Guest speaker Peter Haeusler spoke to members about clivias. Native to South Africa, they were discovered in 1813 when James Bowie took plants to Kew Gardens, England. They are now cultivated worldwide.
Peter discussed the variety of flower forms and colour variation, while showing photos of clivias, some from his own garden. He explained that he likes to propagate new varieties of plants, and is one of about a thousand people world-wide in a race to be the first to develop a black clivia.
Cultivation:
Shade loving, water-wise, hardy, low maintenance, versatile. Ideal understory planting to trees and large shrubs. Effective in mass planting, may be left to form large clumps.
Clivias like well drained, aerated soils, in a sheltered position. Build garden beds up with compost, adding mulch from fallen leaves.
For pots and tubs, use a mix of orchid mix and a good quality potting mix.
Watering less is better, fortnightly in warmer weather, less often, if at all in winter.
Fertilise:
In spring, blood & bone, dynamic lifter and occasional spray of organic fertiliser. In late summer and autumn add liquid potash to boost flower development. Do not over fertilise.
For plants in pots and tubs, annual application of slow release osmocote.
There is ever increasing diversity in clivias today, in plant and leaf size. In flower form and colour.
Variegation – striata:
Choose greener leaves over variegated leaves as the later can turn brown due to less chloroform.
Variegation forms:
- Akebono, moulded leaves, very smooth
- Light of Buddha
- Tiger bands across the leaf
Flower Forms:
Basic distinction, upward facing flowers. Other species have narrow, tubular, trumpet, tulip, recurved, reflexed petal forms.
Colours & Patterns:
Oranges & Reds, Pastels & Pinks, Yellows & Greens (white with green throats), Peaches (Broad leaves, strong hardy plants) Bronzes & green throats (varies from cinnamon to bronze to burnt red)
Pests & Diseases:
Very hardy fungus resistant plants. If brown spots occur on leaves remove and destroy. In the case of mealy bug, spray with 3 applications of confidor. For an organic choice, spray with soapy water.
Clivias are slow to grow when first propagated, will take about 4 years to flower. After flowering cut spent flower spikes off in dry weather, to prevent water entering the plant and causing damage.
Peter donated a potted peach clivia to raffle.
Peter Haeusler - Specialty Clivias
m 0447 360 524
