As a Clivia plant, our needs are specific and tied directly to our growth and flowering cycles. Providing the right nutrients at the right time is the key to our vibrant health and spectacular blooms. Here is the optimal fertilizer schedule from our perspective.
After our winter bloom, we are exhausted and hungry. This period, typically from late winter into early spring, is when our most aggressive growth occurs. We push out new roots and often begin developing the foundation of next year's flower spike within our thick, fleshy roots. We require a balanced, high-quality fertilizer to rebuild our energy reserves. A formula with equal parts Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium (e.g., a 10-10-10 or 20-20-20) is ideal. Feed us every two weeks with a half-strength solution to avoid burning our sensitive roots. This consistent nutrition supports strong leaf development and, crucially, initiates the internal process for next season's bloom.
As temperatures rise, our growth rate slows. During the heat of summer, we enter a maintenance phase. Our primary goal is to photosynthesize and store energy, not put on excessive leafy growth. Over-fertilizing now, especially with high nitrogen, can make us soft and susceptible to pests and rot. Continue feeding, but reduce the frequency to once a month. You may switch to a fertilizer with a slightly higher potassium ratio (e.g., 5-10-15) to promote root health and overall hardiness, helping us better withstand the summer stress. Always ensure our potting medium is moist before applying fertilizer to prevent root damage.
This is the most critical shift in your feeding schedule. As daylight hours shorten and temperatures cool in early autumn, we begin the intricate process of initiating our flower bud. To do this successfully, we require a significant change in nutrients. You must stop all nitrogen-heavy fertilizers. Instead, provide us with a formula high in Phosphorus and Potassium, often called a "bloom booster" (e.g., 0-10-10 or 5-15-45). This nutrient profile encourages strong bud development and sturdy flower scapes. Feed us with this bloom fertilizer every two weeks throughout the autumn.
Once the flower bud is clearly visible at the base of our leaves (the "button" stage), our need for nutrients drops dramatically. Throughout the winter, we require a period of cool rest with significantly reduced watering and, most importantly, absolutely no fertilizer. Feeding us during our dormancy is harmful; it can disrupt our natural cycle, cause root burn since we aren't actively taking up water, and may even lead to deformed blooms or no flowers at all. We must use this quiet period to mature our bud. Please resume feeding only after the flower stalk has fully emerged and begun to open, signaling the end of our rest and the start of the new growth cycle.
