I've never posted on this forum, but just have to post this.
My Clivia Miniata bloom stalk has opened this week, and it's just beautiful. I've had this plant for 7 years, and it blooms indoors every winter, then outdoors(in the shade) twice in the summer.
It's the most wonderful plant, and so easy to care for. Very undemanding.
I took a "pup" off it 3 or 4 years ago, and it is putting it's first bloom stalk up, now. So, I have a double treat, right now.
Hope you enjoy the pic:
Deanna
WOW..beautiful, that is my favourite colour. I have been tempted to try these plants, but am under the impression they are difficult? Maybe I should rethink this.....
LA
Deanna- how beautiful! this is one of my favorite plants. I bought my first one already in bloom last February. It does not have a bloom stalk yet. I have it in western exposure, in a cool microclimate. It's been watered once since Nov. I'll know soon enough if I've given it what it needs to re-bloom.
Deanna: What a Beautiful plant! I have always wanted to try one of the Clivia's but have been told it would not survive in my zone. I was told it is too warm a climate here in Florida. Do you know if it would survive inside in air conditioning? I would love to have one as a house plant ..... what type of light does it need? Does your plant have fragrance? It is really lovely and that color is Awesome!
Lin
p.s. Welcome to the House Plant Forum ... we hope you will come by and visit often!
Lin,
I can see no reason, whatsoever, that this plant wouldn't go nuts in your area. I believe the Clivia was discovered in S. Africa- further south than you live. I may be wrong about the exact country, but not the general vicinity,
I pulled "Clivia" up in Plant Files and here is a quote from a Florida neighbor of yours:
On Mar 15, 2003, IslandJim from Venice, FL wrote:
This is a "no sweat" plant here in southwest Florida. I'm growing the yellow one in a pot on the front patio, year around. I think it's attractive whether it's blooming or not--although I prefer blooming.
However, to answer one of your questions-it should do fine indoors in air conditioning. I kept mine indoors for the first couple years, because I was in such awe of it. Ha. It bloomed fine around end of Jan-Mar.1, but I didn't get those two flushes of summer blooms, like I do by having it outdoors (in the shade) all summer.
Blooms that pretty should have fragrance, shouldn't they? :-) But, alas, there is none-on mine, anyway.
On light requirements- not too much sun indoors, and next to no sun, outdoors. It actually does real well in a dark area of your home. The foliage is lush and lovely all year-no pests that I've ever seen. In low light, indoors, you do sacrifice blooms, tho.
Outdoors, they bloom great in shade. I also notice that they put on most of their growth, when they are outdoors in our summer heat-which, again, makes me wonder why it wouldn't be a wonderful plant for you.
Another bonus, the Clivia "pups" are not that difficult to separate from the mother. It will take 3-5 years for the "pup" to start blooming-on average.
The roots hold an amazing amount of water. Up here, the plant is somewhat dormant in winter, so I only water sparingly once a month or so, and keep it either in a West Window, or in close proximity to my plant lights-no fert. in winter.
Most indoor plants are considered Tropicals, and as such, like a period of dormancy, once a year. Winter is usually the best time to let it rest-i.e minimal water and no fertilizer.
Outdoors, in the summer, I water mine, when soil appears dry, and fert. on pretty much the same schedule as my annuals(altho, generally sporadically)
I hope you've read something in my rather lengthy response, that will encourage you to try a Clivia! I actually purchased mine at Lowes, for the unbelievable price of $15.00!! I couldn't grab that plant fast enough! LOL It was in a 6" pot, and I suspect the bloom was one of it's first-probally was a commercially grown 3 yr old. Of course, as we all know, commercially grown in a controlled enviroment produces earlier blooms than the home gardener can usually provide. That's why I say 3-5 years to bloom(from "pup", in your home conditions.
Deanna
Oh Deanna .... Thank you so very much for all this wonderful information on the 'Clivia'! I am going to google and try and find a source for this plant right now! I wish our Lowe's would carry these, but I've never seen them for sale ANYWHERE here in my area! And, as I said, I have always been told that it is too hot and humid in Florida for these beauties! I could keep it on my plant stand under lights in winter and out in my screened pool enclosure in the shade most of the year! I can't wait to find one of these Beautiful plants!
Thanks again for the great information!
Lin
Growhappy and threegardeners,
Forgive me for not replying to your posts! Thank you so much for your nice compliments.
tg, Fear no more, and please re-think this plant, as it is the easiest plant you will ever grow.
In fact, I would venture to say, they are so easy, you almost feel guilty when that beautiful bloom emerges!!LOL
GH, are you growing yours totally indoors? You might try outdoors, for the summer. Also, many don't bloom until another month or so- so you may just be overanxious! ha.
Do you notice any of the leaves looking a tad shriveled? I'm wandering if it might be a little thirsty. The experts (I'm certainly not one of THEM!!) suggest a cooler period for Clivias in winter for a couple months. Looks like you've done that. Have you thought about bringing it into a little more heat-might just throw it into bloom. Just a thought.
Deanna
Lin,
COOL! You made my day. You go, girl!
I've been in love with this plant, since I first saw one, in 1990- and made up my mind that someday I'd have one.
I was really discouraged, then, by the prices in seed and plant catalogs-and that was years before we had a computer-so just figured it would be out of my reach.
I hope you find one locally!
Deanna
I just searched on Google and the cost is way more than I imagined it would be .... so I am gonna wait awhile to aquire one of these beauties. They must not be very common plants to be so expensive!
Stokes Tropicals wants $79.95, $49.95 and $15.96 (for seedling). Another place: Ty Ty Gardens has seeds for $19.95 - with the cost of shipping (very expensive) since it's winter time, I think I will wait and ask at my local nursery if they can get one for me.
Thanks again Deanna for all the info and your lovely photo's!
Lin
Lin- if you have any thoughts of ordering from Ty Ty, please DON"T!!!!!! See GW Dog for detailed comments.
Deanna- Thank you, I will try growing my clivia outside this Summer and then bring her back in in the Fall. You've given me hope that she may send up a bloom stalk, given that I have another month or so. Hmmm.....:)))
All- I really love the yellow clivias. I will probably break down and order one from Logee's t his Spring. They sell seedlings in their 2nd year. If I could find a red one somewhere, I'd probably buy it. I had good luck germinating seeds of the orange variety last year. Easy and fun to watch!
GH,
I, too, am lusting after a yellow one. Any I have seen, so far, online seem to be a lot more expensive than my "common" one.
Good luck! And please post here, if you find one reasonably priced!
Thanks, Deanna
