CliviaNet___________
     for clivia lovers around the World

We often hear complaints that "my Clivia won't bloom!" This is no longer a mystery. The details have been worked out and were published. Here is the gist of it:

First of all, clivia plants must reach a size large enough to support formation of a bloom scape. Until then, there is probably nothing one can do to induce it to bloom. For seedlings, we usually say that this is when it has 12 or 13 leaves.

Once large enough, Clivia miniata and its hybrids require a period of chilling at about 50°F [Temperature conversion] for three to four weeks to initiate bloom. Without this, even the largest clivia plant is not likely to bloom.

After the period of chilling, the plant must be returned to a warmer temperature situation for the bloom scape to develop. At least 60°F but less than ca. 75°F is probably the best temperature range for this.

If the temperatures become too warm, Clivia miniata hybrids grown indoors tend to suffer from too short a scape (bloom stalk). That is, the flowers develop and open down in the neck of the plant, among the leaf bases. There are several possible remedies for this, any one of which might or might not work.

These include:

• Move to less bright light
• Move to somewhat cooler temperatures
• Feed the plant with dilute soluble fertilizer solution

Good luck with your clivias!