🌱 Clivia miniata – Care Guide
Quick ID
Type: Evergreen, bulbous perennial
Size: 40–60 cm tall; spreads slowly into clumps
Highlight: Strap-like leaves with bright orange, red, or yellow trumpet flowers in winter to early spring
🌡 Temperature & Humidity
Temperature: Thrives in 10–28 °C.
Can handle light frost if roots are protected, but prefers frost-free conditions.
Normal household or garden humidity is fine.
💡 Light
Prefers bright, indirect light.
In gardens: plant under trees, in dappled shade, or east-facing beds.
Indoors: a bright room but avoid direct hot sun on the leaves.
💧 Watering
Growing season (spring–summer): Water well when soil surface dries.
Rest period (late autumn–winter): Water sparingly; just enough to keep roots from shriveling.
Overwatering in winter = root rot.
🌱 Soil & Potting
Needs a well-draining but rich mix:
50% high-quality potting soil
30% compost
20% coarse sand or perlite for drainage
In garden beds, amend soil with compost and ensure good drainage.
🍽 Feeding
During active growth, feed every 4–6 weeks with a balanced liquid fertilizer or slow-release pellets.
Switch to a high-potassium fertilizer in late summer to promote winter flowering.
🌸 Flowering
Flowering season: late winter to early spring.
For reliable blooms:
Provide a cool, dry rest in winter (8–12 weeks).
Avoid repotting too frequently — clivias bloom best when pot-bound.
✂ Maintenance
Remove spent flowers to prevent seed formation (unless collecting seeds).
Trim dead leaves at the base to keep the clump tidy.
Divide clumps only when overcrowded, ideally after flowering.
⚠ Common Problems
Symptom
Likely Cause
Solution
Yellowing leaves
Too much sun or nutrient deficiency
Move to dappled shade and feed
No flowers
No winter rest or too much nitrogen
Reduce water in winter; switch to high-K feed
Root rot
Overwatering or poor drainage
Repot with airy mix; trim rotted roots
Mealybugs or scale
Common pests in sheltered spots
Wipe with alcohol or treat with systemic insecticide
Propagation
Offsets: The easiest and fastest way — divide offsets when they have at least 4–5 leaves.
Seeds: Viable but slow — may take 3–5 years to flower.