By the way, I accidentally decapitated a clivia a few months ago: the whole
top green part of the plant broke clean off from the roots! I kept the top
part in a bucket with about an inch of water and kept it under lights. It
has sent out small roots and even a full size flower stalk. Nothing has
emerged from the roots yet however.

Albert

mleblanca ) wrote:
: On May 5, 1:30 pm, Persephone wrote:
: On Wed, 02 May 2007 12:05:58 -0700, Persephone wrote
:
: I went to the Web, and found, inter alia, this comment about watering:
:
: **************
:
: Water regularly, spring through fall. Try to water around, not on, the
: bulb and avoid wetting the leaves.
:
: **************
:
: Gwacious! Why "avoid wetting the leaves"? Straight question.
: I have, in fact, made a point of rinsing them off from time to time
: because here (So Calif coastal) there's no natural rainfall to
: clean the leaves.
:
: Does this really hurt them? Why?
:
: (Don't forget the original question about when to deadhead!)
:
: Persephone

: Hi Perse
: I have checked 6 books* clivia
: I found absolutely nothing about "avoid wetting leaves/bulb"
: The only advice about watering was " keep fairly dry in winter,
: increase water in spring, summer" Most of the advice was
: about growing in greenhouse/pots. So the only reason I can think
: of would be that by avoiding wetting the leaves/bulb in a potted
: plant you would avoid rot/fungus in the winter??

: The only comment deadheading came from Sunset W
: Grden Bk: "Flowers are followed by ornamental red berries."
: So if you want ORBs don't deadhead at all!

: * AHortSoc, Botanica, Reader's Digest, Time-Life, Wymans
: and Sunset WGB
: Emilie
: NorCal with 94 warm degrees today (shade)