I think I may need to call a professional such as a tree trimmer. I was wondering if you had any recommendations for other plants that would complement the BOP and that would have similar care requirements. Bird Of Paradise Plant Care In Southern California this plant, with its bright, bold and easily recognizable flowers, is ubiquitous. Half the base of the plant is dead stumps…either hard and dry, or wet and mushy. It has never bloomed. I would soak my very established 19′ GBOP in Santa Barbara, CA every 2-4 weeks in the months when it didn’t rain. Hi Nell. They have large bulbous roots. Here is our guide to growing a Bird of Paradise plant. As the plant ages, more flowers will appear. They need bright natural light indoors (but no direct hot sun) & a fair amount of water. Hundreds of leaves. They’ve more to offer than just looks though. Our landscaper took 3 sections out of it to transplant, and now there are 4 plants. –> You want to plant it in a nice, rich potting mix. Thanks so much. It’s found growing alongside sidewalks and the streets, by the sea, poolside, in parking strips, in container plantings as well as in lots and lots of gardens. During the winter Ohio is not known for sunshine and the house is not a sunny home either. After I brought it inside the leaves turned brown and died off so I cut them off (closest to the rootball as I could), and left one stem which has 2 leaves on it. I live in Washington, DC, where I have grown a BOP indoors for about 20 years and I don’t recall repotting in in at least 15 years. The flowers are long lasting on the plant as well as in arrangements. After 3 or 4 months, I decided to cut off anything dead. Bird of Paradise has a very tough root system & will eventually overtake & crowd out other plants so it’s best to not plant anything to close to it. It’s been in the same pot for 3 years now and we’ve had no blooms yet. BUT, the foliage is constantly coming. I can’t reach the center) and leave all the healthy bits to so their thing (lots and lots of new leaves coming in! 2) the best time to do it is spring or early summer. Nell. Please help, Hi Shaina – Yes you can, my neighbors did that to 2 of their plants. Even though they bloom best when potbound, they could be too crowded. There are three strelitzia species: reginae, juncea and nicolai, and all are used to make a dramatic impact in the garden, as hardy foliage plants or to create a tropical-look garden indoors and outdoors. at his point. Hi Chrissy – Giant BOP like regular waterings but they are prone to rot, depending on your soil drains. It jhas hit hard times from probably being rootbound. Hi Nell, We had a very large, neglected BOP in our sunny front yard in San Jose, but we needed to reduce the size for a new landscape design. Hi Dan – I live in Tucson so I know what you mean. Nell, Hi Ruth – That’s longevity! This post may contain affiliate links. Nell. Transplanting depends on the size of the plant, the size of the pot it’s in & how fast it’s growing. I also pull out the dead outer leaves for making the plant feel lighter. The lack of flowering could be due to lack of light. Could I cut them down (as I will my outdoor bananas), protect the roots from water and frost and expect that they’ll come back in the spring? Cultivars of the Strelitzia genus of bird of paradise abound, but the Caesalpinia genus is nothing like the BOP with which most gardeners are familiar. They are planted in the ground and 4ft tall. Dwarf Orange Bird Of Paradise features bold spikes of orange flowers with blue overtones rising above the foliage from late winter to late fall. Nell, Hi Kristin – October/November is a great time for planting or transplanting in LA. Native to South Africa, Strelitzias are tough plants. If you like bold tropical foliage and big bright blooms then it’s so well worth the effort. I put an overhead fixture above each one and have been using a led bulb with 11 red and 4 blue lights. Any idea what we’re dealing with? In Southern California this plant, with its bright, bold and easily recognizable flowers, is ubiquitous. I’m including this because the flowers were regular sized but the plants themselves were only 1 to 1 -1/2′ tall. The plants are green, never have bloomed but that’s ok. Strelitzia prefer warm temperatures and sheltered areas that don’t get cold. Bird of paradise is a tropical plant, thriving with high humidity. Required fields are marked *. Keep the plant in a sunny, brightly-lit spot, Water when the surface of the soil feels dry. You can grow it outdoors in the warmer months & move it indoors when the temps drop. My guess (& this is a guess!) Yours is old enough to bloom. I had bought a bop last year from a nursery here in central Texas I woulk love to know if it can be done. Nell. Hi Alexsandra – My neighbor in Santa Barbara CA cut their 5′ BOPs down to 10″ above the ground. Learn more about Monrovia plants and best practices for best possible plant performance. I can’t say how often because I don’t know your summer temps. Is this normal? Bird of Paradise, Bird of Paradise Bush, Desert Bird of Paradise, Yellow Bird of Paradise, Paradise Caesalpinia, Paradise Poinciana Thanks for your advice! This large growing shrub to tender shrub-like perennial makes a fantastic show throughout summer. They are about 30 years old! You'll also do well to pick a south facing window if some shielding is provided from harsh summer sun which can burn the leaves of immature plants. Hi Lindsey – I know the peninsula well because I lived in SF for 20 years. Laura Barry is a writer, bookworm and interior design enthusiast with a love for reporting on all things homes, travel and lifestyle. Problem is, on the 3 new plants some of the stalks are dead or dying and the flowers start to bloom, then die, with a strange resin looking substance on them. This is not really a care tip but well worth a mention. Bird of Paradise grow in containers (many grow them as houseplants) fine as long as the pot is big enough. It’s common but loved nonetheless so much so that it’s the official flower of the city of Los Angeles. The roots are very tough but very fibrous & prone to over watering. The plants do best in Zone 10, but can be container-grown in Zone 9B and moved indoors when cold snaps hit. When we moved a couple of very mature BOP’s, we did the soak well with water over time method & dug them out over a 2 day period. Hi Nell! Because of the drought in Southern California, the foliage of this plant is not looking like it did pre-drier times. When you plant a young Bird Of Paradise don’t be surprised if it doesn’t flower for the 1st few years. The plant is native to South Africa and requires a steady climate between 50-72 degrees Fahrenheit (10-20 degrees Celsius) to thrive. It’s hardy to 25-30 degrees F.  The Bird Of Paradise grows in USDA zones 10-12 & also in zone 9 with protection from prolonged freezes. So beautiful and simply astonishing plants. They eventually came back just fine but believe me, it didn’t happen overnight. I would love a good video on this process even if you use the regular Bird of paradise to illustrate the process. Nell. They are leggy with few smaller leaves on them. Hi Nell, Comment document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a5e0cfd97965257200caaedc8b4df2b7" );document.getElementById("dbea3e9ff2").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Hi, I’m Nell, and this is where I celebrate all things garden and share my passion for plants, flowers and the great outdoors. They haven’t had blooms for many years and wonder what to do to produce blooms again. Not enough sunlight and moisture means the flowers may not bloom, Over-watering is bad for this plant, only water when needed. 06/08/2016. –> In terms of feeding, you can give your Bird Of Paradise a drink with a balanced organic liquid houseplant fertilizer in the spring. It gets regular water and a lot of sunlight. You can read our policies here. Here are a couple of Birds growing in shade in Santa Barbara. Mexican Bird Of Paradise Plant Uses. The best time to transplant strelitzia outdoors is during late spring or early summer. They tend to be the smaller growth which appears off the base. I would keep my BOPs & Giant BOP a bit thinned out because I liked the look better. Nell, Hi Nell, I have a BOP in a pot which I brought in for the winter months (I live in zone 9). Hi Jacqueline – I’ve only transplanted an established BOP once but I’ll tell you what I learned &/or know. I was so excited. Be sure to wait until the weather has consistently warmed up at night; which would most likely be spring. It took a while for them to start coming back. They’ve been on a drip system so I think they’re getting the right amount of water. Knowing that there is less humidity indoors, I do “mist” the plant daily. I do the “finger check” to see when it needs water. This plant is really easy to care for outdoors (it’s 1 tough puppy) but is a little more of a challenge indoors. It’s an evergreen variety and is a tropical plant. It’s the size of a shrub! Make sure that you can maintain as much root as possible when transplanting. I have had a BOP for At least 20 years. Or as long as it comes out with a pull it won’t damage the plant? For bird of paradise care outdoors, make sure your plant is well watered before a predicted cold spell by soaking the area around the root zone. The plant produces stems that grow in a clump. I have noticed that it does occur on older plants with quite a bit of “clump” to them because I haven’t seen any newly planted or younger plants with those double blooms. Thanks SO much for your help! Kate – The Giant Birds of Paradise has a very strong root system. Hope that helps, Nell. Do you know why this may have happened? What could be the problem? I barely remember to water it, but the bottom is all wet and mushy. I thought they lasted much longer?? The pot has good drainage. Yours should start to put out a bit of new growth once it warms & you put it back outside. They can be somewhat difficult to dig up (to remove that portion hanging over) because of their fibrous “intense” root system so the easier thing to do would be to cut those stems all the way down to the ground. Oh, I love to create so you’ll find a bit of that in the mix along with lots of videos too. The plant was doing good for 8 yrs last year bloomed several times. They need lots of natural light (at least 6 hrs/day) to bloom. 2. can I save the babies or o they share the age with the original one? Protect bird of paradise plants any time temperatures drop toward freezing. This sub tropical/tropical clumping evergreen perennial can reach 6′ tall by 6′ wide. Some of my BOP flower pods have black dots on them and the flowers inside are dead. thanks!! Could it have been too much water? Give it as much light as possible, outdoors in a bright spot would be best, & let it dry out before watering again. Here’s the picture I said that I’d try to find in the video. It’s a slow process indoors but an option. Hi Sandy – Thank you! I live in South Carolina, Hi Cheryl – Bird of Paradise likes sun & warm temps to grow; a lot depends on the weather. I need to know how to keep it under control. Nell. Be sure it gets deep waterings as it’s coming back. These plants are my babies . I am PJ in Houston. I’ve only seen them with mealy bugs but have read that they can be susceptible to scale & spider mites as well. The horticultural gurus at Yates suggest giving an indoor strelitzia a solid start to life indoors. Hi Nell, I live in San Jose, CA. Will this damage the plant? What you need to know about bird of paradise Name: bird of paradise, strelitzia , crane flower, bird’s tongue flower (Strelitzia reginae) Plant type: evergreen, forms a trunkless clump Height: to around 1.2m tall by 2–3m wide with age Foliage: similar to a small banana leaf but on a stem, very rigid, green to grey-blue. Planting too deep might hinder flowering. The Mexican Bird of Paradise is a great addition to large patios or decks, low-maintenance medians, compact urban lots, parking lot islands, in containers. If you liked this Bird Paradise Plant Care blog you should also check the one I did on the Giant Bird Of Paradise. It has been in sun, and indirect light. Bird of paradise is widely grown in warm and tropical areas, but can be grown indoors in cooler climates. I’m not quite sure if that stem will heal itself because I’ve never had experience with accidentally cutting a stem like that. ), but…what more can I do? How to tell the difference between strelitzia species, 5 ways to add colour to your garden in winter, The essential guide to Australian native plants. Hi Nell, Can you tell me what kind of light bulb I need for my plants. You certainly can cut them down & protect the roots but just know that it may take all season for them to re-grow. Here’s my question though… when a new leaf emerges it never opens on its own… we’ve had to “birth” them, which leads to split or fractured leaves. Use a high-quality potting mix to fill your pot and choose a pot at least 40cm wide pot with holes for drainage. Nell, Hi Nell, I live in Tasmania, Australia. I do know 2 things on this subject though: you need to soak the seeds for a few days before planting them & it can take over 10 years for a plant grown from seed to flower. It planted in general , planting soil from the nursery, with one bag of Miracle Grow, moisture guard soil mixed in. Yes, cut the dead bloom off including the stalk all the way back. Quantity. Most common disease are fungus-based, and root rot. I live Puerto Rico (zone 13a, b) and have recently planted (outdoors) Giant BOP and ma having a heck of a time…one plant seems like it’s rotting from the base…the others have brown curled leaves, I’m really struggling with figuring our how much or how often they should be watered. By keeping it slightly potbound you’ll get much better blooms. This plant is not a giant, it has the yellow, orange and blue flowers. Hi Peter – You can always cut the stems down to about 3’tall & have them rejuvenate as new plants. They prefer deep waterings to frequent,shallow waterings. But now I found that the leaves are now getting brown. My parents had a bird of paradise in a pot for 5 yrs and now I have it . I’m planning on keeping some of the healthy divisions and planting them elsewhere in the garden. Black round with a bit of orange woollike hair. Within both genera, there are numerous types of bird of paradise plants suitable for warm regions in which theyre hardy. Love your blog, thanks so much for sharing your green wisdom! I would appreciate your recommendation on this rescue. The garden experts at Bunnings suggest popping you strelitzia in a suitably warm and sunny position, and don’t forget to keep it watered in summer. Here’s how to care for birds of paradise to keep them at their best. I live in Tampa FL and have 2 BOP in my screened pool area. We have a bop at our office. Looking for some advice on how to choose the perfect location for a plant outside? Many thanks, Sofia – Birds Of Paradise are very tough once established. Is there any hope? It does okay in part shade & actually prefers this in blazing hot climates. If it’s completely brown, it’s best to cut it back & have it rejuvenate. The plants looked horrible for about a year but they did eventually grow back beautifully. Botanical Name: Strelitzia Reginae 200mm Pot. I did transplant it summer. Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia) is a much loved plant in Australian gardens. I’ve had some Birds of Paradise for 7 years and others for about 2 1/2 years. Thanks for your advice. Hi Nell, I’ve recently bought a house in Carlsbad, CA and the previous owner planted several Giant BOP. Don’t rush to divide it because it blooms better when crowded. I bought a gallon size pot at Home Depot and split it in three main clumps to bring back. Kind regards from South Africa. Nell. Just be sure to get the undersides of the leaves & in the nodes as well. The Bird Of Paradise looks & does the best with regular water – not too wet & not too dry. Nell, Hi Nell, I have a bird of paradise in full sun and have been pulling out the spent flowers instead of cutting them. Just be sure to give them a really good soaking when you plant them. 1. You can take them off after they’re spent if you’d like. I live in “USDA Plant Hardiness Zone,” 10A. If repotting is worth it, do I need to prune the roots, or do anything else with the roots, and if so how much, and how can I tell? It has spread too far and now I need to cut some of the stalks down. Any idea why? You can also apply a 2″ layer of organic compost &/or worm castings in the spring. It’s been in the same pot the whole time. « I’m Taking A Break – I’ll Be Back Soon In My New Home! Just leave it be for now (you can remove any damaged foliage) & then see how it’s doing in spring. I hate to give it the Mohawk treatment. Be warned – those tall stems are heavy but it’s a way to control the size. It now has the leaves curling over ove and touching the floor except a few that I have tied up to a post. Step 1 Grow bird of paradise plants in well-drained, fertile soil in a sunny or partially sunny location. –> Just like outdoors, it likes to grow crowded so don’t rush to do any transplanting. My bush of the plant made seeds. Should I cut the dead bloom off now? In winter they could most likely take more sun. Thanks! Last winter, I brought them inside because there’s no way they’d survive the cold, but they’re all so big now and there’s absolutely no place for them inside. browned. If I planted a rhizome, do you know how long it would take before it bloomed? Hi Terry – I lived in San Francisco for 20 years. Many plants around Santa Barbara would have all single flower blooms & 1 double. I put the pot outside in summer and inside in winter months. Andrew, Hi Andrew – Bird Of Paradise is a really tough plant. The B O P has withered and Hi Shandra – It’s best to keep up on the pruning of a Bird Of Paradise. We live in South Carolina where the weather is extremely warm and humid in summer month, was wondering if the climate will be right for these beauties? There is a lot of natural, but not direct, light in the room. The opening process can take a while. I waited almost 60 days for the last leaf to open before doing it myself. Bird-of-paradise or crane flower (Strelitzia reginae) is a native of South Africa and is closely related to the banana. Although they bloom best when tight in their pots, 20 years in the same pot is pushing it. The plant forms a 3- to 5-foot-tall clump that can be used as a focal point i… Another reason for the split, torn leaves is wind. As to the resin, BOP flowers secrete a sugary nectar which oozes out of them & drips down. In the cooler, darker months be sure to back off on the watering allowing it to dry out before doing it again. Hi Nell, I live in South Africa. Thanks for your help! California. The Bird Of Paradise grows the best & blooms the most in full sun. Thanks for the advice in advance. This works slower but the effects last longer. 6 months later, we had 14 beautiful flowers. They’re sometimes sold on amazon, ebay & etsy but I have no idea of the quality. You could give Berkeley Horticultural Nursery, East Bay Nursery, Flora Grubb Gardens or Sloat garden Center out by the zoo a call & see if they have 1 or could order 1. Hi Nell, It blooms the heaviest, in Southern California anyway, fall through spring & then intermittently in summer. As someone once said, it may be easier to buy a new one than to try to divide it! I’m tickled pink to have you here! I do love them, Thanks, Hi Pam – Plant those clumps so that the top of the root balls are level with the soil as they’d been growing before. Nell, I planted my bird of paradise in my garden this past summer and it was beautiful all summer. How can I plant the seeds to so if I can grow them.. Set the pot on top making sure that no roots are staying soaked. What should I do? A combo of compost & manure (or worm compost) is great. I’m in the mountains in Central Mexico 6;250 ft above sea level. If the spent flower stalk pulls off easily (or fairly easily!) They have a rather tough, extensive root system. The other half is smushed up against our house. Any ideas about planting in very hot climates ( similar to Phoenix ~I guess). Where can I get a dwarf bird of paridise. I was gone most of the month it had been bloomed and had someone watching and watering all of my plants each week while I was away. 8-14" spiked clusters of up to 40 pinkish-red ball-like buds open to yellow butterfly-like blooms, then fade to a deep orange and gold, and finally turning to a deep reddish-orange to red. This “mohawking” is NOT the way to prune these plants! The crested orange & blue flowers are what this plant is grown for, both in the landscape & commercially. A few handfuls of coco coir added in  would be greatly appreciated. And, you need to get a fair amount of the roots with the division. We want kinda of a tropical them we have several plants started in pots and then plan on transplanting them next year. I just had a friend tell me today, “that’s not going to live, it’s going to die. I planted it in full sun out in the front garden. Hi Krishnee – If the leaves are just tipping, BOPs are prone to that in periods of dryness. All the other plants are flourishing. Strelitzia Reginae Dwarf Bird of Paradise 200mm Pot. This is what the neighbors down the street did to the 2 Birds of Paradise on either side of their front steps. To increase humidity, run a humidifier, mist your plant every other day, or place it on a saucer of pebbles with a little water added. It also works well when grown as a shrub with a mixed border. Will it heal itself and where will the plant grow from now? It has several babies. Any advise would be appreciated. Hi Sandra – They need around 6 hours of sun per day to bloom. LOL, I’m beginning to wonder if it’s even a bop! Roots are still moist. Hi – I honestly don’t have experience with growing plants under artificial light. I live in Toronto, Canada, and have a large BoP that I bought a couple of years ago when it was about 4-5 feet tall. Hi Mike – I’m not quite sure how to answer this because I don’t know the under what conditions your BOP is growing. My largest is 20 feet tall and produces gorgeous white flowers. The Bird of Paradise plant, or strelitzia, is a large and gorgeous foliage plant that looks just as majestic indoors in a pot, as it does outside in the garden.This plant is famous for its round palm-like leaves and its brightly-coloured architectural flowers that bloom to look like tropical birds – earning the strelitzia the household name of ‘Bird of Paradise’ plant. It’s not going too be a giant. The next yr, he brought me some seeds from Hawaii, they are so kewl looking! I’ve decided to really get after the rotten parts this time, and realized that there over a hundred rotten stem stumps at the base. The Bird of Paradise plant, or strelitzia, is a large and gorgeous foliage plant that looks just as majestic indoors in a pot, as it does outside in the garden. The leaves of a BOP growing indoors open very slowly. I came back into town to discover our drip system had failed. While both species are considered shrubs or small trees and both are evergreen in frost-free regions and deciduous in others, they are two different plants. I live in the sunny part of San Francisco. is that it’ll be ok. Nell, Hello Nell. Bird of Paradise ‘Bird of Paradise‘ includes two different plant genera with similar names – Strelitzia genus, and Caesalpinia.Plants from the Strelitzia genus is mainly known as florist flower, native to humid and warm areas of South Africa; in zones 9-11, you can grow it as outdoor perennials and can be grown as a houseplant anywhere else.. Nell. However it didn’t grow at all this summer… what can I do to keep it growing Nell. I’m going to try my hardest to cut all the rotten stems down as far as I can (It is a BIG bush. Once they get older & grow to be a very large plant, they get out of control & it’s hard to keep them looking good due to their girth. The majority of the ones which grow around Santa Barbara don’t get any. Hi could you please tell me how to get rid of BOP as we have it in front of a retaining wall and it is pushing it out. Nell. This striking plant is most commonly known for its unique shaping and colours. I can tell you that BOP is hardy in USDA zones 9-11. And that made me sad. Care For A Bird Of Paradise Plant. Selective pruning generally doesn’t help. Bird of Paradise Dwarf is perfect for shrub borders, and because of its size the dwarf Strelitzia Reginae is ideal for growing in mid size pots. The bird of paradise strelitzia is poisonous to dogs, cats and most other household pets when eaten, so you want to be sure that they are not able to nibble at the plant. It was doing great we transfer it into a bigger pot but we had a harsh weather wk with temp down to 18° .. it warmed up since then but I think it dead. If the roots are coming out the bottom or it’s looking stressed, then it’s time to repot. The flowers are excellent for cutting. Nell. The unique flowers of this plant distinguish it & make it oh so popular. You can either remove them or leave them on, that’s you’re call. Do I cut down the whole BOP to the base of the plant? The unusual blossoms are similar to bird of paradise - and at first glance orange varieties of this plant are often mistaken for orange bird. It bloomed for me last winter in the garage. A lot of stems of browning leaves looked healthy on the outside, but had a hard dark brown chute in the center. It hasn’t rained here (Anaheim) in eons. Yes, that is usually to to the plant being too dry or not enough light. If it looks like it needs a little boost mid-summer, then do it again. Plant Care 101: Bird of Paradise | Strelizia Nicolai - YouTube 1) even tough the roots are tough, if you cut into too many, the plant will suffer. I would assume the same in Dubai. The best time to prune/repot is spring or summer. Bird of paradise grows 3 to 5 feet in height and blooms intermittently through the year, creating a colorful focal point in warm-climate gardens. Hi there! Nell. I am keeping it outside in a planter, about 2 feet diameter, or a tiny bit more. They were then able to clean out the inside. I bought a Bird of Paradise plant 2 months ago from the local nursery. The flower structure is one of the most unusual in the plant kingdom. All I can recall is that the optimum light for flowering plants would be 65-70% fluorescent & 35-30% incandescent. Hi this is Wanda from Ohio. Hi Mari – I’ve only propagated BOPs by division & have no experience with growing them by seed. My BOP has never flowered. In containers use a good quality potting mix that drains freely. How do I know if I’m giving it too much or not enough water? Sounds like a fungal disease to me. A giant bird of paradise, also known as a gray or white bird of paradise, does not contain branches. I have a regular sized one that is doing well. Just brought home my first white bird of paradise… Would you suggest waiting to re-pot until it’s a bit root logged? Bird of Paradise Care Guide Light. 2 clumps have come out. Eventually, they died. Nell, Hi Vicki – When BOPs are growing as houseplants & the leaves don’t open, it’s usually due to lack of humidity. But maybe that’s the only way to treat it The days are getting shorter & winter is on the way but it’s not cool & rainy yet. They're slow growers to about 4 to 6 feet tall and wide, and are considered deer … I moved from California to Arizona in June & miss my 20′ GBOP. KL, Hi Kay – I’m not sure what causes those double BOP flowers but I do know that it’s not unusual. As you can see, the plant is less dense with longer stems as well as smaller foliage & flowers. The flowers usually last 2-4 weeks once they open. Its attractive pointy leaves remain dark green in color with curious bluish-green undersides throughout the year. The distinctive bird of paradise (Strelitzia reginae or Strelizia nicolai) is one of the best known of all the tropical flowers and is a cousin to the banana.Surprisingly, the bird of paradise is easier to grow than many tropical plants and makes for a vigorous, rapidly growing indoor plant. Native to Africa, strelitzia can grow up to 1.3 metres tall and spread up to two to three metres wide when aged, and has similar foliage to that of banana leaves. 1. Thanks!!!!! © 2020 Joy Us Garden | Care, Propagation, and Pruning About | Contact | PRIVACY POLICYDesign By Viva la Violet, Mother Nature Inspired Christmas Ornaments. Thanks, Krishnee, Hello Nell! Just be sure to take the stems all the way down as close to the base of the plant as you can. You’ll want to remove the dead flowers & any unsightly foliage. Hi Leslie – If your BOP is hitting the ceiling, it sounds like you have a Giant Bird Of Paradise. The red bird of paradise (Caesalpinia pulcherrima) a flowering broadleaf evergreen shrub native to tropical and subtropical climates.Unlike many tropical plants, it has a good tolerance for drought, making it a favorite for desert landscapes. Outdoors BOPs grow very densely so getting stuck usually isn’t an issue. I could saw off the lower flowers, but my neighbor who was a professional gardener took care of the upper ones. Current Height (from the top of the pot) 450mm. Please help me help my beautiful bop, Hi Kollen – With temps below freezing, you want to bring you plant inside the house or at least in the garage if temps stay lower than 32 degrees. When the top few inches of soil are dry, water again. Hope you can tell me what to do. If you think it’s over fertilization (I can’t tell you for sure because I don’t know what he used or how you’ve been taking care of it), then you want to flush as much of it out as possible. I bought a house in LA that has a massive bird of paradise that is a bit bigger than the one pictured above in which your neighbor “mohawked.” We cut it that same way last summer and it has already doubled in height since then. Nell. Leaves grow off the stem to create a fan. My son bot this one for me as a Mother’s Day gift since I had been looking for one. –> You want to give keep it slightly moist by giving it regular water. I just brought a couple BoP from SoCal back to Dubai with me. If you want lots of growth, and eventually flowers, it's going to need bright light and some sun. Hi Liz – That’s normal. It’s in full sun on half the bush. How can you tell when it is pot bound enough to transplant into next size pot? In pots, skip repotting and let stems multiply. –> Our homes tend to be dry so you can increase the humidity with a saucer filled with pebbles & water. Two of the 7-yr-olds are producing double blooms at a time on singles stems, for 2 years. It’s best to transplant them in spring or summer. When not tapping away at her keyboard, Laura can be found making endless cups of tea or perusing the shelves of Sydney’s many bookstores. I have several beautiful Giant Bird of Paradise plants (trees!) Could be not enough light, they need feeding or they need dividing. I have one inside that I water about every 3 days…that one is doing great, but the ones outside and flopped over any advice? I have 4 birds of paradise plants in the corners of my sunroom Maybe the plant was too dry when those leaves were opening? Nell, Hi Dave – I’ve grown them along the coast of CA which is a much more temperate climate. Is it worth repotting the three original plants if I would like it to recover its height or is it too far gone or too old? Any tips would be appreciated I do not want it to look butchered, this is our busy season with lots of foot traffic currently having to walk around the plant. What is the rule for watering a BOP in container? The bird of paradise plant (Strelitzia reginae) is a tropical favorite known for its flamboyant birdlike blooms. Hi Louise – These plants clump & spread as they age so this can become an issue. They like regular water & not to be too wet or too dry. Not all plants will produce a lot of suckers. When soil is completely dry, water enough to saturate the soil then not again until completely dried out. This plant is famous for its round palm-like leaves and its brightly-coloured architectural flowers that bloom to look like tropical birds – earning the strelitzia the household name of ‘Bird of Paradise’ plant. It can take them up to 5 years to flower. What should I do to make it bloom?Hr,p! Essential Gardening Tools You Can Buy On Amazon. Nell, Hey, Neil It’s not uncommon at all to see “double Birds” – that’s what I call them anyway! A couple of the leaves never opened fully – they are still tightly curled at the outer ends, and the leaves have torn where the lower part of the leaf unfurled. Your email address will not be published. Ironically the windows are e glass and block out uv light. I need the smaller one to do flower arrangements. Known as Mexican bird of paradise (along with many other common names), the red bird of paradise (C. pulcherrima) is oftentimes confused with the actual Mexican bird of paradise tree (C. mexicana). What’s causing this and is there something I should use to get rid of the spots? They like rich, organic feedings. I’ve Moved – A Little Change Is In The Air! Can I report it and put in house or put it in ground? Strelitzia require a little bit of extra care if you want it to look lush and gorgeous all year round – and if you want the flowers to bloom then you’ll need to be extra diligent. The flowers usually appear between April and November, but may not appear until the plant is 4 to 5 years old. My neighbors in Santa Barbara sheared their 2 – 5′ BOPs back to a foot & they eventually came back just fine. 10 years ago it grew straight up to 10 feet in my double living room. It was there when we brought our house, its a very big area is there something you can spray on it, to help break it down, to make it easier to dig out. Monrovia's Bird of Paradise details and information. All the stalks started falling over all new growth turned brown cut off bad stalks. ». Not enough? I just bought my first BOP. The leaves and in some cases flowers are canopying over a foot path and I need to get it back from the hardscape. Today there was a vine growing in my BOP and I pulled at it. The babies won’t be the same age. It’s found growing alongside sidewalks and the streets, by the sea, poolside, in parking strips, in container plantings as well as in lots and lots of gardens. –> The leaves would greatly appreciate a good cleaning every now & then. As to the leaves tearing, that’s the nature of the plant. It is sometimes referred to as the Crane plant due to the flowers looking like the feathers on the head of a crane. The Bird Of Paradise isn’t too fussy as to soil which is evidenced by the wide variety of places it grows in. Throughout the rest of the United States, it enjoys widespread popularity as a dependable houseplant. You need a very sharp knife & a very sharp shovel to do it. This plant loves crowds and a little root restriction will encourage blooming. Hi Lisa – Happy to share! Should I cut instead of pull? My husband gave it some fertilizer but not a liquid type though. https://www.joyusgarden.com/ask-nell-why-are-my-giant-bird-of-paradise-leaf-edges-turning-brown/, Project: Bird of Paradise – Surf Snow and Sky, https://www.joyusgarden.com/bird-paradise-plant-care/.