Question
QUESTION: Hi Darlene.
I have a Clivia plant that is about 2-3 yrs old & in good health.  It looks like it has put out a baby plant between two leaves at the bottom of the plant close to the dirt.  My question- How can I remove the baby without hurting the mother plant? Should I cut it off, twist it off, take the mother plant out of the pot & cut it off?  I really am stumped

Thanks
Judy

ANSWER: Judy,

Let the baby grow to be at least a year old so it is large enough to survive on it's own and grow roots. Then unpot the plant and loosen the soil then find the base of the baby. It will be coming off the bottom of the parent plant. This plant really likes being rootbound so it doesn't hurt to leave the baby grow until it is blooming age before you separate it. This plant also grows easily from seep but they must be planted immediately when the fruit turns orange and the seeds are ripe. Good luck.

Darlene

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Darlene
Thanks for your quick answer.  I have a couple of quick question. At what age does it nomally start blooming?  My mother plant was finishing blooming when I got it so I have no idea how old it is.  

How do you plant the fruit?  Break open and scatter or plant whole & how deep?

Thanks
Judy

Answer
Judy,

It is not necessarilly age that matters in blooming. It must be a mature plant that is root bound. If you put it in too large a pot it may never bloom or stop blooming if it has bloomed in the past. Keeping it in a small pot and fertilizing it well will cause it to bloom faster. In the winter it must go through a 3-4 month dormant period so it will bloom again. During that dormant period any seed pods mature and turn red. When they are red you cab pick them and rub the fruit off then separate the fairly large seed and plant them in fine soil as deep as the diameter of the seed.

I use a water soluable Miracle Grow type pertilizer for blooming plants. It may take 3 to 5 -years or more for your little off-shoot to mature. Your clivia would enjoy the summer outside under a sem1 shady tree where it will be shaded in the hot afternoon and get some sun in the morning &/or evening. During the dormant period it is fine in a cool dark closet. If you separate the baby do not put it in a pot larger than a 4 inch diameter.

Good luck.

Darlene