QUESTION
I’ve just bought three new hybrid clivias: a green, a yellow and a peach-coloured one. They’re all beautiful but to make space I’ll need to part with my old clump of regular clivias, which I still rather like. When is the best time to dig them up and divide them? My children would love to have some for their own gardens. And will I need to improve the soil before replanting them?
ANSWER
The best time to divide clivias is in spring, after they’ve finished flowering in winter. You can be quite firm with them. Trim the roots back to around 10cm and the leaves to about 20cm. This makes the clump far easier to handle. Clivia roots are thick and wiry, growing horizontally and weaving tightly into each other. To divide the clump, you’ll need to separate the roots in the same horizontal direction they grew – prying them apart sideways rather than pulling them upward. Place two garden forks back-to-back and push them into the base of the clump. Then, simply lever the handles apart to gently prise the roots, following the direction they’ve grown. Repeat this as needed. Improve the soil with compost and organic fertiliser pellets and you’ll be ready to replant.
TOP TIP
The best time to divide clivias is in spring, after they've finished flowering in winter.
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