The description said it was more prone to rot than the more commonly available
Clivia. And that it would bloom in two to three years. Neither scared me. I wanted color in the winter and I was willing to take a chance on failure to get it. My challenge was to keep my newly-acquired
Clivia nobilis alive for two years with a long-term incentive, a prospect not common in most houseplants.
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On October 30, after summering outdoors, the Clivia takes up a spot near a south-facing window. It was later moved to a bright location in the living room with no direct sun. |
I took the warning about excellent drainage to heart, planting the root and fan in a mixture of
Turface, extra
vermiculite and potting soil, with a sprinkling of
orchid mix.
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By Jan. 29 the bud became obvious. |
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February 8. |
Eight months after planting it, the extreme reward arrived in a flower stalk. By late January, I knew I'd succeeded in at least nudging it into bloom - a year early at that!
Perhaps it was its summering outdoors that pushed it to maturity. Depending on the heat and impending rains, I moved the pot back and forth from under the shelter of the overhang on the patio to the shade of taller plants so it could catch a bit of rain if the soil was dry. I move all of my plants outdoors in summer; otherwise I'm afraid they'd die of neglect.
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Feb. 19 |
Our summers' humidity and my garden's shady nooks made it perfect for this African native. My wonderfully-premature
Clivia has been in bloom for a couple of weeks and I'm enjoying its color transition from yellow buds to orange.
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Feb. 28 |
According to Grassy Knoll Plants, which is where I purchased this Clivia, the 3 year old plants are 2-3 years from blooming.
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March 4. |
Check out Grassy Knoll Plants and you'll fall in love with all of the
Passifloras and
Proteas. They also have a good selection of unusual succulents. Watch for the daily special and sale prices and order early for the best selection. I was happy with the plants I received.
Whether I got lucky and gave the plant all it needed to zoom into bloom in nine months, or if I was sent a plant more mature than three years, I am happy to say Clivia nobilis can be left in a bright spot and pretty much ignored during early winter. Take a look at it once in awhile and bring it into a sunnier eastern exposure when you see a flower bud.
Color in March is a beautiful thing, especially when there is still a foot of snow on the ground.
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