just wrote a very long reply about my first time dividing a Clivia. A 30 year old Clivia!!
Really long post--which would have giving you some insight in to this endeavor.

Then my finger hit something by the "shift--control? keys and my whole post went POOF!

WHY can't ATP (or DG) have a "DRAFTS" feature where if interrupted--the whole Post jumps int
this folder and can be retrieved.


Yooohooo, Dave!!!! This would really help. many of us have fat fingers that hit keys and then--
everything disappears and there is no way to get it back. Then I cry! All that typing I just did!!!! GONE!
Booooo----Hooooo---- Angry Confused Angry

Will try to re-do it tomorrow. Not now. Gita
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Feb 10, 2016 11:41 PM CST
Name: David Laderoute
Zone 5B/6 - NW MO (Zone 5b)
Ignoring Zones altogether
Seed Starter Avid Green Pages Reviewer Garden Ideas: Level 1
@5601Lisa - when you say "years old" how old are we talking? What exposure? Near a window? The plant does not look that bad to me either, nut it does not look like it is very old.
Seeking Feng Shui with my plants since 1976
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Feb 11, 2016 10:21 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Lisa Olson
Washington DC (Zone 7a)
The gardener who gave me the Clivia said she'd had it 2-3 years. Never bloomed. And the gardener who gave my friend the Clivia said she'd owned it 3-4 years before passing it along. Never bloomed for her either.
I'm willing to coddle the plant because It's cool looking. If it ever blooms.
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Feb 11, 2016 6:47 PM CST
Name: David Laderoute
Zone 5B/6 - NW MO (Zone 5b)
Ignoring Zones altogether
Seed Starter Avid Green Pages Reviewer Garden Ideas: Level 1
That does not look like a 7 YO Clivia.
Seeking Feng Shui with my plants since 1976
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Feb 11, 2016 9:19 PM CST
Name: Sally
central Maryland (Zone 7b)
See you in the funny papers!
Charter ATP Member Frogs and Toads Houseplants Keeper of Poultry Vegetable Grower Region: Maryland
Composter Native Plants and Wildflowers Organic Gardener Region: United States of America Cat Lover Birds
I totally agree David. Kind of mysterious. Anyway, I think we all agree, this looks healthy enough and just too young to bloom.
Plant it and they will come.
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Feb 11, 2016 9:53 PM CST
Name: Elaine
Sarasota, Fl
The one constant in life is change
Amaryllis Tropicals Multi-Region Gardener Orchids Master Gardener: Florida Irises
Herbs Region: Florida Vegetable Grower Daylilies Birds Cat Lover
Well, maybe not too young, but too small at least. Lisa I think coddling is exactly what that plant needs. Big lusty new growth of leaves should be forthcoming if you can make the plant happy and then it will bloom.

If it doesn't start putting up some healthy new growth this spring, I think I would investigate inside the pot to see what the potting soil in there looks like. These plants really don't like to be disturbed, so if you can carefully slip it out of the pot to take a look at the roots, without too much disruption that will be the best. There should be a pot full of fat, white roots under there.

I've been amending all my pots with a handful or two of alfalfa pellets (horse food) this last year and everything seems to benefit a lot from that addition. It's a great soil texture improvement, and boosts the micro-organisms in the system as well as supplying a little bit of slow-release nitrogen. Can smell a little bit like a stable for a few days after I do it, so wait until the plant is outside if you want to try this. You'll be able to find a shady spot outside for it for the summer, won't you?
Elaine

"Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm." –Winston Churchill
Last edited by dyzzypyxxy Feb 12, 2016 10:02 PM Icon for preview
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Feb 11, 2016 9:57 PM CST
Name: Sally
central Maryland (Zone 7b)
See you in the funny papers!
Charter ATP Member Frogs and Toads Houseplants Keeper of Poultry Vegetable Grower Region: Maryland
Composter Native Plants and Wildflowers Organic Gardener Region: United States of America Cat Lover Birds
I transition mine to morning sun on the deck.
Plant it and they will come.
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Feb 11, 2016 10:43 PM CST
Name: David Laderoute
Zone 5B/6 - NW MO (Zone 5b)
Ignoring Zones altogether
Seed Starter Avid Green Pages Reviewer Garden Ideas: Level 1
dyzzypyxxy said:
I've been amending all my pots with a handful or two of alfalfa pellets (horse food) this last year and everything seems to benefit a lot from that addition.


Do tell. Where do you get?
Seeking Feng Shui with my plants since 1976
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Feb 12, 2016 10:45 AM CST
Name: Elaine
Sarasota, Fl
The one constant in life is change
Amaryllis Tropicals Multi-Region Gardener Orchids Master Gardener: Florida Irises
Herbs Region: Florida Vegetable Grower Daylilies Birds Cat Lover
Your local feed store has it in 50lb. bags for about $16. Great stuff! I got the tip from the folks over on the Daylilies forum - they use it a lot for daylilies (obviously) but I've expanded since I don't have that many and had to buy 50lb. I'm sure you have enough plants to use up 50lb. David, but for those who don't you can also buy alfalfa as rabbit food at pet stores in smaller packages. It's a lot more expensive though. Be sure it's not full of additives - you want straight organic alfalfa pellets.

So far everything has responded beautifully. Latest experiment, just before the holidays I amended some perennial plantings out front that are near my Lychee tree, and would you believe the Lychee has put out gorgeous shiny new dark green leaves in the last month, despite the wierd weather.
Elaine

"Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm." –Winston Churchill
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Feb 12, 2016 6:00 PM CST
Name: David Laderoute
Zone 5B/6 - NW MO (Zone 5b)
Ignoring Zones altogether
Seed Starter Avid Green Pages Reviewer Garden Ideas: Level 1
I tip my hat to you. Thumbs up I will have to give it a go. And yeah - 50 # would be fine for me. nodding
I honestly had never heard of using it. But I learn something every day. Which is one of the reasons that I value this site so much.
Seeking Feng Shui with my plants since 1976
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Mar 31, 2016 8:34 PM CST
Name: oscar
beamsville Ontario canada (Zone 6a)
Bee Lover Region: Canadian Peonies Photo Contest Winner: 2017
Shields Garden. they have all the info on clivia
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Mar 31, 2016 9:33 PM CST
Name: Sandy B.
Ford River Twp, Michigan UP (Zone 4b)
(Zone 4b-maybe 5a)
Charter ATP Member Bee Lover Butterflies Birds I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
Seed Starter Vegetable Grower Greenhouse Region: United States of America Region: Michigan Enjoys or suffers cold winters
gitagal said:I just wrote a very long reply about my first time dividing a Clivia. A 30 year old Clivia!!
Really long post--which would have giving you some insight in to this endeavor.

Then my finger hit something by the "shift--control? keys and my whole post went POOF!

WHY can't ATP (or DG) have a "DRAFTS" feature where if interrupted--the whole Post jumps int
this folder and can be retrieved.


Yooohooo, Dave!!!! This would really help. many of us have fat fingers that hit keys and then--
everything disappears and there is no way to get it back. Then I cry! All that typing I just did!!!! GONE!
Booooo----Hooooo---- Angry Confused Angry

Will try to re-do it tomorrow. Not now. Gita


Gita, I know very well the frustration of hitting some wrong key that ends up deleting the whole post...

if that happens, before hitting any other key, do a CTRL-Z (control key plus the Z key) right away and it will often restore what was deleted. I hope this works for you; it's saved me a lot of mental anguish! Smiling
“Think occasionally of the suffering of which you spare yourself the sight." ~ Albert Schweitzer
C/F temp conversion
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