If you enjoy growing indoor plants as much as I do, you’re always on the lookout for something you would love to have that you know will arrive at a local store soon enough, reasonably priced. (This scenario requires patience - and dumb luck). Or you’re hoping that something you would love to grow that is never available locally will miraculously appear at a local garden center (within the next five years) and be very inexpensive. (This scenario requires a lot of prayer; if you get in good with the plant Gods, they might make it happen). But you’re also hoping that a plant that is available occasionally will finally go on sale because whenever it arrives at a greenhouse near you, it’s priced higher than your budget allows. In this last scenario, the plant you desire may not always be available for purchase but it does arrive once or twice a year. And the only thing keeping the two of you apart is the ridiculous price tag. (This scenario involves a wish list)

What if the price wasn’t yours to worry about? What if you just added the overpriced plant in scenario three to your wish list for Christmas, Valentines, an Anniversary, your Birthday or some other special occasion? What if someone just picked it up for you and didn’t care about the price because it’s a gift for someone else and not the umpteenth purchase in their already overgrown collection?

Now imagine if someone came up to you right now, at this very minute, and asked what plant you want this upcoming Christmas. Whatever you want. Yes, yes, anything. Forget about the price, just pick one. What would you ask (beg) for? Think about a plant you’ve seen recently at a local garden center or greenhouse, a plant that you wouldn’t hesitate to bring home if only the darned thing was better priced. Yes, that one! Now, don’t be shy. Go ahead and say what’s on your mind! Yell out the name of that plant.

Louder, so someone you know will hear you!

“I WANT A CLIVIA”

Oh [blush] that was my voice...

Alright, so that’s one of the plants I’d like to finally get a chance to grow. It’s not the most spectacular one I’ve ever seen, or anything rare, but I do find it very appealing. Just not enough to pay a hefty amount for. It’ll just have to wait.

Well, since we’re all here together, let’s learn a little about this flowering beauty.


Clivia - Simple Yet Elegant

Native to South Africa, a Clivia Miniata (the most common Clivia) is the perfect plant if you’re searching for something different. Clivia, beautiful as a foliage and flowering plant, is a member of the Amaryllidaceae family, and close relatives to the very popular Hippeastrum (Amaryllis flowering bulb). This clump-forming perennial with shiny, dark green, strap-shaped leaves that can grow up to two feet long produces lily-shaped blooms on stout stems in early spring. The most commonly-available flower shade in local garden centers is bright orange, but there are also varieties available in yellow, pink and salmon.

Make sure you to use an airy, fast-draining medium for this plant that hates being potted in soil to begin with. A potting mix that is too dense will suffocate the roots and inevitably lead to rot. During the active growing season, spring through late summer, keep the plant evenly moist; allow the medium to dry out only slightly between applications. Gradually reduce watering when autumn arrives, the season when the plant is headed towards its much-needed winter rest. During the dormancy period, withhold water. Check your plant regularly while it is being kept dry, and add a scant of water (just enough to slightly moisten the soil) if the plant is showing signs of wilting. Resume normal watering after the winter rest.

A Clivia needs plenty of light to bloom. Place it in a very bright location where it can receive indirect sunshine; always protect it against the strong, midday rays of the spring and summer months. A little direct sunlight that is not too intense, such as the morning rays of an eastern location, can be handled. Summer can be spent outdoors in a shady location. When the fall season arrives, bring the plant back inside before the first frost, place it in a cool room and reduce watering to encourage the plant to rest.

From March to September feed monthly to encourage healthy growth and subsequent flower production. Clivias do not like their root system to be disturbed and are much more content when they are pot bound. Do not move the plant into a larger pot until it’s ready to burst out of its container. It is perfectly normal for fleshy roots to push their way up above the potting mix; don’t rush to repot if you experience this with your plant.


Flower Power

Clivias are relatively easy to grow and demand very little attention, but the few needs that they have must be carried out properly. If they’re not, the plant will not thrive nor will it bloom annually. These plants were not meant to be grown in warm rooms year round or forced to continue growing through their dormancy period. They have a strict annual cycle that includes a cool period that must be followed diligently to encourage flower production.

In late October or early November, a Clivia needs to be moved to a cool location where the temperature remains steady at about 10°C (50°F) for eight to twelve weeks. Choose a spot that is bright but shady; do not expose the plant to sun during this period. With the cooler temperatures, dormancy will set in and the plant will stop growing. Keep the soil dry during this period. Reduce watering to a bare minimum, and try to eliminate it completely if possible. Add just a small amount if the plant shows signs of wilting.

When a flower stalk begins to emerge, move the plant to a warmer location and resume normal watering habits.

The resting period is very important for vigorous growth and healthy blooms. If a Clivia does not experience this vital part of its annual cycle in full force, the flower stalk may not appear at all, or it may be underdeveloped, leaving the cluster of blooms compressed between the leaves near the base of the plant. Flower development may also be compromised if the plant is grown in poor lighting.


A Clivia may not be the most exotic plant on earth, and certainly not impossible to find, but it has a simple elegance about it that earns it a spot in any home or office. If you’re looking for something different, grow a Clivia.


Like many other houseplant enthusiasts, I have an ever-growing wish list filled with rare, common, expensive and affordable specimens. A couple of plants that I’d love to get an opportunity to grow, which I’ve never seen for sale locally, are Cocos Nucifera (Coconut Palm) and Aechmea Chantinii Hybrid (Silver Urn Plant). And I’d certainly take just about any Orchid or broad-leaved Philodendron. With enough holidays in the year, I figure most (if not all) my wish list favourites can easily be covered. All my family members or friends need to do is ask and I’ll be happy to oblige.

Of course, letting me loose in a local greenhouse with a generous gift certificate will do just fine. I can live with that.

Hmmm, let’s see…Christmas is just around the corner, and then it’s my birthday, followed by Valentine’s Day...

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