Birds of Paradise
Birds of Paradise
Strelitzia reginae
❦ ❧ ❦
Difficulty — IntermediateNow here is a plant of true grandeur. The Bird of Paradise raises great paddle-shaped leaves on tall stalks, and when mature and well-kept she crowns herself with the most extraordinary flower in all the kingdom — a crested bird of orange and blue, frozen in the act of taking flight. She is a statement, a centrepiece, and a worthy challenge for the ambitious grower.
Notes on Cultivation
☀Light
She is a sun-lover, unlike most of my notebook's residents. Give her the brightest spot you have, with several hours of direct sun if possible — without abundant light she will never flower, and may sulk into mere greenery.
❦Water
Keep her evenly moist in the growing season, watering when the top inch dries, but reduce in winter. She likes more water than a typical houseplant yet still resents standing in a saucer of it.
☁Humidity
She appreciates moderate to high humidity, which helps keep her broad leaves from browning and splitting. That said, leaf-splitting is natural and not cause for alarm.
✵Temperature
Keep her warm, between 65 and 85 Fahrenheit. She can take a little cooler but must stay above 50; cold will stall her and spoil her chances of bloom.
❧Soil
A rich, well-draining mix with good organic content suits her hearty appetite. She is a larger, heavier feeder than my trailing vines and likes a substantial soil.
❀Fertilizing
Feed generously through spring and summer — every two weeks with a balanced fertiliser is not too much for this vigorous grower. Good feeding is part of the secret to her flowering.
✿Propagation
She is propagated by division of her clumps rather than by cuttings. Separate a rooted offshoot at repotting time, and be patient while it settles into independence.
Field Observations
Patience is everything: she rarely blooms before she is four or five years old and properly pot-bound. A snug pot and abundant light, more than anything, persuade her to flower.
Her leaves naturally split along the veins as they age — this is no disease, but an adaptation to let wind pass through. Do not fret over it; fret instead over giving her enough sun.
— faithfully recorded by Mr. Phileas Plant
