Re: dry shade/clivia
Lauw de Jager wrote:
>Dear Angela and Moira,
>You are quite right, but may I just add that Clivia does even better
>when it has some water during the summer period and is planted in soil
>with lots of organic matter (typical for wooded areas)
I have to agree with this - they are pretty drought tolerant, but
rarely give of their best when subjected to almost constantly dry
conditions at the root. When actively growing, Clivias thrive on
copious amounts of moisture and regular liquid feeds. It is during
the coolest months of the year that they prefer to be dry. Of course
they will tolerate dry shade at all times, but rarely do they perform
as well under such conditions.
A couple of years ago, I raised some seedlings from my plants and
these have remained out of doors - winter and summer, after their
first potting following germination. To confound everything that is
said about them, the seedlings have been subjected to full sun at all
times and have never shown any indication of scorch. In contrast, the
parent plants will not tolerate our summer sun and have to be placed
in fairly deep shade when out of doors. So far, the seedlings have
tolerated minus 3C without the remotest sign of damage and appear to
be remarkably hardy. Now, although I consider Strelitzia reginae and
nicolai to be just on the borderline for remaining out of doors
permanently here, I would never have believed that of Clivia miniata.
In a fit of excessive optimism, I allowed both Haemanthus albiflos and
Scadoxus (Haemanthus) multiflorus to remain out of doors a couple of
years ago. Both have overwintered exceptionally well and have not
been brought back inside since. Although they flower somewhat later
than when grown indoors, they perform with equal vigour.
Dave Poole
TORQUAY UK
(Remove ns_ before replying)
