Watering of clivias?

[pontus]

Hello Everyone,

I have a question for the clivia experts amonghst you : How many times a week, or how frequently should I water a clivia that seems to be an evêrgreen sp with thin lime green leaves? It is in a clay pot 20 cm's wide and 20 cm's tall, in a humus rich, gritty well drained mix.

So far it seems to be doing best and looking most vigorous when i give it a good watering per week, sometimes 2. But i dont want to overwater it...and risking it to rot...

It is indoors for the moment, and gets some sun part of the day. When it gets warm enough, i will bring it outdoors in a shady spot.

Pontus

[bulborum]

Cool place and I don't water them during the winter
till you see the flower-but

Roland

[Hoy]

Neither do I. I start watering when they start growing in spring - or maybe I give them a drop  if it gets too hot where they placed during the winter.

[brianw]

I noticed my old plants, one too large for me to lift comfortably now, that spend winter under the bench in the frost free (7C min) are showing lots of buds. I wonder if I could find a sheltered spot in the garden and build a thick cover over it/them to get them through a normal winter? I remember seeing them on balconies in Alicante when I worked there in January one year, but I guess the cool nights were quite short, and they never get any real frost.

[Ezeiza]

Brian, the devil is tempting you. If a sudden light frost takes place and your plant survives, it will take eons to recover a normal appearance again. These are all plants that thrive in mild winter climates.

[Maggi Young]

I have had Clivias die of cold on a west facing windowsill in the house- I'd never risk them outside.

[brianw]

I think I could contrive something to keep it frost free, but that means probably too damp with poor air circulation and light and a haven for slugs, snails and maybe mice, so not so appealling.