MARCH CLUB COMPETITION WINNERS
TITLE : ‘AN EGG’XTRAORDINARY IDEA’
LEILA PARUK
BEST ON SHOW, BEST USE OF COLOUR
& BEST ADVANCED
VASSIE NAYANAH ZAKYA KARIM
BEST INTERMEDIATE BEST NOVICE
TODAYS DEMONSTRATION - A TRIP TO INDIA BY COGIE THAVARAYAN
SEE DEMONSTRATION PAGE
THIS MONTHS CHOICE OF OUR SOUTH AFRICAN FLOWERS
CLIVIA
FAMILY : Amaryllidaceae
KwaZulu Natal is famous for these magnificent flowers. Easy to grow from seed and very low maintenance, Clivias are a small genus of indigenous plants with fleshy, often bulbous roots, strap-shaped evergreen leaves and umbels of showy orange, red and yellow flowers. They prefer shady situations, especially under trees. They make good pot plants, but do not divide them unnecessarily as they like to be left undisturbed. Do not overwater.
Strictly protected in the wild, but available at nurseries, the best source for clivias being Thurlow Fish & Flora, Box 126 Eston 3740, email [email protected], telephone/fax +27 (6) 31281 1978, where colour mutations and specialized seed (eg peach pink) may be obtained.
CONDITIONING
Blooms last well in water but require tape or elastic bands on the stem ends to prevent splitting and curling. When picking, in the early morning or late afternoon, hold the individual stems firmly near the base and give a yank, whereupon the whole stem will come away cleanly from the base of the plant. Petals bruise easily and when travelling should be protected with tissue paper or crumpled newspaper. Give a good drink and cut stems under water before use.
DESIGN PURPOSES
Use C miniata for striking blooms in modern and interpretative spring arrangements, and C nobilis or C gardenii for rich handsome red seed clusters in autumn designs. (Afterwards save the seed to plant or give away. Peel away the outer skin and push the seed into the ground leaving the top of the seed exposed.)
SPECIAL MECHANICS
The thick pliable stems require sturdy mechanics/large pinholders for good anchorage and heavy containers are most suitable. For extra firm anchorage tape toothpicks to short stems and wooden skewers to longer stems before embedding into floral foam or pinholder.
Kindly submitted by Tania van der Watt
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