Clivia is a genus that belongs to the Amaryllidaceae family, a subfamily of the Liliaceae family. These evergreen perennials grow clusters of trumpet-shaped flowers, and leaves that can reach up to 2 feet long. Clivias can be used as houseplants or as garden plants in frost-free areas. Native to South Africa, they're well suited to Sunset's Climate Zones H1, H2, 12 to 17, and zones 19 to 24. Even though clivias can be grown by root division, starting them from seed can be a rewarding experience.
Remove the soft, red-orange fruit coating from the seeds with your fingers.
Soak the clivia seeds overnight in a bowl of water.
Sterilize the seeds in a mixture of 1 part 3-percent hydrogen peroxide to 2 parts water. Dip the seeds in the solution and rinse them with water afterward.
Fill 3-inch diameter pots with moist, sterile seed-starting mix up to 1/2 inch from the top. Tamp the soil to level the surface. Sow one seed in the center of each pot. Lightly push the seeds halfway into the soil, so that part of remains above the soil. Cover the pots with plastic wrap to help promote soil moisture retention.
Place the pots in a warm area. Aim for a temperature of about 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep the soil moist with a water-filled spray bottle throughout the germination period. The seeds will germinate in about six to eight weeks.
Remove the plastic wrap after germination and place the pots near a window in indirect sunlight. Keep the seedlings at a temperature of about 60 degrees Fahrenheit once the first set of leaves appear.
Things You Will Need
- 3-percent hydrogen peroxide
- 3-inch diameter pots
- Plastic wrap
- Spray bottle
- When the plants outgrow their pots, transplant them to larger pots. Expect them to flower in three to four years.
- Apply a slow-released fertilizer according to packaging instructions, after the plants flower.
- Keeping the plants in containers is ideal -- during frost you can bring them inside and if needed, you can move them out of direct sunlight into a light-shaded area, which they prefer.
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