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Clivia wintering period

Joshua Morgan (Zone 5)

6 years ago

Hello all! New here, but a big houseplant aficionado :) anyhow, I am interested in getting a Clivia, but their need for a cooling period in fall to induce winter/spring blooms intimidates me. Can I put the clivia in the fridge at night and open the window on cool days? Any other ideas? Thank you :)

Featured Answer

rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7

6 years ago

If you read up on clivia and their rest period, you'll see that they require a dry period, but not as cold as a fridge. You don't want to damage the plant, and most modern fridges can be very drying. I'm also not sure that the daily fluxuation in twmperature would be a good thing.

The tricky part is to allow the plant to really dry out without letting it become desiccated and overly wilted. Do you have a bright, unheated room that can be kept at around 50 F for 3-4 months?

It's been years since I grew clivia....I'll bet that others will have some ideas for you.

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Comments (8)

floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
6 years ago
Mine just lives in an unheated glazed porch in winter and outside in the summer. It never goes dormant but it does flower.
Joshua Morgan (Zone 5) thanked floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
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Kasima, Enjoyed hearing from you regarding the Clivia. What I have been doing with the plant is following a schedule that I have from a site I found when I purchased the plant. The site says to only water the plant after the rest period. Do not give it any water while it is resting from October until April. Then you give it water as needed until it runs out of the bottom of the pot. It says that if you don't give it water during this period, the roots will stay at the top of the plant and you don't want them to do that but grow to the bottom of the container so I have a water meter and give it water when the meter reads dry. I am to stop using fertilizer after mid-September and after the end of October, it goes into the rest period, no water, fertilizer, just leave it alone until April. These are the rules I have been following. It didn't bloom during the bloom period but that does not concern me right now. I have not lost any more leaves and instead of pulling off the ones that were turning brown, I just cut away the brown portion and they look ok. One thing I noticed cutting into a leaf is there is a syrupy fluid that comes out of the leaf that is messy. One positive thing is the plant is growing new clumps of leaves all over in the pot. Noel
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Msbumble..Remove the bag ASAP...Although Clivias go dormant during winter, they still need light.. I believe you got confused when you heard they need to rest/dormancy with other plants like Poinsettias, Amaryllis and Kalanchoes. Clivias are in the Amaryllis family, but unlike Amaryllis, (that requires 6-8 weeks of total darkness to flower,) Clivias need some light. First, how old is your Clivia? They start blooming approximately 7-yrs-old. Roots need to fill the pot, (rootbound,) before they flower. I notice, when I repot my Clivia, the following year they either bloom very little or don't bloom, period. They need a balanced fertilizer during growing period. 'I stop feeding my Clives in Aug/early Sept.' They do fine in an east window..Cool temps. 65F is perfect. Soil should dry thoroughly..If you have any doubt, insert a finger deep in the soil..if it comes out moist, refrain from water..On the other hand if soil is bone dry/cracked, give a drink in the morning. A sunny day is best. Do not fertilizer.. Clivias start blooming anytime between late Feb until July. Once buds form, place in brighter light, and water more, but never let soil stay continuouslyy wet. They enjoy summer outdoors in a shady area. As Clivia matures, you'll see more flowers. Good luck, Toni
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gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
6 years ago
LIke floral, mine are outside all summer and winter indoors under very normal household conditions and bloom every year. In winter I water when I remember.....not very often :-) Never knew there was any sort of 'rest' required or period to withhold water.

It was 85F last week so still have to bring mine in. But fall is really and truly setting in this week so that will be in the next few days with the rest of my vacationing houseplants.
Joshua Morgan (Zone 5) thanked gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
Joshua Morgan (Zone 5)
Original Author
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
So...I can skip the low temp bit so long as I still reduce the water? Sadly, I have no such room that I can keep at 50 without killing something else...lots of aquariums and less cold tolerant houseplants everywhere.
rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
It's different than many plants that need a 'rest' in that we don't want the green clivia foliage to wilt away and die. I had mine in an unheated sun room, too. I wouldn't have a good spot in this house.

Joshua, gardengal's advice should be of interest to you. Also, there are numerous articles online if you Google 'care of Clivia'. I'd suggest that you read several! That way, you'll come up with a good average of opinions, besides the good stuff you'll from us!
Joshua Morgan (Zone 5)
Original Author
6 years ago
OK. Guess no clivias for me...can I at least keep dormant amaryllis or south african bulbs in a fridge?
rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
6 years ago
What do you mean by south african bulbs? I'm not sure that anything from that part of the world would need a refrigerated rest period. Amaryllis don't.

You can find out detailed information by looking up the plants you're interested in online. I use Google for most of my research.

Bulbs that do need a cold period include tulips, hyacinth, crocus, daffodils, and others common to cold temperate locations.
floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
6 years ago
Joshua, why make things more complicated than need be? Look again at what gardengal said. A Clivia can be kept in a normal room in winter. You seem keen to but something in the fridge but it isn't necessary unless you live somewhere with warm winters and want to grow bulbs from places with cold winters. You live in z5 so you could probably just put potted bulbs in a shed or garage. As suggested by others research each bulb you are interested in growing rather than looking for a one size fits all rule. Btw Clivia isn't a bulb. It has thick fleshy roots.

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