Caring For Your Bird of Paradise

Bird of paradise plants are unique flowering tropical plants that require some care to keep healthy, but for those who love to garden and want a specimen plant, they can yield beautiful long-term results.

Originating in Africa, the bird of paradise, also known as the crane flower, Strelitzia, and the most commonly grown variety, the reginae, is now cultivated worldwide. Reginae is a rapid grower, reaching 4 feet in height and growing in clumps. Nickolai, or the "white" bird of paradise, can reach to 15 feet high. Strelitzia birds of paradise come in a variety of colors, including white, orange, red, yellow and pink.

If you are considering buying your first bird of paradise plant, here are a few tips you should know.

Best Environment for Birds of Paradise

The bird of paradise, officially of the genus Strelitzia reginae, does best when it gets at least 4 hours of direct sunlight each day. It should, however, have bright light all day, if possible. The ideal daytime temperature range should be between 68 and 72 degrees, and 50 to 55 degrees at night, though they will generally be hardy down to about 20 degrees.

How to Care for Bird of Paradise

• Planting - Pot your birds of paradise in a sterile mixture of potting soil, peat moss and sand. Throw in a liberal amount of bone meal as well. The species does when it is somewhat root-bound, which is why they’re often found planted in large pots or tubs.
• Watering - Your bird of paradise needs excellent drainage. Keep the plant evenly moist except during the period of November through February, when the soil should be kept more dry.
• Feeding – Feed the bird of paradise a balanced 10-10-10 fertilizer every two weeks from March through September.
• Prune – Regularly prune your bird of paradise plant, or it can quickly overcome any garden wall or fence. Use heavy-duty garden pruners for the task.
• How Birds of Paradise Propagate – Plants propagate either by plant division or by seed. Neither method is difficult. If you divide plants, they may take 2 years to reach blooming size. Plants grown from seed require 7 to 10 years to achieve their first flower.

How a Bird of Paradise Blooms

Blooms of the bird of paradise actually occur in succession, instead of in one big flowering. The plant will only bloom when it is mature, and it must be root-bound to do so. This may take up to two years (or longer, depending on the particular plant’s needs), so you must be patient. Birds of paradise are pollinated by actual birds, but you may also choose to hand-pollinate your plant.

Showcase Cut Your Bird of Paradise Bloom

For a flahy flower, cut a single bird of paradise flower with a leaf and place in a tall, slender glass vase. Choose a flower that’s about to bloom, and fill the vase 2/3-full with white stones (not colored stones, so as not to detract from the flower). The bloom will last for about 3 weeks. Change the water weekly to keep fresh.