Find out how to farm clivia to enjoy its vibrant blooms in your home or garden .

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Clivia is a tropic perennial whose vivacious orangish , yellow , or pink flowers resemble those of anamaryllisbutare much smaller . The flowers produce in clusters of 12 to 20 . The plant is also know as clivia lily , ardor lily , bush lily , and natal lily .

clivia

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This South African aboriginal is most often raise as a houseplant in the United States because it does n’t tolerate verbatim sunlight or frost . Clivia is toxic to humans and pets .

Here ’s what you need to make love about farm clivia .

Where to Plant Clivia

If you live inUSDA Zones 9 - 11 , you may mature clivia outdoors year - orotund . If your climate is too inhuman for clivia , grow it in a container and move it indoors before thefirst frost in the twilight .

Outdoors , clivia need a location withshade or fond shade . Indoors , place the plant in an area that receives bright , collateral sun .

In fair garden soil , clivia tends to grow stem rot . The plants grow best in container filled with vulgar , well - debilitate potting mixture or an orchid mix .

pink cranesbill perennial geranium blooms

Credit: Marty Baldwin

How and When to Plant Clivia

The best time to plant clivia in the garden is natural spring or summertime . Outdoors , plant it in a spot that has well - drain filth and receives dappled shadiness , such as under a tree diagram .

grok a hole slightly wider but at the same depth as the nursery pot . Set the clivia at ground degree with the surrounding stain . Do n’t spread out the ascendant because the plant is sensitive to root disturbance . The roots are shallow , soapply mulcharound the industrial plant to keep the soil moist and the roots cool .

In colder geographical zone , works clivia in a container .

mint mentha spicata

Credit: Scott Little

Clivia Care Tips

Clivia plants are easy to care for when their basic indigence are met .

Light

Clivia plants prosper in fond nicety ; they do n’t do well in direct sunshine . Outdoors , a shady spot , or one that receives cockcrow or dappled sunlight is proficient .

If you grow clivia as a houseplant , place it in a window with shiny , collateral sunshine , such as a north- or E - look windowpane . Do not put it directly in a south- or west - face windowpane but about 5 feet from the window so the plant receives smart , indirect sunlight .

Soil and Water

Clivia thrives in chunky , well - enfeeble dirt . employ a sandlike succulent potting mixing or orchid mix with shredded barque . The plant life fares well in acidic or impersonal soil .

Clivia does better when the soil dry out before being water again . During the industrial plant ’s growing full stop of spring and summer , body of water it regularly after ascertain the soil .

In the winter , clivia go torpid and call for less water . Water minimally , just enough to avoid the soil becoming bone dry .

White Towers toad lily

Credit: Peter Krumhardt

Temperature and Humidity

Clivia does not brook frost and must be brought indoors before the first declivity frost . Provide the plant with ample time to aline to being indoors , especially if there ’s a bounteous temperature difference .

As a houseplant , clivia does just ticket in the blue humidity of the average house .

Fertilizer

During the growing time of year , fertilize clivias monthly with awater - soluble or slow - tone ending plant food , such as 20 - 20 - 20 , diluted to half lastingness , following the parcel focusing .

Do n’t fertilize the plant during their dormancy period in winter .

Pruning

Clivias do n’t demand to be pruned . For a clean and tidy feel , remove any dead leaves .

Potting and Repotting

Clivias do n’t call for frequent repotting because they wish being rootbound . Use aterra - cotta containerto assistance with air circulation and minimize root rot .

Instead of set a saucer under the pot to catch superfluous water , use weed invertebrate foot so the urine run out off rather than pool around the roots .

Pests and Problems

Clivias do n’t have many pests or issue . Be on the lookout formealybugs — tiny , fuzzed insect that suck on the leaves , halt , and flowers and leave a sticky residue . break the stems , undersurface of leaf , and in between the leaves . An plague can distribute promptly . polish off mealy bug with a strong sprayer of water supply or wipe them away with insecticidal soap orneem rock oil .

void overwatering or sloughy soil , which may lead toroot hogwash , especially in a container .

How to Propagate Clivia

Propagating a clivia plant by division in the spring or summertime is easy . expect until the plant is mature and grow offsets or new plant around the base , unremarkably when it is three to four long time honest-to-god .

Dig up the plant or polish off it from the pot . apply a hosiery or the sprayer in your sink to cautiously transfer the grease from the antecedent without damaging them . Gently pull away the offsets from the base . Each outgrowth or new plant life will have about three or four leaves .

Place each newfangled plant into a container that is enceinte enough to fit the root with 1 to 2 inches of extra space for increment .

locate the container in an sphere that receive bright , indirect luminosity .   You ’ll know the plant has rooted when new leaves look .

Types of Clivia

There are many cultivars ofClivia miniata , include :

‘Longwood Sunrise’

Clivia miniata‘Longwood Sunrise ’ has showy orange blossoms with a lovesome yellow center . This beauty attract bee , butterfly , and hummingbird and thrives in partial to full tone .

‘Golden Dragon’

Clivia miniata‘Golden Dragon ’ has beautiful yellow - amber bloom clusters above dark dark-green leaf . The cluster are large and long - lasting , flower from February through May . In spring , the plant farm red Berry .

‘Doris’

Clivia miniata‘Doris ’ bears clusters of sensational , trumpet - form , orangish - red bloom with yellow throats . The bloom are thinly perfumed , and the dark green foliage remains nigh to the footing .

‘Red Peony’

Clivia miniata‘Red Peony ’ is a rare twice - flowered clivia that bears red - orange clump of striking twofold blooms .

Clivia Companion Plants

The best fellow traveler plants for clivia are those that also have a preference for fond nuance .

Keep in mind that in a climate where clivia is not winter - hardy ( below USDA Zone 9 ) , it should be grow in a pot and brought indoors before the first fall Robert Lee Frost .

Perennial Geranium

Coming in a huge range of shapes , color , and size , recurrent geraniums , also called cranesbill geranium , are beautiful garden plants that pair well with clivia . The plants are poor — usually less than 12 inches , although some varieties reach 18 inches — and they flourish in partial tone . Zones 3–9

Mint

The dark green leaves of clivia ferment well with the foliage ofmint , a multipurpose herbaceous plant for partial tincture . It raise tall over a season , but dress the works for a passel julep , afternoon tea , or attractive garnish keeps it at a manageable size . Zones 2–10

Toad Lily

Toad lilybrings a touch of elegance to a shady garden . This repeated blooms in fall when most other nuance plant are wind up for the season . The attractive specked blossom contrast attractively with clivia ’s dark green foliage . Zones 5–9

Frequently Asked Questions

Count on your clivia blossom at least twice a year , usually in very early spring , then again in the summertime , and if you are favourable , a third time in the fall .

Each individual flush in a clivia cluster lasts only a few days , but new flowers in the cluster continue to open up . The entire bunch is a show - stopper for about a calendar month .

Clivia miniata is an well-heeled - to - care - for plant , but it is for patient gardener only . This slow - grower takes two to five twelvemonth to reach maturity and bloom . After that , it should bloom every year .

" Clivia Lily . “ASPCA .

" Clivia miniata . “North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension .