Clivia Seed Germination: How Do I Germinate Clivia Seeds

Clivia is a fascinating plant. Native to South Africa, this large flowering evergreen can get very expensive if bought as a full grown plant. Luckily, it can be grown quite easily from its large seeds. Keep reading to learn more about clivia seed germination and growing clivia by seed.

Clivia Seed Germination

If you’re asking, “How do I germinate clivia seeds,” the first step to growing clivia by seed is, of course, finding the seeds. If you have a clivia plant already, you can harvest them. When a clivia flower is pollinated, it produces large red berries. Leave the berries on the plant for a year to allow them to ripen, then harvest and cut them open. Inside, you’ll find a few round seeds that look a lot like pearls. Don’t let the seeds dry out - either plant them immediately or soak them overnight. If this all sounds like too much effort, you can also buy clivia seeds.

Growing Clivia by Seed

Clivia seed planting is a battle against fungus. Clivia seed germination will be much more successful if you soak them and your potting soil in fungicide before planting. Fill a container with cactus mix or African violet potting mix and soak it thoroughly. Many of your seeds will probably have a dark spot - plant them with this spot facing up. Press your seeds into the top of the soil and cover the top of the pot with plastic wrap. The roots should emerge from the seeds before the leaves. If the roots start growing up rather than down, poke a hole into the soil with a pencil and gently tuck the roots into it. After about 18 months, the plants should be big enough to be moved to their own pots. They should start producing their own flowers in 3 to 5 years.