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Growing Clivias in the aftermath of the 11th September 2001

© Gary Buckley

As a society, it is time to pull together. Not just because of the aftermath of the 11-09-01, but because of the follow on effect this will have both on our economy and our way of life. Goodness is the absence of evil. We have good democratically elected Leaders who will be able to deal with this.

It behoves us all to support our National Leaders and start dealing with this Global Tragedy at an individual level.

This means getting back to business and keeping the fabric of our lives tightly woven together with the commonality of what we do best.

Spend the extra dollar now in the garden. Don't put off any longer your next purchase, waiting to see what might happen next week.

At the risk of sounding like my grand-parents, it is time to bring back the peace and sense of community which existed in gentler times. For this to occur we each have to actively participate in goodness.

Not just paying lip service to the word , but actively take up the word in our daily lives with an extra smile genuinely given. We have seen first hand the kindness of strangers; this is the thread of the fabric which each of us in our daily lives can help weave a stronger, more caring world.

This is not an abstract thought, for we each, where ever we are reading can do this; United.

Probably the hardest part of growing Clivias is making your way through the various hypes about how to grow this splendid plant.

The Genus Clivia is often classified as bulbous plants, however they are not as such true bulbs, for they rely upon their thick fleshy roots and tough leathery leaves to overcome periods of drought. In their native South Africa, these plants form massive clumps, in moist soils and ditches, often shaded by trees and shrubby undergrowth.

So we know from the onset that these are well suited to pockets of shade in our gardens where perhaps in the past nothing else has flourished. By implication, because of habitat, we can also assume that Clivia is well suited to pot culture. Why I hear you asking? Because they in nature grow in tight competion with the roots of trees and shrubs, so over time they have adapted to being confined in their growth.

This article will only deal with Clivia miniata because it has been around for so long. Thus it can still be found in the market place, at a price normal people can afford to buy.

The copyright of the article Growing Clivias in the aftermath of the 11th September 2001 in Alpines and Bulbs is owned by Gary Buckley. Permission to republish Growing Clivias in the aftermath of the 11th September 2001 in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.