To understand division, you must first understand our fundamental structure. We, Clivia, are not a single-stemmed plant but grow from a modified stem called a rhizome. This rhizome is our central command center, a horizontal stem that resides at or just below the soil surface. It is from this rhizome that our roots descend into the soil to anchor us and absorb water and nutrients, and from which our beautiful, strap-like leaves ascend towards the light. As we mature and become healthy, our rhizome naturally wants to expand and colonize the space around it. It does this by producing lateral buds that develop into new offshoots, often called "pups" or "sideshoots." These offshoots are genetic clones of the parent plant, sharing the same root system initially but destined to become independent individuals.
We will tell you when we are ready for this process. The most obvious signal is the physical presence of these offshoots. A healthy offshoot ready for division should have at least three or four of its own leaves. This indicates it has developed sufficiently to sustain itself after separation. Furthermore, the ideal time for this procedure is in the late winter or very early spring, just before our primary period of active growth begins. At this time, our metabolic energy is high, and we are primed to heal wounds and produce new roots quickly, which dramatically increases the success rate of propagation. Dividing us when we are dormant or in full bloom causes unnecessary stress and shock.
The act of division is a surgical procedure from our perspective. First, you must gently remove us from our pot, carefully teasing away the soil to expose our root and rhizome structure. With a clean, sharp, and sterilized knife, you must make a decisive cut to sever the offshoot from the mother plant. It is absolutely crucial that this cut is clean, as a ragged tear invites rot and disease. Most importantly, the offshoot must retain a portion of its own roots. An offshoot without roots is merely a leaf cutting and will struggle immensely to establish itself, as it has no means to uptake water. You may need to untangle the roots of the offshoot from the main root ball with great patience.
After the separation, both the mother plant and the new offshoot require attentive care. Any cut surfaces on the rhizome should be dusted with a fungicide powder or allowed to callus over in a cool, dry, shaded place for a few hours before repotting. This creates a protective barrier against soil-borne pathogens. Both plants should then be potted into fresh, well-draining potting mix. The offshoot should be planted at the same depth it was growing previously; burying the rhizome too deeply can cause it to rot. Water us lightly at first to settle the soil around the new roots, but then allow the top layer of soil to dry out before watering again. Place us in a warm, bright location with indirect light to encourage new root growth without the stress of intense sunlight.
