The Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia) has banana-like flowers and leaves, and is a stunning exotic tropical plant. Birds of paradise, sometimes known as “birds-of-paradise,” are tropical blooming plants that may be kept indoors in pots. They resemble the head of a crane or birds from the Paradisaeidae family. Orange, yellow, or white Bird of Paradise blooms are interspersed with blue hues.
How to care for bird of paradise plants (Strelitzia): When grown indoors or outside, trelitzia plants need bright light and some direct sunlight. Rich, well-draining, moist soil that is watered often is ideal. During the growing season, keep humidity levels high and temperatures above 60°F (15°C).
Bird of Paradise plants come in five different species. Crane flowers are the local names for these flowering plants, which originate from South Africa. Strelitzia species may reach 32 feet (10 meters) in height. The indoor varieties, on the other hand, are smaller and grow to be around six or seven feet (1.8 – 2.1 m). The large leaves, which range in length from 3.5 to 78 inches (30 to 200 cm), are similar to those of a banana tree.
Bird of Paradise Flower
Bird of paradise plants have a distinct characteristic: their flowers. The white, yellow, or orange blooms that resemble cranes draw the eye, despite the abundance of foliage. The blue or black modified leaf resembles a crane’s beak, and the colorful spiky petals stand up like a crane’s plumage.
Late winter and early spring are the best times to see Bird of Paradise flowers. You may even get white or orange bird of paradise blooms if you take care of the plants well indoors. Strelitzia plants need a lot of bright sunlight to bloom. You should simulate the natural growing circumstances for a bird of paradise indoors by using bright light, heat, and humidity.
Types of Strelitzia (Bird of Paradise)
Two of the five species of Strelitzia are popular houseplants: Strelitzia nicolai, a bird of paradise plant. Strelitzia reginae and Strelitzia nicolai are the two species.
- White bird of paradise (Strelitzia alba)—Large leaves and white blooms characterize this tropical flowering plant.
- Crane lily (Strelitzia reginae)—The name regal refers to the most beautiful of the Strelitzia varieties. The orange and blue blooms of the crane lily make it a popular houseplant.
- Mountain strelitzia (Strelitzia caudata)—It is a type of banana that grows wild and bears white, spikey blossoms.
- White bird of paradise (Strelitzia nicolai)—With white and blue flowers, this is a magnificent specimen of a tall indoor plant.
- African desert banana (Strelitzia juncea)—This drought-tolerant plant with orange blooms is native to South Africa and belongs to the birds of paradise group.
How to Care for Bird of Paradise Indoors
The care requirements for both crane lilies (Strelitzia reginae) and white bird of paradise plants (Strelitzia nicolai) are identical. They are often referred to as “banana trees.” For bird of paradise plants to survive, the following three essential requirements are necessary:
- Bright light.
- Warm temperatures.
- High humidity.
Read on to learn how to maintain this tall tropical plant, which has banana-like leaves and cool yellow, orange, or white blooms.
Light Requirements for Indoor Strelitzia Plants
Paradise bird of plants need at least six hours of bright light and full sun every day to grow. A sunny area is ideal for the plant pot. Your Strelitzia will flourish and bloom best in an east- or west-facing room. Throughout the middle of the day, indirect sunlight is ideal.
Bird of paradise plants frequently fail to bloom because there is insufficient sunlight. Plants need a lot of bright light for the majority of the day to reach their peak, even in low-light or shaded areas. Direct, all-day sunlight can scorch young leaves, so keep an eye out for that.
During the summer, follow the same care instructions for light as you would if you were going to move your bird of paradise plant outside to a patio, balcony, or deck. Pick a spot that receives abundant sunlight throughout the day, with direct sunlight in the mornings and late afternoons. Between 12 p.m. and 2 p.m., you’ll want to enjoy the dappled sunlight.
Bird of Paradise Indoor Care: Watering
To keep the soil moist, birds of paradise need to be watered on a regular basis. When the potting soil is never soggy or waterlogged, crane flower plants thrive best. When the top one inch (2.5 cm) of soil is dry, water Water Strelitzias. Run water through the potting mixture until it exits the bottom to hydrate the plant.
Rather of watering according to a set schedule, monitor the soil’s condition. You should postpone watering if the soil feels moist when you press it lightly. However, if you water excessively, root rot is a possibility. The potting soil, on the other hand, shouldn’t be allowed to dry out. A bird of paradise plant is exhibiting signs of water deprivation:
- Too much water—The lovely plant may eventually die if the leaves turn brown and crunchy.
- Too little water–Your Strelitzia is thirsty if the leaves are wilting, sagging, and start to turn yellow.
Remember that the watering frequency of crane lilies (Strelitzia reginae) and white birds of paradise (Strelitzia nicolai) is influenced by the climate. Water more often in the spring and summer, when growth is vigorous. You must water your potted plant less frequently in the fall and winter.
Humidity Requirements for Bird of Paradise
To thrive, all Strelitzia species need greater than typical room air moisture. Raising moisture levels will bring out the best in the plant, even if they grow in average household humidity. The greater the chance of getting bird of paradise plants to bloom, the more closely you can replicate its native environment with light, heat, and moisture.
To keep your crane lilies happy, what are the best ways to increase humidity levels? With tropical and exotic houseplants, there are three ways to care for them:
- Misting—Keep a spray bottle nearby to your plants. Spray the leaves with a fine mist every other day. Since there is no residue on the glossy, glossy green banana-like leaves, use distilled water.
- Humidity Tray —Place your banana tree on a pebble tray if you don’t want to mist it every day. Put a one-inch (2.5 cm) layer of pebbles in a tray to make a humidifying dish. Fill the dish halfway with water. On the stones, put the plant pot of a bird of paradise.
- Room humidifier—A room humidifier is another way to humidify tropical house plants. Strelitzia plants will thrive in the humidifier’s moist air.
You should make sure there is adequate ventilation in addition to humidifying your tropical plants. Most houseplants can’t tolerate stagnant air, and birds of paradise are no exception. Open a window during the summer and/or have an oscillating fan to keep the air moving.
Temperature for Strelitzia Plants Indoors
To thrive, birds of paradise need both warm temperatures and heat. Between 65°F and 80°F (18°C and 26°C) is the optimum temperature range. Crane flowers can endure temperatures as low as 60°F (15°C), but anything lower will kill the plant. Birds of paradise bloom in USDA zones 10–12, which means they aren’t cold-hardy plants.
Crane lilies may be grown outdoors in the summer if you live in zones 9 and under. When the temperature drops below 60°F (15°C) at night, make sure to bring them inside. They aren’t tolerant of cold, and exposure to too much chilly may kill them.
Try to avoid extremes of temperatures while growing birds of paradise indoors in pots. Therefore, in the winter, keep the plant containers as far away from furnaces or hot radiators as possible. Airflow from the air conditioning system or open windows or doors in the summer should be avoided because it promotes plant pot standing in cold drafts.
The Best Soil for Bird of Paradise Flowers in Pots
Soil that retains moisture but does not become soggy is required by a blue-and-white Strelitzia or an orange-yellow bird of paradise. Your plants will benefit from well-draining, rich soil with organic matter included. drainage will be aided by using loamy potting mix combined with sand or perlite.
Birds of paradise, on the other hand, aren’t particularly picky about soil. They don’t “stand” in wet, moist soil, which is the most important critical care factor. If the earth is too packed, simply pour water through the potting medium until it sits on top, indicating that it needs to be aerated better.
Crane lilies, which are tall blooming houseplants, need a strong container to grow in. For your S., you should buy a specific kind of pot. S. reginae and Reginae are the two species. Moisture levels may also be influenced by nicolai plants. Here’s how to do it:
- Plastic pots—Because of the moisture contained in these containers, watering Strelitzia plants less often is required. They may not be suitable for extremely tall plants, though.
- Terracotta pots—Clay pots offer superior support than plastic pots because they are denser and more robust. The pots, on the other hand, are porous and potting medium moisture evaporates quickly.
- Pot size—In terms of the plant’s size, choose a pot. If the pot is too big, it will be tough to keep moisture levels under control. Water will not drain well if the container is too small.
How to Care for Indoor Bird of Paradise: Fertilizing
Birds of paradise need frequent food throughout their growing season since they are prolific producers. Use a half-strength all-purpose houseplant fertilizer. Give your plant monthly feedings to encourage growth and bloom. To nourish your plant from spring through fall, you can also use organic, slow-release fertilizer for indoor plants.
Too much fertilizer is not suitable for feeding birds of paradise that are growing in pots, according to the experts. Mineral salts collect in containers, which may lead to fertilizer burn if they’re not removed. Flush or leech the potting soil every three months or so to prevent over-fertilizing and a salt buildup.
Take your crane lily in its pot to the bath to flush the potting mix. Water slowly through the soil for two to three minutes. Wait until all the water has been removed from the pan. Return your bird of paradise plant to its preferred sunny spot.
Bird of Paradise Propagation
Separating the rhizome, which is the thick root that resembles ginger root, is one way to propagate a bird of paradise plant. The new plant should have at least one healthy stem and three or four leaves, so divide the rhizome into equal parts.
Remember that Strelitzia plants prefer to grow together when propagating, and bushier plants produce the most orange or white blooms. Seed is another way to propagate plants.
Birds of paradise flowers may be used to harvest seeds. Seed dissemination, on the other hand, is an inefficient strategy. The freshly planted Strelitzia seeds can take up to eight weeks to sprout and bloom, depending on the variety.
Transplanting Bird of Paradise
The plant thrives and blooms regularly when a bird of paradise is repotted. In the spring, you’ll need to move Strelitzias to a bigger pot because they develop quickly. You can check for root damage or rot when transferring birds of paradise to a new container. Necessary trimming of dead or dying roots.
- For a 3 to 4 foot (0.9 – 1.2 m) tall bird-of-paradise plant, choose a 10-inch (25 cm) pot.
- When your Strelitzia plant is five to six feet (1.5 – 1.8 m) tall, place it in a 14-inch (35 cm) container with a lid.
Birds of paradise like to be rootsy. It will reward you with exotic white, yellow, or orange flowers when you care for them well and don’t disturb them too much by repotting.
Pruning Bird of Paradise
Pruning bird of paradise plants may help your plant bloom indoors and outdoors by keeping it healthy. Late winter or early spring is the ideal time to trim back dead foliage and leaves after the plants have finished blooming. Only brown or dead stems of Strelitzia bird of paradise can be removed.
As the vibrant colorful plumes and blue beak-like leaf turn brown, you may deadhead bird of paradise blooms. Cut as close to the ground as possible on the stem with the dead flower. Gently remove or cut close to the base with clean pruning shears any dead leaves that are growing out of the ground. Indoor growth of the bird of paradise tree, Strelitzia, is reported to be uneventful.
Is Bird of Paradise Toxic?
The birds of paradise and crane lilies are all poisonous plants in the genus Strelitzia. Birds of paradise are poisonous to cats, dogs, and horses, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). Irritation, vomiting, and drowsiness are all symptoms of eating portions of the plant.
Common Birds of Paradise Pests and Diseases
Strelitzia plants are seldom attacked by pests. Mites, scales, and aphids are frequently the culprits when they do. Using an organic neem oil treatment and regular leaf wiping is the finest natural insecticide option. Neem oil not only eliminates odious insects but also brightens the leaves further when wiped across them.
The gray mold fungus infection, Botrytis cinerea, is a widespread illness that affects birds of paradise. If you keep the ground dry and make sure there is adequate air circulation around the leaves, you may prevent this from occurring.
Common Problems Growing Bird of Paradise Indoors
The leaves of Strelitzia plants grown indoors may often provide you with an indication of the plant’s health. If your unusual blooming plant is stressed, here are some Frequently Asked Questions about how to tell.
Why are leaves on my bird of paradise turning yellow?
Watering or light problems may be to blame for the yellowing of dark glossy Strelitzia leaves. Nutrient starvation can lead to yellowing leaves if you under-water your plant and dry soil. Another cause of yellow foliage is insufficient light. Move the plant to a brighter spot with more daily sunlight.
Why are bird of paradise leaves curling?
Being thirsty is shown by the Bird of Paradise plant curling its leaves. To keep the soil moist, all Strelitzia plants need frequent watering. Make sure that your plant gets enough water to the roots. Curling the leaves for other reasons includes:
- Because of the cold weather,
- The soil is of poor quality.
- Thrip, mites, and scale all feed on plants and are infected.
- The bird of paradise needs to be moved to a bigger pot because it’s rootbound.
Why are my Strelitzia plant leaves turning brown and crispy?
A lack of moisture or a build-up of mineral salts might explain the discolored leaves that are brown and have crispy patches. Flushing the potting soil may fix both of these problems.