| Clivias make excellent house plants, but, like amaryllis, are too costly to be very popular. They have the advantage over amaryllis of having attractive foliage all the year round, and are more certain to bloom well. They have thick, fleshy roots, like an agapanthus. All the species are well worth growing, because of their handsome umbels of flowers, produced during the spring and early summer months. Clivia miniata is the species most commonly grown. There are several distinct forms of this, with larger and deeper colored flowers. Established plants may be grown in the same pots for several years, if the plants are fed during the growing period with weak liquid manure. In potting, the soil given should be of a lasting nature, not easily soured, nor likely to become sodden. In arranging the drainage, place one large piece, concave side down, over the hole, and around this arrange several smaller pieces. Over these place one or two handfuls of pieces small enough to go through a No. 2 sieve. The best time to pot is after the flowers have been produced. The plants should then be kept for some time in a humid atmosphere to encourage growth, receiving an abundance of water after they are well started. After growth has been completed, they will winter safely in an ordinary greenhouse temperature (not under 40°), if kept rather dry at the root. For propagation, choose old plants which have become crowded in their pots, so that the entire plant can be pulled to pieces. After trimming the roots, put the growths in small pots and keep in heat, to encourage root action. Clivias are well suited for planting permanently in the front part of greenhouse borders. The soil for this purpose should be rich and well firmed about the roots. Withhold water as much as possible during the resting period, or the plants will produce leaves at the expense of the flowers. (G. W. Oliver.) | | Clivias make excellent house plants, but, like amaryllis, are too costly to be very popular. They have the advantage over amaryllis of having attractive foliage all the year round, and are more certain to bloom well. They have thick, fleshy roots, like an agapanthus. All the species are well worth growing, because of their handsome umbels of flowers, produced during the spring and early summer months. Clivia miniata is the species most commonly grown. There are several distinct forms of this, with larger and deeper colored flowers. Established plants may be grown in the same pots for several years, if the plants are fed during the growing period with weak liquid manure. In potting, the soil given should be of a lasting nature, not easily soured, nor likely to become sodden. In arranging the drainage, place one large piece, concave side down, over the hole, and around this arrange several smaller pieces. Over these place one or two handfuls of pieces small enough to go through a No. 2 sieve. The best time to pot is after the flowers have been produced. The plants should then be kept for some time in a humid atmosphere to encourage growth, receiving an abundance of water after they are well started. After growth has been completed, they will winter safely in an ordinary greenhouse temperature (not under 40°), if kept rather dry at the root. For propagation, choose old plants which have become crowded in their pots, so that the entire plant can be pulled to pieces. After trimming the roots, put the growths in small pots and keep in heat, to encourage root action. Clivias are well suited for planting permanently in the front part of greenhouse borders. The soil for this purpose should be rich and well firmed about the roots. Withhold water as much as possible during the resting period, or the plants will produce leaves at the expense of the flowers. (G. W. Oliver.) |