Hi I have a Clivia that produced berries after the flowers died. One of the berries is just beginning to turn red. Should I remove the berry now or should I wait until it goes a deeper red! I'm hoping to obtain the seed & try my luck at growing but I am a novice so any hints or tips would be greatly appreciated. I've seen various methods on the web but it is all a bit daunting! Advice needed! Many thanks
Leave them alone! Here in Sydney Cliveas take a year after flowering before the fruit are fully ripe, when they will fall off into your hand at a touch. Then peel off both layers of skin and you will find one or perhaps two seeds. Push them onto the top (halfway covered) of a good moist potting mix and keep in a warm place. They germinate in a few weeks, but take another three years to flower.
Thanks for the advice Ian I will wait for them to ripen! I also forgot to ask in my original post; once the berries drop is it best to leave the flower stem or should I trim it? Just wondering what is better to promote a new flower spike. Cheers
This page has some useful cultivation info: http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantcd/cliviaminiata.htm Note though that it is based on the species' native area in South Africa; in Britain, you'll need to protect it from our much colder climate.