Learning about Clivias with the Garden Club
Plant in an area of light shade with dappled sun. The plants will do well under trees where the fallen leaves will act as natural mulch.
GUEST speaker Ray Topp addressed Johannesburg South Garden Club members at their April meeting, about Clivias, known as South Africa’s lily, and how to look after them.
“Clivias will perform well planted in the garden or in containers. So if you don’t have a garden you can still enjoy Clivias. The soil in both cases should be slightly acidic but, more importantly, must be well drained as Clivias don’t like wet feet. They will not do well in full sun, although they can tolerate some early morning sun. Plant in an area of light shade with dappled sun. The plants will do well under trees where the fallen leaves will act as natural mulch.
“They are best planted in the spring and early summer. Transplanting and splitting are, however, best done after the flowering season. For those plants in a pot, watch for roots growing out of the top, poor flowering and yellowing of leaves. If these symptoms are prevalent, it is time for a larger container,” said Ray.
Clivias will need to be at least three to four years old before producing their first blooms.
Keep a look out for the lily borer, a black caterpillar with yellow bands. They will tunnel into the leaves and burrow down into the core of the Clivia. They are voracious feeders and must be caught and eliminated early. They can appear any time from September to April, but are normally most active over November, December and January. Although not as destructive, aphids, thrips, red spider and white fly will cause a fair amount of damage in large numbers. Use a systemic insecticide as a preventative spray throughout the growing cycle.
Keep a watchful eye out for snails and slugs. The loose, cool and composted soil a Clivia enjoys is a haven for these pests to breed in. Apply a bait to prevent any large-scale damage.
“Clivias are one of the easiest plants to grow and if you plant all one colour, red, orange or yellow, they will make a beautiful show when flowering,” added Ray, who can be reached on 083 945 1645 for more information on Clivias.
The garden club held its meeting at the new venue, the Winning Hall, in Queenshaven, where they will continue to do so for both the Tuesday and Saturday morning meetings. For more information, phone Rob Winter on 011 682 2450.
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