Find out how to grow clivia to enjoy its vibrant blooms in your home or garden.
The flowers grow in clusters of 12 to 20.
The plant is also known as clivia lily, fire lily, bush lily, and natal lily.
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Clivia is toxic to humans and pets.
Heres what you better know about growing clivia.
Outdoors, clivia needs a location withshade or partial shade.
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Indoors, place the plant in an area that receives bright,indirect sunlight.
In average garden soil, clivia tends to develop root rot.
The plants grow best in containers filled with coarse, well-drained potting mix or an orchid mix.
Credit: Scott Little
Dig a hole slightly wider but at the same depth as the nursery pot.
Set the clivia at ground level with the surrounding soil.
Dont spread out the roots because the plant is sensitive to root disturbance.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
The roots are shallow, soapply mulcharound the plant to keep the soil moist and the roots cool.
In colder zones, plant clivia in a container.
Clivia Care Tips
Clivia plants are easy to care for when their basic needs are met.
Light
Clivia plants prosper in partial shade; they dont do well in direct sunlight.
Outdoors, a shady spot, or one that receives morning or dappled sunlight is best.
Soil and Water
Clivia thrives in chunky,well-draining soil.
Use a sandy succulent potting mix or orchid mix with shredded bark.
The plant fares well in acidic or neutral soil.
Clivia does best when the soil dries out before being watered again.
During the plant’s growing period of spring and summer, water it regularly after checking the soil.
In the winter, clivia goes dormant and needs less water.
Water minimally, just enough to avoid the soil becoming bone dry.
Provide the plant with ample time to adjust to being indoors, especially if theres a big temperature difference.
As a houseplant, clivia does just fine in the low humidity of the average home.
Dont fertilize the plants during their dormancy period in winter.
Pruning
Clivias dont need to be pruned.
For a clean and tidy look, remove any dead leaves.
Potting and Repotting
Clivias don’t need frequent repotting because they like being rootbound.
Use aterra-cotta containerto aid with air circulation and minimize root rot.
Pests and Problems
Clivias dont have many pests or issues.
Check the stems, undersides of leaves, and in between the leaves.
An infestation can spread quickly.
Remove mealybugs with a strong spray of water or wipe them away with insecticidal soap orneem oil.
Avoid overwatering or soggy soil, which may lead toroot rot, especially in a container.
How to Propagate Clivia
Propagating a clivia plant by division in the spring or summer is easy.
Dig up the plant or remove it from the pot.
Gently pull away the offsets from the base.
Each offset or new plant will have about three or four leaves.
Place the container in an area that receives bright, indirect light.
Youll know the plant has rooted when new leaves appear.
This beauty attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds and thrives in partial to full shade.
Golden Dragon
Clivia miniataGolden Dragon has beautiful yellow-gold flower clusters above dark green foliage.
The clusters are large and long-lasting, blooming from February through May.
In spring, the plant produces red berries.
Doris
Clivia miniataDoris bears clusters of stunning, trumpet-shaped, orange-red blooms with yellow throats.
The flowers are lightly scented, and the dark green foliage remains close to the ground.
Zones 210
Toad Lily
Toad lilybrings a touch of elegance to a shady garden.
This perennial blooms in fall when most other shade plants are finished for the season.
The attractive speckled flowers contrast beautifully with clivias dark green foliage.
The entire cluster is a show-stopper for about a month.
Clivia miniata is an easy-to-care-for plant, but it is for patient gardeners only.
This slow-grower takes two to five years to reach maturity and bloom.
After that, it should bloom every year.
“Clivia Lily.“ASPCA.
“North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension.
