How do I care for a bird of paradise plant?

Question

im in somerset uk

Answer 1

I have a few in Staffordshire, UK and have grown them for many years.

There are 2 main types that are grown - the Giant Bird of Paradise and the standard one - it is the smaller standard type that is usually grown, and that florists sell the flowers to.  It is Strelitzia Regina, rather than Strelitzia nicolai (the giant one, which has creamy white flowers and grows to 20' or so).

They are notoriously slow to begin producing flowers, typically taking 5 to 7 years to do so, though patience is worth it, for their incredible flowers.  You can nudge them along to flowering by giving them as much sunlight as possible - mine sit outdoors on the patio during summer, getting tons of baking sun, when our climate gives us this!  

The other main tip is to keep them pot-bound, as plants with lots of root space tend to make more foliage and are slower to flower.  Repot them every year or so in spring time, and I prefer to use clay pots,  with good drainage.   I've experimented with various potting mixes, including peat based, John Innes, and the newer peat-free mixes, made of stuff like composted bark or coir,  and I've had success with all of them - when they are younger they are just eager to grow, and I pot them more with a gritty mix, like John Innes, or one of the other types with added gritty sand, as they get older.

I feed them with general garden fertiliser, and use tomato feed as they get to around 4 years old, as this encourages blooming (plus gives them all of the other nutrients required too).  Like bananas, which are a relative to Strelitzias, they benefit from good feeding, and I do this every other week from spring to the start of September.

Allow them to dry out a little between waterings, and always do this during winter,  as they can sometimes get root rot, if their pots are too wet.  In summer you don't need to worry so much about this, and if you keep their compost moist they will generally still be very happy.

Take them inside before the frosts start, as frosts will damage their leaves, and potentially kill them if prolonged, or their roots get damaged - I had a couple damaged last autumn,  though they have grown well this year, but I should have avoided this shock to their system.

Whilst they are in your home watch out for pests such as red spider mite, as these will often be prolific in our summer garden, and love it inside in warm/hot dry conditions.  I spray mine with water - particularly on the undersides of the leaves, where they live and suck sap from.  A diluted soap sprayed on will kill them, if you ever get them.  Aphids can be treated in the same way.  Places like Wilkinson's stores sell insecticidal soap sprays quite cheaply, and I use these or diluted washing up liquid.

Keep them in a bright sunny spot indoors,  or in a frost free greenhouse in winter, and remove dead foliage to prevent any rot etc. being transferred to other parts of your plant.  They are quite an easy care plant, somewhat like the plant world's equivalent of a cat, just wanting some sunny spot to lounge in,  and to get fed and watered regularly.  

If you do ever get any rotting to your plant,  treat with a systemic fungicide, which you can get from Wilkinsons or garden centres.

Hope this helps.  Good luck!  Rob

Answer 2

Strelitzia regina,the bird of paradise plant requires a warm sunny aspect.During the summer months it can be kept in the garden,but should be bought indoors ,or into a conservatory before any risk of frost,as it's not hardy.

The foliage will grow during the summer,it should flower during the winter (In the N.hemisphere),at about 1.5m high.

Keep in J.I potting compost,ensure the soil is moist,but not sodden.Avoid draughts and over potting,the roots are best slightly confined.Feed with a proprietary fertiliser while in full growth.

Good luck,it's a lovely plant.

Answer 3

Planting and Care

Culture Information

Bird-of-paradise grows in most soils, but does best in fertile, organic soils with good drainage. It is considered to be a slow growing plant. For good flower production, place plants in sunny or partially shaded locations. Plants grown in partial shade will be taller and have somewhat larger flowers. In full sun, plants are smaller and flowers are on shorter stems. The bird of paradise will tolerate light salt spray but should not be used in exposed locations near the ocean.

Bird-of-paradise tends to produce more flowers along the outside of the plant. Thus, spacing the plants at least 6 feet apart will allow adequate space for flowering.

Planting Information

The planting hole should be dug 2 to 3 times the diameter of the root ball. Make it as deep as the root ball is tall. Before planting, thoroughly water the plant and remove it from the container. Gently place the plant in the hole, making sure the top of the root ball is no deeper than the soil surface. Planting too deeply may cause a delay in flowering. Fill around the ball with soil and gently firm the soil. Water thoroughly while planting to remove air pockets. Construct a saucer-like basin around the plant from the extra backfill soil. This will hold water until it drains down to the plant's roots.

Where the soil is hard, compacted or poorly drained, consider digging a planting hole half as deep. Mound the soil to cover the sides of the root ball. A plant installed in this manner might require more frequent irrigation during dry periods but is not likely to suffer from drainage problems.

Care after Planting

The success or failure of a new planting often depends on whether the plant receives adequate moisture during the establishment period (i.e., the first six months). Dry or soggy conditions will cause leaves to yellow and eventually die. Once established, bird-of-paradise prefers frequent watering from rain or irrigation during the warm growing season. During the winter months, plants should be watered only when the soil is fairly dry.

Mulch placed around the base of plants helps conserve moisture, stabilizes root temperature, and reduces weed infestations. Keep a 2- to 3-inch circular area around the stems of plants free of mulch. Mulches against the stems of plants may increase the chance of stem rot.

Common organic mulch materials include leaves, pine needles, bark, and wood chips. Inorganic materials like gravel and crushed stone are also suitable.

Fertilization and Pruning

For best growth and flowering, bird-of-paradise requires fertilization. Organic fertilizers (such as sewage sludge, manure, or blood meal), granular landscape fertilizers, or controlled-release materials such as Osmocote® or Nutricote® can be used. Spread fertilizer around plants every three months during the growing season according to the label directions. Dead leaves and old flower stalks should be removed to increase the aesthetic quality of the plant and to reduce the chance of fungal organisms building up on the dead tissue.

Propagation

Seeds

A bird-of-paradise grown from seed will take three to five years to bloom. The black seeds have orange fuzz on one end and are the size of sweet pea seeds. The hard seeds must be scarified (nicked or scratched) before they will germinate. To scarify, soak the seeds in lukewarm water for several hours, and then nick them with a knife or small file. Scarified seeds will germinate in two to three months. Another way to decrease germination time is to put un-scarified seeds in a plastic bag and place them in a refrigerator at 40-45°F for two weeks. Then scarify them.

Sow seeds in vermiculite, a one-to-one mixture of peat and perlite, or a ready-made mix, to a depth of one-half inch. The soil mix must be kept consistently damp until the seeds germinate. To ensure a moist, humid environment, cover the seed flat or container with a sheet of glass or clear plastic and place it in indirect light. Transplant seedlings individually into pots when they have two true leaves. Fertilization can begin at this stage.

Division

The bird-of-paradise can also be propagated by division. This method will produce mature, flowering plants in one to two years. For best results, divide clumps during late spring or early summer. Dig up and separate old clumps, dividing those with four to five shoots into single-stem divisions.

Plant divisions at the same soil depth at which they were previously grown. Keep the soil moist until roots are established (at least three months), then begin fertilizing.

Pest and Disease Problems

The bird-of-paradise is relatively pest free. Occasional insects include aphids, caterpillars, grasshoppers, scales and snails. A leaf borer will sometimes attack the flower bracts during August and September. Fungal leaf spot disease may also occur. None of these typically threaten the overall survival of the plant.

Answer 4

You will need to grow Strelitzia as a house plant in your location. It is not hardy. There are different species, however, with vastly different ultimate heights, so be sure to check into the exact species you own.

Bird of Paradise prefers excellent light for blooming. I have mine planted in a commercial soilless mix to which I added plenty of perlite for quick drainage. It is very large and I give it a good misting daily. I do not drown my plant but water it when the top couple inches dries out--and slow down considerably in the winter time.

Regardless of the alarming size of the leaves, a much smaller plant than would seemingly be expected will do nicely. --tip: Plant in a lightweight plastic pot and then put this into a heavy cachepot so that you don't have such a chore when you do need to move or transplant your specimen. The plant may be divided when very crowded.