HARDY POT PLANT

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 690, 15 June 1929, Page 30

HARDY POT PLANT

The named varieties of clivia mini-! ata are among the most beautiful and j easily-grown of greenhouse and room plants. Even when not in flower, clivia is a splendid foliage plant lor; rooms. It stands the varied eondi- j tions almost as well as aspidistra or parlour palm. Its thick, wide, straplike leaves, rich, dark green in colour, which provide a glossy surface, are easily cleaned of dust with a dry rag, and sponged once a week withl tepid water. Plants thrive best in a ; sunny window, but do quite well on

tables in a room. When one has several plants, it is worth while chang- j ing them round in turn, so that each | has a share of the best positions. Clivias are increased readily by i division of the clumps of growths, by offsets and by seeds. The best time | to divide ' plants is after flowering, usually during May or early in June. Offsets may be taken off between March and August. This is the easiest method of increase, as the growths or offsets are partially separated from the parent plant and can oe removed with an old table knife without disturbing the parent. The bulk of the compost for potting should consist of fibrous, turfy loam, with a little leafmould and peat added, if available, also rotted manure or hop manure, and plenty of coarse grit or sand.

Repot when required after flowering. Do not pot clivias more than once in three or four years, except in the case of young plants. They flower much better when left undisturbed for several years, feeding them with

guano, cow manure, fertiliser and soot water.