Light: A Clivia Plant needs bright indirect light but no direct sun. Direct sun scorches the leaves and ruins the beautiful flowers. During the summer, a Clivia Plant loves to go outside as long as you keep it in the shade.

Water: Water a Clivia Plant well and then allow the top 50% of the soil to dry out before watering again. Clivia Plants prefer to be on the dry side. Pale green or orange lesions on the leaves indicate you are over-watering.

fertilizerPlants need fertilizer only when they are actively growing. Slow growing plants in low light require very little plant food. Too much fertilizer is worse than not enough. Most plants prefer a water soluble plant food at 1/2 the recommended strength. Plants that are in bloom or dormant should not be fertilized. Houseplant food contains nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). A fertilizer containing these elements in equal proportion is considered a balanced plant food. Nitrogen helps in photosynthesis and encourages the growth of leaves and stems. Potassium and phosphorus also help in photosynthesis and aid in root and flower development. Most fertilizers have trace elements of other minerals that are lacking in the soil but are necessary for good plant growth. Fertilizers have a high salt content. If a plant is not producing new leaves and doesn’t absorb the fertilizer, salts build up in the soil. These salts can burn the roots, discolor the leaves, and cause new growth to be small.  : Feed a Clivia Plant after it has finished blooming, usually in the early summer. Fertilize monthly, from July to October, with a balanced indoor plant food at 1/2 the recommended strength. Never fertilize your Clivia Plant during the fall and winter when it is resting.

Temperature: A Clivia Plant prefers temperatures between 65-70 degrees during the spring and early fall. From November to February, when your Clivia Plant is “resting” the temperature should be 50-55 degrees. A Clivia Plant does not do well in temperatures below 50 degrees.

Clivia Plants are very Poisonous HouseplantsIn her new book, Don’t Feed Me to Your Cat!, plant care professional Judy Feldstein shares information about twenty-five common houseplants, each with various levels of toxicity, and the possible consequences if your pet or child snacks on them.! You can read more about Clivias in the Popular HousePlant section of the website.