IN THE GARDEN
How to grow clivias for profit
G
rowing clivia on a
large scale can be
very profitable
because of the demand for
orange and yellow clivia by
local nurseries, says Pretoria
clivia breeder, Pikkie
Strumpher.
With larger nurseries ordering
up to 3 000 plants at a time,
Strumpher's advice to
potential growers is to
consider growing no fewer
than 5 000 to 10 000 plants a
year. One must also keep in
mind that clivias take four to
five years to flower from seed.
Even though the price per
plant is generally low, higher
volumes make it a costeffective crop to produce
because seed, potting soil,
and fertiliser can be bought in
bulk.
Set up costs should not be
excessiv