Bird of Paradise Plant Care
Common Name: Bird of Paradise
Scientific Name: Strelitzia reginae
Lighting: Moderate to Bright
Watering: Moderate to Heavy
The Bird of Paradise adds a totally exotic look to your home. Characterized by large blue-green foliage with the famous orange/red and blue flowers that look just like a bird, thus the name. Some species of the plant also have white and blue flowers. This houseplant is trunkless, with foliage extending from a central frond. A Bird of Paradise plant can grow to around 2 to 5 feet in height.
The Bird of Paradise plant prefers moderate to bright light, so try and keep the plant within 5 feet of a window that provides at least 4 hours of direct sunlight a day for best results. This houseplant also prefers warmer temperatures - Between 65 and 75 degrees.
The Bird of Paradise requires moderate to heavy water levels. Keep the soil moist at all times, yet not soggy. I have been watering mine once a week thoroughly and it looks great. You should also give it a daily misting to fulfill its humidity requirements.
I have only had my Bird of Paradise for about 2 months now. It has not flowered yet. From what I have researched, plants grown indoors can bloom periodically throughout the year. Otherwise, it will normally bloom in late winter / early spring. As soon as mine blooms, I'll post a picture and let you know.
This houseplant is generally pest free. But as always, if mites or other pests appear, spray the plant twice daily with a soapy dishwater mixture.
This houseplant is one of many poisonous houseplants. Please keep these plants up and away from your pets and children.
Please share any tips on caring for this houseplant, as mine is still new.
Labels: Flowering Houseplants, poisonous houseplants
posted by drayas @ 10:11 PM
30 Comments:
We both have a bird of paradise plant.Mine has put on a new leaf and seems to be quite happy.Its within one foot of the window so it gets lot of light.I live in a ground floor flat with no garden, so i have been collecting plants to grow on the windowsills.The windows are all east facing, but a flat blocks out the sunlight.I have a peace lilly too.Hope you check my blog out.I recently acquired a peace lilly from a friends Grandmothers houese.It was fed a diet of tea and rich tea biscuits (presumably in the bottom of the tea cup).I cleaned the top layer off stones/biscuits/tannin stains.Repotted it in a 1" bigger pot with some fresh compost.It is eight foot from the window.I wandered why it had yellowed...You said if it had been exposed to direct sunlight then the leaves go yellow.Eureka, move it into a shadier area and hopefully the leaves will go green!I will keep you posted.Its nice to see a house plant blog too.Keep on posting!
Hi There,
Why has my B,O,P plants leaves started to roll inwards??Its waterd and fed,even growing new leaves,,the plant is 2/half years old.
Any help would be great.
Well, I have researched and found that others have had the same problem with their Bird of Paradise plant too; however no one has ever answered their concerns. Unfortunately, I do not know why the leaves are rolling up.
Are they turning brown or anything? If it was me, I would try giving it a little extra water when you water it for about 2 weeks and see if that helps. If not, then try adjusting the light. Have you recently moved the plant? Changed fertilizer?
Please let me know how things work out.
Thank you,
drayas
Hi Drayas,
Thanks for getting back to me.Yes the leaves are turning yellow/brown,on the tips.The brown tips so i was told was tip-burn due to the tap water,so i now water it via the water butt(rain water).I have not moved it for a long time its just somthing that has creeped up.I now have changed the light conditions where it is so iam waiting to see what happens next.
All of the B.O.P plants i see in carden shops their leaves ar bright green,mine look a bit sorry for them-selfs.
I started to grow the GIANT type all was well then they stopped !! they had root rot,due to over watering and the soil type i lost six plants due to this,so iam carefull not to do the same.
Its true in what you say,,i cannot find any information about the leaves rolling up.
I hope all will be well since i started these from seed!! i had five seed in all and two took.
Fingers crossed.
Hi All,
I have found the problem !!!!
Its spider mite,that makes the leaves roll in-wards.Its the mite that suck the leaves dry there-fore turning them yellow/brown,and then turning inwards.Took it to a gardes center and showed them the plant.
So there you have it.
Regsrds,
Stef
Stef,
Thank you for sharing the information your garden center provided. Now we all have an answer to the rolling of the leaves!
Drayas
Love the blog. Hey guys, what do you think of the cactus advice at this site? Is it legit?
This has been a topic I've been throwing around. I haven't had much experience with Cactus however I think it would be suiting to do some Cactus plants. I will do my research and look for some to come in the future.
Sorry about the delay in responding. I was on vacation and just got back.
Glad you like the blog,
Drayas
I have 6 bird of paradise just given to me. I planted 4 outside. Do they grow well outdoors. I live in north Florida?
sandij,
Your in Florida so your Bird of Paradise plants should be fine outside. They will probably do better than those inside. I live in Wisconsin so can't really put mine outside.
Here are a couple websites I found with information that should help you.
http://www2.ctahr.hawaii.edu/oc/freepubs/pdf/OF-27.pdf
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/MG106
Thanks,
drayas
Thanks Drayas. The websites are what I needed to tell me about them since I know nothing. I hope they do well outside but if not i have 2 of them I put in pots I can take inside thru the winter. THanks again
Sandi
I've had my BOP since the late 1980s when I grew it from seed. It blooms every winter for me in doors. The leaves curl inward whenever the plant experiences water loss (hot dry weather, full sun, lack of water, outgrown its pot, low humidity). Being root bound and in near freezing night time temps seems to make in set blooms.
All tropical plants need misting, so don't forget to mist your plants in the morning every day if possible. Misting increase humidity, which all plants love, and helps to prevent red spider mite developing. E.T.
I just got a BOP plant and the leaves start to brown at the tips and then continue to completely brown. Maybe too dry? It is making many new leaves, so can't be too unhappy...
Hi All,
I live in an area were tempatures get to 30 degrees during winter and i am wondering if i need to bring my bop inside they have done wonderful in their pots all summer long at normal tempatures of 95-100 degrees will they survive outside on a porch or should i find a home for them somewhere inside
Thank you
Hello,
I would bring your Bird of Paradise inside for the winter if I was you. They are a tropical plant and usually tropicals can't withstand under 50.
However, I have never dealt with keeping houseplants outside year round since in Wisconsin, winters get below zero.
Any other readers have any advice?
Thanks,
drayas
I have several BOP and some of them have rolled leaf edges but usually a changing of light and/or water will straighten them, although i find it's usually caused by non-filtered light. There is a freezing question that i don't know was ever addressed. BOP can tolerate BRIEF temps of 24 deg. (so if u leave it out in frost one night it won't die) however anything below freezing will severely inhibit flower production and growth esp when exposed for anylength of time.
Thanks for sharing the advice.
-- drayas
Our plant is producing a lot of sticky material that is getting all over the floor etc. Is this normal or is there a problem with the plant?
Hello,
Wipe the plant down with rubbing alcohol. That should get rid of the pest causing the stickiness.
Thanks,
drayas
Depending on the size of the BOP plant, it can take between 3-5 years to flower, and grow between 5-8ft. However they are beautiful when in flower. I have one, bought it with one leaf, i have had it 6 months and have 5 leaves, they do not rush to produce leaves but when they do, its pleasing to the eye. I water mine once a week thoroughly and have it about 5 feet away and turn it at least twice a week, i am not expecting flowers for a good while yet.
Where do you buy these things?!
plant loving kid,
Glad you like the blog. I try my best to keep up with comments but I'm running a bit behind.
I purchased mine from Stein Garden & Gifts, a specialty gardening store here in Wisconsin.
Thanks,
drayas
I was wondering if you guys knew where to cut the flower after it had bloomed? Also, what leaves are considered suckers?
I purchased a BOP yesterday, and it fell and some leaves was broken. I don't know anything about plants, but I am willing to learn. Should I cut the leaf or wait for it to grow back. Help me!
My Mexican Bird of Paradise looks nothing like your Bird of Paradise and you do not show anything that resembles it. This is more like a fern and has orange birds. It is not doing well. I have taken it out of soil and just put it in water to see if I could encourage new roots. I live in AZ and is gets really hot but I keep it facing a north window and made sure the soil is always wet but it does not seen healthy (I did have it next to a Dumb cane but they did not touch, could this be a problem). What to do? I love this site it really is helpful. Any advice would be appreciated.
I just purchased a white BOP and I am in south mississippi I am trying to figure out the best place to plant it in my back yard. I have read one place that says give as much sun as possible and on that said part shade I have both options but does it need morning sun afternoon shade or vise versa. We do get freezes here occationally, last year was the worst winter we have had in 9 years, below 32 about 6 to 8 times. Would it be better to leave in a pot outside and move to the greenhouse in the winter? Thanks for any advise.
Marta
I have a B.O.P. planted in the ground for several years. It does great even though it freezes here during the winter. My question is how do I trim it. Will it die if I cut into the root base. It is getting too big.
I have just purchased a BOP, and don't know where to put it. My deck and my sunroom faces the east. I live in southern Alabama. Should I plant it in a pot on the deck where it will get brighter sun and heat, or in the sunroom where it will get filtered light and home temperature? I'd appreciate some advice.
have a bop and experienced the rolling leaves...live in NC, re-potted plant for indoors, now smelling a foul, sour, fishy smell and white substance at base of plant by bulb...purchased from Costco in June..want to save this plant as it is has beautiful large leaves and new growth...separated a baby shoot just last week, placed it in a jar of water to get roots to grow...planted large plant in 'miracle grow moisture control planting soil' mixed with Miracle grow Sphagnum peat moss...anyone know what i can do to save this beauty?
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