I have a clivia plant with seed pods. Is there any advice I need to make these seeds grow. Thank you?

If you are starting with freshly harvested seeds from your own plants, be sure to wash the seeds well before trying to germinate them. There is a translucent membrane surrounding the seeds, dividing them into three groups in most berries. Remove that membrane. You can tell this memberane from the skin of the seeds themselves because it slides around over the seed as you try to remove it. I


f you are not sure your Clivia seeds are fresh, it is always wise to start them by soaking them overnight in clean tap water or distilled water. If they are old or shrunken, you should change the water the next morning and soak for another 24 hours.


There are just three conditions necessary for successful germination and starting of Clivia seeds:


An optimum temperature of about 23掳C to 25掳C (ca. 73掳F to 77掳F)


A relatively high humidity. (卤 60 - 70 %), and


Sterile conditions.


Sterilize the cleaned and soaked seeds. You can use dilute hydrogen peroxide.


Dilute 1 part by volume of 3% hydrogen peroxide solution with 2 parts water and mix well, This gives a 1% solution of peroxide.


Place the seeds on the suface of moistened Perlite, or Vermiculite, or a mixture of the two. Use a pot of sufficient size to hold the seeds. Be sure the pot has drainage holes in the bottom.


Cover the top of the pot with plastic to hold moisture in and to exclude mold and bacterial spores. Stand the pot in a tray or saucer so that it can be watered from below.


Place it in a brightly lighted spot but out of any direct sunlight. This spot should be warm.


When the seeds have all germninated and grown their first real leaf, they can be transplanted into a well-drained soil-less potting mix.


Plant the seeds by pressing very lightly into the surface of a well-drained soilless potting mix. A good mix is Promix and sand and granite chick starter grit (1/8 inch mesh) in a ratio of 2 : 1 : 1 parts by volume. Wet the mix well with water and cover the pot loosely with a sheet of clear plastic, such as Saran庐 wrap. You can then water from below as the surface of the potting mixture dries out.Once the seed sprouts, which can come anywhere from 2 weeks to 6 months after planting, the new root shoot will push the seed out of the soil. You can make a new hole for the root with your finger when the shoot is about 1 to 2 inches long. Insert the root into the hole and press or wash the soil gently back into the hole around the root.


Once leaves start growing, remove the loose sheet of plastic and continue growing your seedling in bright indirect light or under fluorescent lights.


At this time, start feeding your plant with a dilute solution of a soluble fertilizer. A good one is Peters庐 20-20-20 with trace elements used at 陆 teaspoon per gallon of water applied at every other watering.


Good Luck!

zits