Page 29 - Silver Lakes_Issue 9_2022

GARDENING

CLIVIA, QUEEN OF SPRING

Clivias are one of South Africa’s indigenous super stunners and have become quite the collector’s dream.

By Elize Malan

pring is well-known for the Clivia These hybrids are the result of hand- of flowers per head, leaf shape, etc. – and
flowers that grow in abundance in pollinated flowers for seed production. Their select your parent plants that have these.
Sshady spots. large flowers make them easy to pollinate There are numerous videos available on
(perfect for novice plant breeders!), and the YouTube explaining how to hand pollinate
The recent Clivia Flower Show that seed is large and easy to handle. The only Clivia flowers.
took place at a well-known nursery is drawback is that they are slow-growing,
an excellent example of the exquisite taking on average three to four years to The seeds are enclosed in a fleshy pulp and
hybrid colours of Clivia that are available. flower from seed. take several months to mature. Seeds can be
Orange is the original dominant colour, harvested when the berries are still green. If
but new hybrids come in a spectrum You can use the pollen of the same flower left on the plant, the berries containing the
from red (deep orange) to all shades and to pollinate it. However, if two different seeds will soften and colour up red or yellow
combinations of peach, yellow and green, plants are used, both sets of genes are after about 10 months. They can remain on
up to the palest cream. mixed, resulting in a better seed set and the plant for up to two years.
more vigorous seedlings which combine
A colour mutation is a genetic variation in characteristics of each parent. After picking your berries, remove the
a Clivia miniata which can be reproduced outer pulp and clean the seed by washing
through sexual reproduction, whereas a If you want to try hybridising, look for the it in a fungicide or dishwashing liquid. Let
colour pattern is the colour distribution plant/flower characteristics that appeal to it dry for about a week. Different growth
on a Clivia miniata flower. you – such as colour, flower shape, number mediums can be used – for example, two-
litre plastic ice-cream containers – with
the seed placed between moist paper-
towelling. Keep the container in a warm
spot, not in direct sunlight. The seed should
germinate anywhere between five and 20
days, showing a white root but no leaves.

The germinated seeds are now ready for
planting into black plastic plant bags or pots
about 20cm deep. A deep bag is needed due
to the excessively fast growth of the roots.

If you find the above too time-consuming,
scatter the seed on the ground in a moist,
shady place in the garden and leave to
germinate.

Growing Clivias from seed is slow-going, but
the results can be spectacular.

Tel: 012 804 1807
Fax: 012 804 0278
Web: www.garden-group.co.za
Email: admin@garden-group.co.za

INTRAMUROS OCTOBER 2022 | 27