The bird of paradise plant is very popular with anyone who loves flowers, and especially if they are exotic. For this reason we should not find it strange that there are those who wonder if it is possible to keep it inside a house, since in this way we could see it every day and, for therefore, enjoying its beauty as soon as we get up each morning. .
Next, How to maintain the bird of paradise plant indoors? Is there anything we should consider to avoid complications? We’re going to talk about all of that now.
Choose the right pot
One of the things we have to do when we buy a Strelitzia reginae -that’s what botanists call it- is to see if the pot it is in has become too small. This can be done in two ways: the first is to see if the roots come out of the holes; and the other holds the plant by the base in one hand and the pot in the other, and now you just have to remove the plant as if you wanted to remove it from the container. In the event that the root ball remains intact, that is, without collapsing, then you will have to change the pot.
This last way can be done when we have a plant that does not grow roots but we suspect that a transplant would do no harm. Personally I like it better, I think it’s the surest way to know for sure if any plant needs more space or not.
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Caring for the Bird of Paradise Plant in a Pot
Once we know yes, we have to plant it in a larger pot, what we will do is pick one that’s about three inches wider and taller than the one you have, and we’ll see that it has holes in its base. We will fill it with universal substrate and we will plant the bird of paradise in the center of the container, making sure that the surface of the root ball remains a little below the edge of the pot. And then we will water.
Put her in a bright room
Its very important. When we already have our Strelitzia reginae ready, we will have to place it in a room where there is lots and lots of light, otherwise it will not flower. In addition to this, it is necessary to place it in a place where there is no air conditioning, fans or the like, since the drafts generated by these devices dry out the environment and the plants.
And speaking of humidity, don’t hesitate to buy a home weather station to find out what percentage of humidity there is where you have your bird of paradise, because if it stays low (less than 50%), you will always have to spray its leaves. Attention, I insist: only if it is weak. Do not spray it with water if you live like me in a house with very high air humidity, otherwise they will rot.
Water the bird of paradise indoors
When should you water the bird of paradise plant if you have it indoors? It must be done less frequently than if we had it outside, because the earth takes longer to dry out. To this we must add that since it supports drought much better than excess water in its roots, it will always be better to irrigate when the soil is dry and not when it is still wet. So that there are no problems, if in doubt, what we are going to do is check the humidity with a stick, as shown in this video:
Now, to water it properly, we will throw the water on the ground until it comes out through the plate that we have put under the pot. And then we’ll empty this one.
Fertilize your bird of paradise
It is strongly advised to fertilize it from the middle of spring to the end of summer (this could even be done in autumn if the cold is slow to arrive and temperatures remain above 15°C). For it, we will apply universal liquid fertilizers like this, or nails like these that simply need to be inserted into the pot.
In this way, we will not only ensure that it grows well, but also that it flowers one day, for which it is finally fertilized. But yes, you must follow the instructions for use that are in the same container, otherwise the roots could burn due to excess product.
remove dry leaves
When you see that a leaf is dry, you can cut it with anvil shears (on sale here) that you have previously cleaned with water and dishwashing liquid.
Make a clean cut so the plant can recover as quickly as possible. You should not cut the green leaves, as they are all useful for growing.
Or buy?
If you don’t have your bird of paradise yet, don’t worry. You can have it here: