Clivia

[Deleted]

I have two Clivias, bought in flower a year or so apart, so I know they were OK to begin with. They still look perfectly healthy but both have developed the habit of flowering without stalks - the flowers appear right down in the leaves just above the soil level. What am I doing to make them both behave like this?

[beejay]

I don't really know what the answer is Thelemon. I have one, the common orange one, which flowers well every year. After flowering it gets put in the greenhouse where it stays until the flower buds form. The greenhouse is only kept frost free & i seem to recall that Clivias need A bit of cold before flowering so maybe that might have something to do with your stunted flowers?

I saw alovely lemon coloured one at Wisley last year.

[Deleted]

Maybe that's it. They stay in the house year round. We don't have a greenhouse, but perhaps I could try them by the window in the shed for a while. They will leave a gap in the dining room, however. Perhaps I need to go shopping...

[Deleted]

They are quite happy put outside after flowering provided they are not in direct sunlight. The leaves scorch very easily. Bring them in before the frosts or put in a cold GH until the flowers show.