Back to the Greenhouse Journal

A Care Guide for Clivia

Luka Gouws and Daniel Pretorius · 2 min read · 4 September 2026

While Clivia are not the fussiest of plants, they still have their preferences. Let's take a look at what a Clivia needs to grow: water, sunlight, temperature, potting mix, drainage and feeding. Scroll down for an easy-to-understand Clivia calendar.

Water, sunlight and temperature

Clivia watering is seasonal. While Clivia generally do not need a lot of water, it is still important to keep the seasons in mind. In the warm months, Clivia need to be watered about once a week, and during the winter, only water the plants once or twice a month. As a general rule, the top half of the soil should be dried out before the plant needs water again. Keep in mind that seedlings and potted plants will need slightly more water.

In the wild, Clivia live on shaded, often south-facing slopes under trees. They prefer shade, but still need some sunlight. If a Clivia gets too much sunlight, their leaves scorch, and, if there is not enough sunlight, the Clivia will have poor flowering. There are a few areas that Clivia will thrive in and around the house and garden. If you would like a Clivia houseplant, keep the plant out of direct sunlight most of the time. Ideally, a window under a tree where there is still some sunlight peeking through the trees. If you'd prefer a Clivia in the garden, plant the Clivia in a shaded area with morning sun.

Clivia grow best in mild warmth during the warmer months. In the winter, a cool rest of roughly six to eight weeks in 10-15 degrees Celsius, helps the plant set flower buds and push up a scape that clears the leaves. This ensures that when they bloom, around two months after the resting period, they are healthy and long-lived.

Potting mix, drainage and feeding

Clivia's thick, white roots are built to survive in leaf litter with lots of air around them. In gardens or pots, Clivia should be grown in properly composted pine bark and the best readily available medium. Mature plants should be grown in a coarse medium and seedlings in a finer medium. Aim for a pH of between 5.5 and 6.5. Pots should only consist of one medium.

Drainage is important for potted plants to keep the roots healthy. Do not put gravel or polystyrene in the bottom, as this creates a wet zone at the base. Place pots on sand or capillary matting so that the water can drain out properly. Lastly, tall pots work better for draining, and using different particle sizes decreases effective drainage.

Clivia respond well to most general fertilisers, but it is key to maintain the ratio of nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) at 1:1 or 1:2. If the Clivia receives too much nitrogen, it will produce lusher leaves and fewer flowers, and if it receives too much potassium then the flowers will bloom between the leaves instead of a tall scape. A slow-release granule or a dilute liquid feed works well from spring to autumn, and no feeding is necessary during the winter months. Always make sure that no fertiliser is on the stem. Plants will need less feed in a compost-rich mix than in a lean medium like bark or sand.