How can I tell if my bird-of-paradise plants have nematodes -- and if so how to control them?

Question

This is Strelizia reginae and I have plot of them in a greenhouse. Mine do produce flowers but the leaves are never so perfect as are in the flower shops and I'd like to pot some of them up out of the ground to give as gifts but they look scroungy and I'd be ashamed. I've scoured the net about nematodes on Strelizia but can't find anything about which species attack this plant and how to identify whether or not I've even got the problem. As for control, several sites say a thriving soil ecosystem fed with organic matter as fertilizer -- some recommend mulching, which I do -- will help keep them down. I fertilize with well-rotted horse manure, have good drainage and plenty of sun.

Answer 1

Nematodes are hard to see with the naked eye.  And not all of them are bad.

Besides horse manure, try other organic fertilizers like blood or bone meal.

Please contact your local county extension office.  One of the volunteers there may be an expert on Birds-of-Paradise.

Answer 2

Nematodes... There is very little control available and if it is available it is extremely expensive.

Most of the recommendations for control involve amending the soil. If changing the soil doesn't help, I  would not pursue other control. Make sure your soil mixture, water, and light requirements are correct and feed them often.

Good Luck