Bird of Paradise: Plant Care & Growing Guide

The distinctive bird of paradise is one of the best-known tropical flowers. It is closely related to the banana plant. The bird of paradiseplant is named for closely resembling the tropical bird of the same name. It is easier to grow than many tropical plants and makes for a vigorous, rapidly growing indoor plant. It can be moved outside in the summer where it may thrive for a few months.

Bird of paradise plantstypically flower in the late winter or early spring but can flower at other times of the year when provided optimal conditions. These plants growwith upright leaves emerging directly from the soil and have no trunk. The large leaves range from 12 to 18 inches long and can develop splits in the leaves when exposed to windy conditions or brushed against in a busy hallway. Strelitzia is toxic to cats and dogs.

Bird of Paradise Care

Strelitzia works well in massed plantings outside in warm climates but they are more often grown successfully indoors as beautiful houseplants when the following care requirements are met.

• Plant indoors in a warm spot with bright indirect sunlight.
• Water regularly as long as the soil is well draining.
• Feed the plant with compost early in spring before new growth begins.
• Fertilize every week during the growing season.
• Move the plant outside in warm summer months and inside during the winter to increase the survival rate.

Light

This plant needs bright light, including some direct sunlight, to bloom well. However, it requires shielding in the direct midday summer sun, which can burn the leaves of younger plants. A good position is in a room with windows facing east or west. Avoid rooms with only a north-facing window.

Soil

Use rich, well-drained potting mix for potted plants or a compost mixture. If using a pot, make sure it has ample drainage holes to allow water to flow through the soil and out of the pot.

Water

Keep the soil continually moist throughout the year. While it should not be waterlogged, expect to water it daily in the spring and summer as it loses moisture through its big leaves. You can water it until you see the water draining from its drainage holes, but make sure it does not sit in a pool of water. If overwatered, the plant will develop crunchy brown leaves. If underwatered, the leaves farthest from the center will turn yellow.

Temperature and Humidity

Bird of paradise prefers high humidity. You might want to keep a spray bottle handy to mist it if your home is dry. Keep the air temperature above 60 degrees F in the winter. This is not a cold-tolerant plant and it recovers slowly from frost damage.

Fertilizer

This plant is a heavy feeder. Feed it in the springtime with slow-release pellets or weekly during the growing season with liquid fertilizer.

Placement

Bird of paradise plants can thrive in many lighting conditions but will do best in bright, indirect sunlight. When growing it indoors, place the plant in a window facing east or north. If you only have areas with direct sunlight, rotate the plant regularly to ensure even growth. Be careful not to overexpose the plant and scorch the foliage.

Types of Bird of Paradise

There are five Strelitzia species, but only two are commonly grown as indoor plants: S. reginae (orange bird of paradise)and S. nicolai (white bird of paradise).

• Strelitzia reginae 'Glauca': This orange variety has powdery grayer foliage and stems.
• Strelitzia reginae 'Humilis' or 'Pygmaea': This orange variety only grows about 3 feet tall.
• Strelitzia reginae 'Ovata': This orange variety features rounded leaf blades.
• Strelitzia juncea: The leafless bird of paradise lacks leaf blades, so its stems and leaves look like reeds.
• Strelitzia caudata: This 25-foot-tall species grows in the higher elevations of South Africa and is also called the mountain bird of paradise. It blooms with white-and-blue petalled flowers and is the rarest plant and hardest to obtain.

Pruning

Birds of paradise flowers last for about three weeks before dropping their petals and dying. Remove old or damaged plant matter. This is the best way to thin the leaves. Remove the leaves by pulling them off or using sharp cutting instruments. Sterilize the implements in between different plants. If a leaf appears mostly healthy, leave it intact. If your plant has grown large, and you need to do significant cutting down, use loppers, hand pruners, or a pruning saw in the early spring. Do not use hedge trimmers, which leave ragged cuts. You can cut all leaves and stems down to just above the ground. If the plant remains too crowded, use long-handled pruners and remove selected stems and leaves.

Propagating Bird of Paradise

The best ways to propagate birds of paradise are by division and sowing seeds. Division is easier and quicker than growing from seed. It's best to use mature plants that have previously bloomed for at least three years. Depending on the size of your plant (and its rhizome or root structure), you will need larger instruments like a shovel and saw for in-ground or large plants. For smaller plants, you can use a sharp knife. If potting the division, you will need a new pot and a well-draining potting mix. Here's how to divide strelitzia.

To propagate by division:

1. Remove the new growth or offshoots at the base of the plant that has at least three leaves
   
2. Divide the rhizome below the ground with a shovel, saw, or knife.
3. Repot in a new container with a well-draining potting mix.

How to Grow Bird of Paradise From Seed

Be patient when growing strelitzia from seeds. It can take two months for the seeds to germinate. Take these steps:

• Soak seeds in room-temperature water for 24 to 48 hours before planting. Remove any orange stringy material. Nick the seed with a knife or nail file.
• Plant the seed in a well-draining potting mix about 1/2 to 1 inch deep and at least 3 inches apart from other seeds. Place the container in a warm, indirect sun location (at least 80 degrees).
• Cover with a cloche or plastic wrap, keeping the soil moist but not soggy.
• When the seedling germinates and produces two to three leaves, transplant to a 6-inch pot. Once your plant reaches 6 inches, it is ready for a more permanent home.

Potting and Repotting Bird of Paradise

Bird of paradise is a rapidly growing plant that needs to reach a certain size before it blooms. A bird of paradise that is 3 to 4 feet tall grows well in a 10-inch pot. A 5- to 6-foot plant usually thrives in a 14-inch pot. Repot it every spring into the next-size-up pot.

Once it reaches maturity, allow it to be pot-bound so that it will bloom. You can divide it by the time it has matured or bloomed at least once but do it infrequently since crowded clumps produce the most blooms. Repotting disrupts the bloom cycle.

Overwintering

If it gets below freezing where you live for a prolonged time, the plant will not survive unless you take it inside for the winter. However, if you live in an area such as Zone 9 where it only dips low for short periods, you may be able to overwinter your plant outdoors, but it will need help to survive.

To overwinter outdoors, cut the stem and leaves down to just 12 inches above the ground. Cover the entire stem and rhizome area with a layer of mulch, then leaf litter, and straw. Cover that with breathable row cover material and stake it down. As soon as spring arrives and the threat of the last frost is gone, remove the toppings.

Common Pests and Plant Diseases

Monitor the plant for aphids, scale, and whiteflies. If you see them, use insecticidal soap for control and apply it to the undersides of the leaves. Systemic pesticides are also effective. If you use systemic pesticide, the plant will distribute it from its roots through to its leaves and flowers.

Bird of paradise is also susceptible to Botrytis cinerea (gray mold). Flowers and leaves with this condition will develop dark spots followed by a layer of gray mold. Remove the affected parts of the plant and allow them to air out.

How to Get Bird of Paradise to Bloom

Bloom Months

A bird of paradise plant is mature enough to bloom when it is at least four to five years old. Typically bloom occurs during March, April, and May.

What do Bird of Paradise Flowers Look Like?

The plant comes in an array of bloom colors depending on the variety. The most well-known type has a base of blue petals below bold orange petals that resemble the head of a crane.

How to Encourage More Blooms

To spur flowering, keep the bird of paradise pot-bound, give it lots of sun(at least 6 hours of full sunlight or bright light), and feed it on schedule. Insufficient light is one common reason a bird of paradise fails to flower.

Common Problems With Bird of Paradise

The bird of paradise is a relatively easy-going plant with very few issues. It is most prone to root rot and insects that prey on the plant when its optimal conditions are unmet. But, if it's not overwatered, kept fed, and given ample light and air circulation—it can keep most problems at bay.

Wilting or Browning of Leaves

The most common disease affecting the bird of paradise plant isroot rot. When the roots of the plant sit in water or the soil gets soggy for a prolonged amount of time, a fungus that causes root rot can overtake a plant. It can be avoided by letting the soil dry out between waterings.Another sign you have root rot includes a rotting smell. Some plants can be saved if caught early. To fix root rot, pull up the root ball, cut away blackened, moldy parts of the rhizome, apply a fungicide according to the instructions, and repot in a sterilized container with fresh, well-draining soil.

Curling Leaves

Curling leaves are a sign of underwatering. Avoid this problem by giving more water and letting the water run freely from the bottom of the pot to ensure that all the roots have access to water. Make sure the plant doesn't sit in the water because soggy soil can cause other problems.

Yellowing Leaves

Yellowing leaves can mean several things. An occasional yellow leaf on a mature plant is normal. However, many yellow leaves may signal low humidity or lack of nutrients. If the yellow leaves are located toward the outside of the plant, it needs more water.

Slits or Breaks in the Leaves

A bird of paradise's leaves are large and may normally develop slits or breaks, especially if your plant lives outside for some part of the year. The plant develops slits to allow the plant to circulate air around its leaves and roots. Wind and breezes contribute to slitting. Air circulation keeps mold and other pests from settling in.

From: thespruce