Bird of Paradise Plant
Strelitzia
White Bird of Paradise Plant
A Bird of Paradise Plant is a slow growing plant with large paddle- shaped leaves that resemble those of a Banana Plant. Even indoors, a Bird of Paradise Plant can easily reach a height of 6ft.-7ft. This plant has no stem and the leaves, sometimes 3ft or more in length, emerge from a central frond. After about 4 or 5 years, a Bird of Paradise Plant(Strelitzia Reginae) may, on rare occasions, produce an exotic orange/red flower that resembles the head of a crane. The Strelitzia Nicolai or White Bird of Paradise will produce a blue/white version of this flower. Flower production is much more frequent when a Bird of Paradise Plant is used as an outdoor plant.
Light
A Bird of Paradise Plant requires very
bright light Very few houseplants should be placed in direct sun. High light refers only to bright indirect light since direct sun often burns the leaves of indoor houseplants. An area that is too hot and dry encourages Spider Mites and causes blooms to quickly fade. A northern exposure really doesn’t provide enough light for high light plants. These plants need to be placed directly in front of an east-facing window, within 1-3 feet of a west-facing window, and within 5 ft. of a south facing window. A high light area has over 300 ft. candles of light.. This plant can even be placed in the direct sun if you do it gradually and allow the leaves to slowly adapt. You may have to move a Bird of Paradise Plant to different areas of your home as the seasons change in order to give it adequate light. Placing a Bird of Paradise Plant close to a south- facing window is always best.
Water
In the spring and summer the soil of a Bird of Paradise Plant should be moist but never soggy. This plant needs less water in the fall and winter. Water a Bird of Paradise Plant from the bottom so the soil does not become too compact and remains well aerated. Water that has a high salt content burns the leaves of a Bird of Paradise Plant..
Fertilizer
Feed a Bird of Paradise Plant monthly in the spring and summer when it is actively growing with a good basic houseplant fertilizer Plants need fertilizer only when they are actively growing. Slow growing plants in low light require very little plant food. Too much fertilizer is worse than not enough. Most plants prefer a water soluble plant food at 1/2 the recommended strength. Plants that are in bloom or dormant should not be fertilized. Houseplant food contains nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). A fertilizer containing these elements in equal proportion is considered a balanced plant food. Nitrogen helps in photosynthesis and encourages the growth of leaves and stems. Potassium and phosphorus also help in photosynthesis and aid in root and flower development. Most fertilizers have trace elements of other minerals that are lacking in the soil but are necessary for good plant growth. Fertilizers have a high salt content. If a plant is not producing new leaves and doesn’t absorb the fertilizer, salts build up in the soil. These salts can burn the roots, discolor the leaves, and cause new growth to be small. at 1/2 the recommended strength. Never fertilize a Bird of Paradise Plant in the fall and winter when it is resting. Excess food in the soil deposits salts that burn the leaves of a Bird of Paradise plant.
Temperature
A Bird of Paradise Plant grows best when the temperature is between 65-75 degrees during the spring, summer, and fall. In the winter, when a Bird of Paradise Plant is “resting,” keep the temperature 10 degrees cooler. If the temperature goes below 50 degrees the leaves of a Bird of Paradise Plant curl and turn black.
Humidity
A Bird of Paradise Plant does well in basic household humidity.
Flowering
Unlike the out door varieties, an indoor Bird of Paradise Plant rarely blooms.
Pests
A Bird of Paradise Plant is susceptible to scale Soft Brown Scale is the most common scale that attacks indoor houseplants especially ficus, ivy, spider plants, ferns, aralia, and schefflera. It appears as small bumpy brown spots that appear to move. As the scale sucks on the sap of the plant it secretes a sticky substance called honeydew. The honeydew attracts black mildew. Because of the shell-like exterior, sprays are only partially effective against scale. Wipe off the lines of brown oval bumps with your finger, a cloth, or a child’s toothbrush then spray the plant with Neem Oil. Use the Green Solution to clean off the black mildew., Mealy Bugs See a picture, learn to identify and treat Mealy Bugs, a houseplant pest that leaves sticky, white, cottony residue on houseplants., and spider mites Spider Mites, members of the Acari family, are small insects about 1mm in size. The most common indoor plant mite is the red spider mite (also called the two-spotted spider mite.). These pests lay their eggs on the under surface of leaves and produce fine webbing especially where the leaves are attached to the stem. Spider mites are hard to see with the naked eye, and may appear only as small red dots. They are more often recognized by the gritty feel of the leaf when you run your finger down it’s length, or by the appearance of discolored leaves due to the sucking action of the mites. The best way to prevent spider mites is to keep your plants clean and dust free. Treat spider mites by spraying every ten days for a month with a product such as Safer Insecticidal Soap.. Fortunately these plant pests are quickly detected on the large broad leaves of a Bird of Paradise Plant and are easily wiped off with a soft cloth or warm soapy water. Alcohol, leaf shine, or any spray pesticide should never be used on the leaves of a Bird of Paradise, they harm the matte finish on the leaves.
Diseases
The large leaves of a Bird of Paradise Plant are susceptible to a plant disease called Leaf Spot which can be caused by either a fungus or a bacteria. Remove infected leaves from the Bird of Paradise Plant quickly, clean out any leaf pieces in the soil, and avoid getting water on the leaves. If using a commercial Fungicide .Fungicides are chemical compounds that are used to kill or inhibit fungi or fungal spores. Fungi can cause serious damage to your houseplants., test it first on a small section of a Bird of Paradise Plant leaf to be sure it won’t ruin its appearance.
Soil
Use a basic potting soil for a Bird of Paradise Plant that retains water but still drains well.
Pot Size
A 3′-4′ Bird of Paradise Plant is usually available in 10″ pots. A 5′-7′ Bird of paradise Plant comes in a 14″ pot.
Pruning
Cut off any dead or damaged leaves and stems as close to the root clump of a Bird of Paradise Plant as you can.
Propagation
The easiest way to propagate a Bird of Paradise Plant is by plant division Read how to propagate houseplants
Resting Period
A Bird of Paradise Plant rests in the fall and winter and requires less water and no fertilizer Plants need fertilizer only when they are actively growing. Slow growing plants in low light require very little plant food. Too much fertilizer is worse than not enough. Most plants prefer a water soluble plant food at 1/2 the recommended strength. Plants that are in bloom or dormant should not be fertilized. Houseplant food contains nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). A fertilizer containing these elements in equal proportion is considered a balanced plant food. Nitrogen helps in photosynthesis and encourages the growth of leaves and stems. Potassium and phosphorus also help in photosynthesis and aid in root and flower development. Most fertilizers have trace elements of other minerals that are lacking in the soil but are necessary for good plant growth. Fertilizers have a high salt content. If a plant is not producing new leaves and doesn’t absorb the fertilizer, salts build up in the soil. These salts can burn the roots, discolor the leaves, and cause new growth to be small. at all.
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