Can a Clivia Survive After Losing Its Growth Point? A Surprising Lesson in Clivia Resilience

One of the most common questions among Clivia growers is whether a plant can recover after its central growth point is damaged or lost. While the answer depends on the severity of the damage, Clivias are remarkably resilient plants. Under the right conditions, they can often produce a new growing point and continue growing. Here are two recent examples from our collection that reminded us never to give up on a struggling Clivia.

The Seedling That Refused to Quit

While inspecting our plants today, we noticed that a (Solomone Yellow × Sir John Thouron) × Self seedling that had lost its central growth point several months ago had developed a healthy new side shoot.

When the damage first occurred, we debated whether to discard the seedling. Instead, we moved it to a corner of the shelf and largely forgot about it. Today, we discovered a bright green shoot about ¼ inch (6 mm) tall emerging from the base. It was a wonderful surprise and a reminder that even severely damaged Clivias may still have the ability to regenerate.

Another Unexpected Recovery

We observed a similar story with one of our juvenile interspecific hybrids. This plant lost its central growth point to rot, and we wondered if it would recover. It did—but not in the way we expected.

Rather than producing a new central crown, a pair of young leaves began emerging from the base between the 1leaves, appearing to establish an entirely new growth point. It will be fascinating to watch how this unusual growth develops over the coming months.

Patience Is Often Rewarded

These two plants remind us that Clivias possess an impressive ability to survive and adapt. Before discarding a damaged plant, it may be worth giving it a little more time. Nature often finds a way, and sometimes the most rewarding plants are those that surprise us when we least expect it.

Interested in adding unique Clivia seedlings and hybrids to your collection? Visit our plant shop and explore the plants we are growing and sharing with fellow Clivia enthusiasts.