Repotting or Planting Bareroot Clivia

When your clivia's roots decide to take a road trip, you feel it's time to move your clivia to a larger pot, or you just got a new plant shipped bare root to you, here are a few suggestions on how to repot.

First unpot you plant, it might be harder than you think if it's really root bound, but take your time and if you have to break or cut the pot, to release the roots, don't feel bad, you won't be the first that had to do so. Once you have the plant freed from the pot, carefully untangle the roots and free as much of the old potting soil as is possible. Check for any broken roots or rot on any of the roots. If there is rot, make a cut taking an inch of the unrotted portion of the root with the rotted portion and discard it. If you had to remove a substantial amount of rotted roots then a dip in Consan 20, or the sterilizing solution you like to use. Follow directions on the label. If I am out of Consan 20, I mix 1/2 tablespoon of laundry liquid bleach, such as Clorox, in one gallon of water and place the plant so the roots are in a bowl (careful not to get leaves in the solution) and let them soak for 10 minutes. Remove after the proper time for whatever product you used and rinse in distilled water. If you had to trim the roots or had several broken ones, then set the plant out of direct sunlight and not in freezing weather and let it air dry for an hour or two, if you did not have any of those problems, then instead of the air drying period, just move forward with the potting process instead. (If you just got a bare root plant, look at the roots, if they look like they are flattening out or dehydrated then soak just the roots in water for several hours, until the roots plump up a bit (add a few drops of SuperThrive or similar product if you like to the soaking water). Pick a pot that is at least a couple inches larger in diameter than the pot the plant came out of, if it's a new plant then pick a pot size the root mass will comfortably fit and still have a little growing room left. Use a proper fast draining potting mix that is just barely moist ( this means if you were to scoop up a large handful of the mix and squeeze as hard as you can, you can't extract a drop of water from it) and fill at least the bottom quarter of the pot with the mix. Then add a little more mix and make a mound in the middle of the potting soil you just added. The mound will help you spread the roots of the plant out evenly and help you keep from getting a large air pocket beneath the plant that will cause it to settle below the surrounding soil line, thus leading to possible rot problems. Once the roots are spread start adding potting mix to the pot and gently tuck it between the roots while holding or having someone else hold the plant in the desired upright, centered position. Add potting mix to just barely covering the roots where they meet the main stem (trunk) of the plant. If there is any question as to what level that is, it's better to plant the main part of the plant too high than to plant it too deep, as rot could occur more easily than normal if the plant is over watered. Firm you mix around the plant just enough so it stays in the position you wanted when released. Move your pot to a very shaded area for a few days and don't water it further until the potting mix is pretty dry. After several days you should be able to move it to a location with more indirect sunlight, check by holding your hand up between the source of sun or light and the plant, there should be no heavy shadow cast upon the plant. If in doubt go for a bit too much shade rather than too much light. Watch the plant and if its new leaves or old ones start to fade from the original color move it to a little more light, if it starts to get burned tips or edges on the leaves or worse yet dried brown patches, it's in too much light. You will begin to get a feel for the amount of light your plant will like. Variegated clivia should be kept in even less light to prevent burning. You can add a little B1 or Superthrive in the initial content of moisture in the potting soil or the first waterings but withhold fertilizer for a few weeks to let the roots overcome the initial shock of being transplanted.

©2003 American Clivia Society