Strelitzia Bird of Paradise Plant Care & Growing Instructions

The Strelitzia bird of paradise plant is one of the best-known tropical flowers with an amazing show of giant tropical leaves. This attractive flowering perennial is native to the wilds of southern Africa that can attain up to 2 meters tall! As its name 'bird of paradise plant' suggests, the colorful electric blue and neon orange flower really does look like an exotic bird in flight or an artfully folded origami sculpture from a distance.
With beautiful flowers and leaves, Strelitzia bird of paradise plant is a geat choice as a vigorous indoor plant. It grows rapidly and is easier to grow than many tropical plants. However, it still needs careful maintenance to keep in good health. If you have cats or dogs, please be careful that the plant is toxic to cats and dogs. Keep reading on how to propagate and care for bird of paradise plant.

Bird of Paradise Plant Quick Info

Botanical/Scientific Name	Strelitzia
Common Name	Crane flower, Bird of paradise, Isigude in Nguni
Varieties	Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia reginae) White Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia nicolai) Red Bird of Paradise (Caesalpinia pulcherrima) Mexican Bird of Paradise (Caesalpinia mexicana) Yellow Bird of Paradise (Caesalpinia gilliesii)
Uses	Extensively as ornamental landscape plants, potted plants
Origin	Southern Africa
Flower Color	Electric blue and neon orange flower
Bloom Time	Late winter to early spring, last for about 100 days
Light Requirements	Bright light
Soil Care	Moist (but not soggy) soil
Temperature Care	65-80 degrees
Humidity Care	Keep humidity levels high
Watering	Regular misting to boost its humidity
Pruning Care	Hand pruners or a pruning saw
Fertilizer Care	Apply fertilizer every three months during the growing season
Propagation	Propagating bird of paradise cuttings should take place in early spring by severing a piece of rhizome with a sharp, clean knife.
Toxic	The flower is considered extremely toxic

When do Bird of Paradise Flowers Bloom

It takes 3 to 10 years for Bird of Paradise flowers to mature and blossom. Most often, Bird of Paradise plant will not produce flowers indoors only in a suitable environment with proper care. Although it takes a while to enjoy Crane flowers’ beauty, its flowering peroid is long. Bird of paradise plant typically blooms in the late winter to early spring, last for 100 days. Each flower may bloom for 13 to 15 days, with one dying and the other blooming in succession. The colorful electric blue and neon orange flower really does look like an exotic bird in flight or an artfully folded origami sculpture from a distance. You can cut the flowers for a vase, which can be last for 15-20 days arranged in a natural way. So how to care for Bird of Paradise plant to encourage flowering? Keep reading on.

Bird of Paradise Plant Care in Detail

Bird of Paradise Plant Watering

Water Bird of Paradise Plant when the pinnacle 50% of the soil is dry. Water till liquid flows via the drainage gap at the backside of the pot and discard any water that has gathered in the saucer.
If your plant's leaves start to flip brown alongside the edges, it may additionally be induced through chemical substances in your faucet water. Use filtered water, or go away faucet water in an open container in a single day earlier than watering to permit some of the chemical substances to evaporate.

Soil for Bird of Paradise Plant

Though tolerant of vary of soil types, Bird of paradise plant will produce its satisfactory blooming in fertile, well-draining soil that has been greater with natural remember such as well-rotted manure or compost. You can additionally practice liquid fertilizer into the soil earlier than planting, in accordance to the manufacturer's directions. Bird of paradise plant is tolerant of coastal stipulations and can take care of some salt spray, however it will now not do properly too shut to the ocean.

Bird of Paradise Plant Light Requirements

The bird of Paradise plant does revel in full solar rays, however nonetheless the rays can be very risky for your plant. How? Bird of Paradise plant enjoys 6 to eight hours of direct sunlight.
Like each different plant life, solar rays are vital for increase and development. But now not all plant existence shares an equal degree of "thirst" for vivid sunlight. That is why some select direct sun-rays and others decide on oblique sun-rays.

For the hardy Bird of Paradise plant, each oblique and direct sun-rays are enough for correct growth. So when you favor to area of your plant, make certain the vicinity has adequate sunlight(from east to west going through home windows if indoors). Be it direct (e.g. window aspect besides curtains) or oblique (window facet with curtains).

Any similarly publicity past that vary ought to be viewed dangerous. As it would lead to the gradual drying out, drooping, and rotting of your Bird of Paradise plant.

Moving your plant from one point to some other (especially indoors) is the convenient part. But the most difficult phase is to Gauge the depth of the mild that need to attain your plant. As you cannot use naked eye-sight to measure the depth of the mild alone. The end result will continually be inaccurate through a mile.

Read More: 
How to Care for Bird of Paradise Plant Leaves Curling & Drooping
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Bird of Paradise Plant Temperature Care

The University of Florida IFAS Extension notes that a bird of paradise plant will continue to exist wintry weather temperatures as low as 24 stages Fahrenheit, however solely for a brief time and now not except damage. When temperatures drop under freezing, any creating or actively blooming flora can go through frost damage, even if temperatures drop for simply a night time or two. The frost-tender foliage can go through frost harm too, however as lengthy as the soil does not freeze, the roots typically get away undamaged and the plant will survive.

In areas the place temperatures drop under freezing, even if solely occasionally, you can develop a bird of paradise plant in a container and overwinter it indoors or drag it into a included vicinity on nights when bloodless climate threatens. The best temperature vary for a bird of paradise indoors is 55 to 65 F at night time and 65 to 70 F or hotter for the duration of the day. You can pass the plant returned exterior as quickly as the daylight hours temperatures upward jostle above 70 F.

Bird of Paradise Plant Humidity

Water and humidity are necessary to maintain your Bird of Paradise plant healthy. It wishes regular watering to maintain the soil moist, however in no way moist or soggy. In addition to cautious watering, it will gain from everyday misting to improve its humidity. The Bird of Paradise plant is native to South Africa the place it receives a lot of mild and warmth.

Fertilizer for Bird of Paradise Plant

Fertilizer appreciably advantages bird of paradise, assisting the plant to produce healthful flowers. Fertilize bird of paradise plant every three months or so at some stage in the developing season, the usage of an natural fertilizer such as manure or blood meal, or a controlled-release fertilizer, recommends the University of Florida. Follow the instructions on the label to maintain from burning the plant's roots. House flora can be fertilized extra frequently: use a general-purpose liquid fertilizer each and every couple of weeks to assist the blooms to simply get going.

Bird of Paradise Plant Pruning

Bird of paradise plant pruning is a greater serious affair. This is performed for the identical motives as trimming, however the dreams are extra intensive and combined. You may additionally desire to limit the measurement of an older plant or put off leaves and stems that bar a pathway or window. This includes more difficult pruning and ought to be attacked in early spring. Use loppers, hand pruners or a pruning saw, however in no way hedge trimmers which will make hard cuts and go away ragged, broken edges. Take all leaves and stems returned to simply above the ground. Remove lifeless plant life to the base of the plant and easy up any ancient vegetation that has dropped in or round the plant.

Thinning is some other way of cleansing up a bird of paradise. It lets in air and mild into the middle of older plants, growing flowering and decreasing fungal disease. It is a fundamental section of rejuvenating a left out plant. Apply the trimming and pruning strategies and investigate the effect. If the core of the plant is nevertheless too crowded, use lengthy treated pruners and put off chosen stems and leaves. Remove new boom at the base of the plant. You can divide it with a shovel and noticed for replanting elsewhere. Never do away with extra than one 0.33 of plant cloth per season and comply with up with appropriate cultural care.

Bird of Paradise Plant Repotting

The bird of paradise plant have to be rather root-bound considering constricted roots inspire the plant to bloom. However, if the plant's roots are developing out of the soil floor or holes in the bottom of the container, if the above-ground component of the plant seems overcrowded or if the plant many times seems drought-stressed even with regular, enough water, the bird of paradise will possibly advantage from repotting into a barely large container or division.
Prepare one or greater containers to transplant the bird of paradise into. If you sketch to maintain the bird of paradise intact, pick out a container with a diameter 1 to two inches larger than the unique container. If you will divide the bird of paradise plant, put together a container for every deliberate new section. Add an inch or two of exceptional potting soil to the backside of every container. If you will transplant the bird of paradise outdoors, dig a gap deep ample to accommodate the root mass and about twice as broad as the root mass.

Bird of Paradise Plant Pest & Disease Control

On the whole, Bird of paradise flowers are tremendously pest free. That would not imply bird of paradise bugs are unheard of, though. Maybe the most frequent hassle pests with bird of paradise flowers are mealybugs and scale. Scale seems as tough little brown spots on the stems and undersides of the leaves. Mealybugs show up as white patches of fuzz on the leaves. Some different bugs that assault bird of paradise flora consist of caterpillars, snails, and grasshoppers, which all make their presence acknowledged with chew marks on the leaves. Leaf borers may additionally be considered attacking flower bracts in late summer. Aphids are on occasion a trouble and can be viewed with the bare eye. In fact, a surefire signal of aphids, different than bodily seeing them, are ants overlaying the flora as they farm the candy honeydew these pests depart behind.

Any massive bird of paradise pests like caterpillars and snails can be picked off via hand. Aphids can be knocked off the plant with a constant spray of water. Scale and mealybugs can be eliminated with rubbing alcohol. All of these pests can additionally be handled with an insecticide or with a horticultural oil. Systemic insecticides, or pesticides that are taken up thru the roots to flow into via the total plant, are mainly effective.

Read More: How to Care for Bird of Paradise Leaves Yellowing & Cracking

Bird of Paradise Plant Propagation

Bird of Paradise Plant Propagation from Leaf

While some plant life can be reproduced from leaf and stem cuttings, a Bird of Paradise wishes extra to grow. To propagate a Bird of Paradise, you want a component of the plant's rhizome. A stem or leaf on my own does now not have the tissue wanted to produce a new plant. Instead, propagate Bird of Paradise from division or from seed.

Bird of Paradise Plant Propagation from Division

If you are a plant enthusiast, you most probable have trip propagating your houseplants via taking cuttings for the father or mother plant. A slicing usually refers to a wholesome part of the plant that is removed, both as section of a pruning routine or especially for propagation.

For some plants, such as ZZs and Monsteras, sections of leaves and stem can honestly produce their own roots and, eventually, absolutely new plants. In the wild, this approves a damaged phase of the plant to take on a existence of its own. Additionally, due to the fact that plant life regularly produce numerous new leaves for the duration of a developing season, a plant that can be reproduced from a slicing can propagate an complete collection.

However, now not all flowers can be propagated from a cutting. While a mature Bird of Paradise can be propagated via different means, their leaves and stems on my own do no longer enhance roots or rhizomes when cut. Instead, for profitable propagation, it is integral to consist of a part of rhizome, from which extra rhizomes and stems will grow. (Find more indoor plants for low light here.)

Bird of Paradise Plant Propagation in Water

Bird of paradise propagation is no longer challenging and is most effortlessly executed through plant division. Propagating bird of paradise cuttings have to take region in early spring by way of severing a piece of rhizome with a sharp, smooth knife. Sprinkle some rooting hormone on the open cuts.

Also, how do you develop a bird of paradise plant? Bird of Paradise grows satisfactory in well-drained, moist soil. Keep the soil properly watered in spring and summer, however, enable it to dry out barely in winter. One of the motives bird of paradise plant would not develop nicely is soggy soils or soils that dry out too quickly.

Simply so, can bird of paradise develop in water?
Water that has a excessive salt content material may want to burn the leaves. If this is the case with your water, think about the usage of rain water, when possible, or distilled water to water your bird of paradise. Birds of paradise do properly in regular family humidity, however, they may additionally advantage from intermittent misting at some stage in dryer wintry weather months.

Read More: How to Propagate Bird of Paradise Plant (Ways & Steps)

Strelitzia Bird of Paradise Plant Varieties

All species of Strelitzia Bird of Paradise Plant thrive in USDA Hardiness Zones 10-12, and every so often in components of Zone 9 if you maintain them heat in the iciness months. You can develop them in less warm zones as indoor plants, or as outside flowers in the summer, and indoors in the winter.

But there are some significant variations between bird of paradise flora that you need to be conscious of earlier than deciding on one (or three) to plant indoors or out.

• 1. Strelitzia alba (White-flowered Wild Banana)

S. alba (White-flowered Wild Banana) is one of three tree-like Strelizia species, alongside with S. nicolai (The Giant White Bird of Paradise) and S. caudata (Mountain Wild Banana).

• 2. Strelitzia caudata (Mountain Wild Banana)

Also acknowledged as the "mountain wild banana," S. caudata grows wild in the mountains of southern Africa, from South Africa to Swaziland and up via Zimbabwe.

• 3. Strelitzia juncea (Narrow-leaved Bird of Paradise)

S. juncea (Narrow-leaved Bird of Paradise), additionally recognized as slim leaf bird of paradise, appears a lot like the most frequent species, S. reginae (Bird of Paradise/Crane Flower), however its leaves are reed-like as a substitute of banana-shaped.

• 4. Strelitzia nicolai (Giant White Bird of Paradise)

Like S. alba, S. nicolai (The Giant White Bird of Paradise) resembles a banana plant and can develop up to 20 ft tall. Which is nevertheless huge, however smaller than S. alba (White-flowered Wild Banana).

• 5. Strelitzia reginae (Crane Flower)

Meet the most lovely species of all, the orange-flowered S. reginae (Crane Flower), which resemble brightly colored birds in flight or an artfully folded origami sculpture from a distance.

Bird of Paradise Plant Benefits

Bird of Paradise Plant should be a stunning dwelling room announcement that provides a range of advantages to air great and herbal health.
The advantages of proudly owning even a low-maintenance houseplant are enormous. Not only do the Bird of Paradise Plants make your domestic fascinating and colorful, but also they additionally have a outstanding affect on your bodily and intellectual health. A plant, accept as true with it or not, can enhance the air first-class internal your home, decrease heritage noise, and even decrease stress. Plus, there are inherent advantages that come from caring for a plant and the success and achievements that journey fosters.

Bird of Paradise Plant Care FAQs

Bird of Paradise plant indoor

There's nothing greater distinguished than an indoor bird of paradise plant, however developing a bird of paradise as a houseplant requires sun, pretty a lot of it, in order to thrive and bloom. Insufficient daylight is the pinnacle cause that a bird of paradise interior would not bloom. Place your plant in a web site that receives at least six hours a day of solar a day, which include hours of direct sunlight. However, if your residing room receives very warm noon sun, oblique mild throughout that duration will do better. If your local weather or residence diagram does not furnish this a good deal sun, reflect onconsideration on supplementing with synthetic light. You can cross your houseplant backyard in summer season to income from even greater light. Acclimate it to the enhanced mild by means of making this change gradually. Just deliver it in earlier than the climate chills to freezing. When you choose for a bird of paradise as a houseplant, you want to assume about humidity, irrigation and feeding. These flowers are evergreen, but they nonetheless go via a duration of dormancy in winter. Bird of paradise houseplant care varies between the developing season and the dormant season.

Bird of Paradise plant leaves curling

Inadequate watering, too dry air, drastic temperature changes, or excessive pH stages of the soil are the principal motives of Bird of paradise leaves curling. To repair the curled leaves, water the Bird of paradise when the soil is half of dry and maintain the air humidity at 60-80%. Also, make positive that the plant is blanketed from bloodless air and that the soil is nutritious and has a pH of 6.5-7.0.

The 2d trouble is that the soil is very alkaline. In such a soil it is hard for the Bird of Paradise Plant to get all the imperative microelements and, as a result, chlorosis develops. The signs of chlorosis are a yellowing of the leaves with inexperienced veins and inward curling of the leaves.

So that your Bird of Paradise will no longer go through from a lack of vitamins you have to plant it in a free substrate with masses of compost. The compost will now not solely enlarge the fertility of the soil however will additionally acidify it slightly. In barely acidic soil, the opportunity of chlorosis is notably reduced.
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