Garden Profits From Clivia and Other Plants
Growing Clivia
An evergreen amaryllid, Clivia produces umbels of salmony orange flowers. Because of its bulk, it is not generally a money maker for the small greenhouse, but you should know about it and perhaps grow a few as a trial. It is stunning in flower, and rather decorative in leaf, too.
This amaryllid grows from heavy rootstocks rather than from a bulb. The dark green leaves remain on the plant for 2 or more years. Clivias require the same soil and light as amaryllis, but they need somewhat different care during their rest period. While they should never be allowed to go dormant, they must have at least 3 months in a cool (50-degree) temperature to form buds. Blooming time is variable, but usually from Easter until midsummer.
Do not repot more often than absolutely necessary, as clivias are temperamental and seldom produce flowers the year they are repotted.
Clivia miniata, the most popular one, has large umbels of salmon flowers; C. caulescens, a good one for collectors, slender orange-and-green flowers. Seeds of either bring as much as $1 each; mature plants of clivia miniata sell for around $20.00;
Haemanthus
Haemanthus, better known as the African blood lily, is fast becoming a popular pot plant. This is an excellent item for collectors, growers of rare house plants, or the gardener who wants one or two “conversation” plants. One firm now lists seven species, and you can get an effective start toward stocking your greenhouse by purchasing a bulb or two of each. I have procured seeds from Africa and grown many of my haemanthus from them.
Most bulbs send out many offsets, and these can be removed when they are about a year old. Since the older bulbs retail for $1.50 to $10.00, these offsets, especially those of the rarer sorts, are easy to sell. Almost all species are good seed setters. The usual method of pollinating is to rub your hand over the flowers every day while plants are in bloom. This insures pollen distribution of the small flowers.
While the majority of haemanthus grow best in bright light, the white-flowered one, haemanthus. albiflos, flowers only in a shaded location.
Haemanthus Katharinea produces a hundred or more tomato-red flowers and supple green leaves; H. multiflora, with its beautifully proportioned flower head, is recommended for the beginner. The neck of the bulb is speckled red, and the flower scape, 12 to 14 inches high, firmly supports the ball of red flowers. Other varieties, as H. magniftcus, and H. coccineus also are red or reddish orange, while H. albiflos and its variations have tassels of white flowers.
Haemanthus requires little rest. Some of the red-flowered varieties shed their foliage about 4 to 6 weeks before sending up bloom scapes; H. albiflos remains evergreen, shedding only some of the older leaves. I keep my haemanthus in the greenhouse the year round, never setting them in dark quarters for a dormant period.
Sprekelia (The Jacobean Lily)
Slender, tapering, red petals give Sprekelia an exotic aspect. It sends out but one flower to a scape, and it requires the same general care as amaryllis. The most common complaint with novice growers seems to be, “I can’t get it to produce flowers the second year.” While in active growth it must never become dry. Too, the Jacobean lily requires constant fertilizing. I alternate fertilizers—one time a complete commercial type, next time fish emulsion. The plants are sturdy enough to stand summering in the garden, but if you live in a cold area, do not set them out until you are certain danger of frost is over. I once planted a number of sprekelias in the garden on Memorial Day; the following morning there was a freeze so hard the bulbs took the whole summer to recover, and they did not bloom the following winter.
Bulbs are reasonably priced—about 50 cents each in catalogs. Potted plants in bud or bloom bring you about $2.00 each. If you want to try for intergeneric hybrids, this might be a good plant for you to work with. There are reports of hybrids between Sprekelia and Crinum.
Zephyranthes (FAIRY LILIES)
Of easiest culture, the fairy lilies are ideal for the indoor garden, patio, porch box, or greenhouse. The bulbs are small and can be planted singly in 4-inch pots, or several to a bulb pan. The flowers in shades of rose, white, and yellow look like tiny amaryllis. Culture, including rest period, is like that of amaryllis.
Profit Ideas
An Illinois grower has excellent results with amaryllids. His ridge-type greenhouse is 10- by 16-feet with one glass end, the other attached to his home, a prefab, it cost about $400.00. He orders Dutch bulbs through a wholesaler and immediately retails them to local and mail-order customers. Keeping files on the collections of his customers, he encourages them to try
special varieties. These are ordered for them and shipped at the proper time.
Leftover bulbs are planted in flats, and allowed to bloom. The choicest are pollinated, and seeds from them are sold. Older bulbs are kept and sold as larger stock or as flowering potted plants.
A California grower stocks a variety of amaryllids. Larger ones like Agapanthus, Clivia, and some Haemanthus, are used by his customers as unusual landscaping material. Cyrtanthus is a favorite with collectors, arrangers, and corsage-makers. His customers, local and mail order, can always depend on him to supply them with the newest in amaryllids.
An Oklahoma grower reports a neat profit from sales of her greenhouse-grown zephyranthes used in corsages for her retail trade. I sell seeds of the Dutch amaryllis, fifteen for $3.00. Haemanthus seeds go two for a quarter, and small haemanthus bulbs at $1.25 to $2.00 each.
