The bird of paradise is one of the most beautiful tropical plants. At first it was known for its flower, which was part of some bouquets, giving even more visibility to this striking flower. But then it became known that we could grow it as a plant. Do you know what caring for the potted bird of paradise plant is?
If we have already piqued your curiosity, either because the plant has impacted you, or because you have it at home and the last thing you want is for it to die, then we will give you the details of its care.
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How is the bird of paradise plant
The bird of paradise plant, scientifically named Strelitzia reginae, originated in South Africa, but has spread to many other parts of the world, such as Latin America or the Mediterranean coast. Physically, it is a plant that can easily reach 2 meters.
But the most striking thing about this plant is not its height but the flower it produces in summer. This has several colors, such as orange, purple, and blue. And above all, it has the shape of a bird’s head, which is why it is so beautiful. This flower stays completely beautiful for two weeks (in vase, cut), much longer if left on the plant.
It is very attractive to insects, due to its sweet smell (which lasts even when cut). Therefore, if you want to have a nice garden with some insects, nothing like this plant.
Caring for the Potted Bird of Paradise Plant
This exotic plant is very resistant. In fact, you can put it in windy places and it will hold up. But if you want to plant the bird of paradise in a pot, you just need to pay attention to the following care.
lighting
If you are going to have a bird of paradise plant in a pot, you need to place it in a very sunny spot. It needs direct sunlight at least 4 hours a day.
In summer, the temperature being too high, place it in a semi-shaded place so that its leaves do not burn. And in the winter, depending on the temperature, you’ll have to put it indoors if it gets too low.
Temperature
Speaking of temperature, you should know that this plant needs a temperature that neither drops nor rises between 12 and 25 degrees.
In fact, if it drops below 10 degrees, the plant suffers. And the same if we are talking about temperatures over 30 degrees. In these cases, it is best to have the pot inside the house where you can better control the temperature.
Earth
To have it healthy in a pot, you will need the soil to have a slightly acidic pH. And, in addition, that the earth is rich in magnesium, calcium and potassium. Because? Because this mixture will help it to have a greater flowering.
Don’t forget to add some drainage such as perlite, vermiculite, akadama… so that it maintains the humidity in the plant and, at the same time, protects it from lack of watering or excess.
Flower pot
Since we are going to have the paradise plant in a pot, it is worth knowing what type of pot we should provide for it.
The first thing is that these plants have very strong roots and also grow quickly. Therefore, it is recommended to place it in a large pot with which it can develop its roots (in depth).
Transplant
Because of everything we’ve told you before, the potted bird of paradise plant should be repotted at least once a year. At this time, you should not only change the soil, but also check the roots in case they may be rotten or in poor condition (if so, you can cut them).
Normally, it is the first five years that this transplant will require, always at the beginning of spring. Later, you can continue to place it in the same pot, but instead of transplanting it, removing about 3 cm of soil and adding a new one will be more than enough. The maximum of your pot will be about 30cm in diameter.
Watering and humidity
About irrigation, we have to tell you that it is a very delicate plant. Many.
It is not easy for the roots to rot and one of the common mistakes with this plant is overwatering it. It is true that you must keep the soil moist at all times, but between irrigations it is best to wait until it dries out to avoid waterlogging problems.
To give you an idea, and depending on your climate, you could water it:
- In winter, 1 to 2 times a week. If there is a lot of humidity, even every two weeks.
- In summer, 4 to 5 times a week. If it is very hot and dry, you may need to water it even twice a day.
In addition to watering, you should think about humidity. Remember that this is a tropical plant and as such humidity is more important to it than irrigation.
How to provide it? This can be done in two ways: by placing the pot on a plate with stones and water (in this way the pot does not touch the water but feeds on humidity); or put a humidifier so that the environment is always humid.
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If you put a little manure or homemade compost on it, it will not reject it, quite the contrary. He likes organic fertilizers and you can apply them every 20 days.
Of course, always discard them before their flowering period.
Cut
The bird of paradise plant will not need much pruning, but it is true that when the flower fades, it is better to cut it and remove the dead parts because in this way it will regenerate more quickly and, in addition, you will ensure that ‘she won’t get sick
the reproduction
Propagation of the bird of paradise plant can be done in two different ways: by seed or by division of the plant.
Seeds
You will find the seeds in the flower, but you will have to search a bit. Find a light green mass on the stem. It’s a small pod where these are stored.
Once you locate it, wait for it to open on its own. There will be black seeds and around them an orange layer. You can pick them but you must let them dry for five days.
Then you just have to plant them, yes, maximum 3 seeds per pot. After 3-4 months you should have the first shoots.
factory division
You can do this at the time of the transplant. It consists in separating the plant by the natural division that it itself does. Be careful because the next step will be to untangle the roots. The most advisable thing is not to cut them, but to have the patience to separate them.
You will only have to place each plant in a pot and wait for them to continue to grow.
Do you have any questions about caring for the potted bird of paradise plant? Ask us!