Most plants grow on me slowly. I look at a few and say, “That’s for me!” That is the way I felt about bird-of-paradise (Strelitzia reginae).
Given the conditions it likes, the bird of paradise grows rapidly, the shiny banana-like leaves spreading out like a fan. Ten to 12 leaves develop before a bloom appears, but the great shiny leaves are beautiful in themselves.
A native of South Africa, it is a sun-loving plant, glorying in the brightest place in the room, though requiring humidity for satisfactory development.
Achieving Humidity
I achieved this by putting the pot on a tray of dampened vermiculite and placing it in the living room corner, which was crowded with plants. Thus, by adding to the humidity, my bird was right in its element.
Any plant that needs lots of water and humidity benefits by having humus in the soil. I used one part leaf mold, one part rich soil, and one part sand. This was what it needed for it to start into active growth immediately.
Bird-of-paradise mustn’t be potted deep. The place where the roots join the foliage should be just above the soil line.
Feeding
I do not feed it during the short days of winter, but on longer days, I give it a small amount of organic fertilizer dissolved in water every month.
Feed these plants according to the growth they make. Fast-growing healthy plants can absorb and benefit from more food than weak, sickly ones.
Light and Temperature
In summer, I place the pot rim deep in soil under a tree, thereby giving it sunlight filtered through the high thin shade.
Strelitzia will not take frost, so it should be returned to the house before a deep chill occurs. A mild temperature all summer long is necessary to grow bird-of-paradise out-of-doors.
The day finally comes when a bright bird appears. Looking at the blossom one way, it will seem to be a crane with its bright crest, but on coming nearer, you’ll see instead a little bird perching on a branch.
Either way, that bright orange and blue flower is worth waiting for. And how it lasts! As it fades, another flower appears and another until six to eight of them have bloomed.
Propagating Bird of Paradise
To propagate bird-of-paradise by division, take part of the fan of leaves, say the two outside ones, with as much root as you can get.
Pot it up and keep the little plant out of the sun until you know that growth has started.
Bird-of-paradise can be started from seed too, but only if you are a patient waiter. First, plant the seed in a moisture-retaining medium such as sphagnum moss, cover it with glass, and keep it out of sunlight.
It takes up to six months for the little plants to appear, but when they do, all will grow. However, it requires about five years for the plant to grow from seed to the flowering stage.
Least Demanding Houseplant
Now that I have had a bird of paradise in my home for approximately five years, I can say it is the least demanding of my houseplants.
Given food, a place in the sun, humidity, and occasional spraying with cool water, it will grow and bloom.
Remember, it becomes a big plant, so give it plenty of root room. Water well when the soil is dry, then wait until it becomes dry again.
44659 by Dorothy Schroeder