| I have a clivia that for a while the flower stem came up before the blooms open, but the last couple of time it's bloomed, I find the flowers are opening and the stem has not grown yet out of the bottom. It stays between the leaves. |
| Clivia is related to Amaryllis, and both have an active growth phase and a resting phase. While the plant is resting, new flower spikes are being formed deep within the shoots. If exposed to too much heat and given too much water, there is a chance that the spikes will be aborted or deformed for that year. There are two schools of thought about clivia, and I have seen gardeners succeed with them both ways. Some place the plant in a fairly cool (not freezing) area and withhold water for a few months during the fall, then bring the plant into normal household temperatures to restart it into active growth. Others maintain the plant in active growth with plenty of water all year, but ensure that it receives somewhat cooler temperatures in the fall in order to initiate buds. (You will find that the cooler the plant is kept, the less watering it needs.) Generally speaking clivia does better with average to cool household daytime temperatures and prefers somewhat cooler nights; what you decide to do may depend on what type of conditions you have to offer the plant. Good luck with your clivia! |
