Bird of paradise
This is a slow, patient plant to grow for flowers — a young plant grown from a small pot can easily take five years or more to flower for the first time indoors, and being kept slightly pot-bound genuinely helps rather than hinders. Grow primarily for the dramatic banana-like foliage in the meantime.
Care
Needs the brightest spot available to have a realistic chance of flowering indoors; a south-facing window is ideal.
Water thoroughly then allow the top few centimetres to dry out between waterings; reduce in winter.
Peat-free, free-draining houseplant or loam-based compost.
Remove any damaged, torn, or yellowing leaves at the base; deadhead spent flower stems once finished.
A balanced feed every two weeks through the growing season — this is a large, hungry plant and an underfed one simply makes leaves and never flowers. Ease off in autumn and stop over winter.
Divide a large clump at repotting in spring, cutting between the fans with a knife and keeping several shoots and plenty of root on each piece. Expect no flowers for a year or two afterwards: strelitzia flowers best when pot-bound and undisturbed.
Month by month
Months change with the climate: in southern Italy tomatoes go out two months earlier than in England.
- AprilResume feeding monthly as growth picks up, using a high-potash feed to encourage flowering. how ›
- JuneA sheltered, sunny spot outdoors for summer can help trigger flowering, if brought back in before autumn cold.
- OctoberReduce watering as growth slows for the cooler months. how ›
Months based on climate: UK. Your choice stays on this device.
- AprilResume feeding monthly as growth picks up, using a high-potash feed to encourage flowering. how ›
- JuneA sheltered, sunny spot outdoors for summer can help trigger flowering, if brought back in before autumn cold.
- OctoberReduce watering as growth slows for the cooler months. how ›
Months based on climate: Northern Italy. Your choice stays on this device.
- AprilResume feeding monthly as growth picks up, using a high-potash feed to encourage flowering. how ›
- JuneA sheltered, sunny spot outdoors for summer can help trigger flowering, if brought back in before autumn cold.
- OctoberReduce watering as growth slows for the cooler months. how ›
Months based on climate: Central Italy. Your choice stays on this device.
- AprilResume feeding monthly as growth picks up, using a high-potash feed to encourage flowering. how ›
- JuneA sheltered, sunny spot outdoors for summer can help trigger flowering, if brought back in before autumn cold.
- OctoberReduce watering as growth slows for the cooler months. how ›
Months based on climate: Southern Italy and islands. Your choice stays on this device.
Common problems
How to spot it. Healthy, large plant but no flower spikes appearing.
What to do. The most common cause is insufficient light or a plant that's simply too young — this genus typically needs several years and a large pot-bound root system before it flowers reliably, plus as much direct sun as can be given.
How to spot it. Long tears running from the leaf edge toward the midrib.
What to do. This is normal and largely cosmetic — the leaves naturally split in wind outdoors in their native habitat; not a sign of a problem.
How to spot it. Soft, blackened roots and a collapsing plant.
What to do. Almost always overwatering or poor drainage — let the compost dry out between waterings and ensure the pot drains freely.
Questions
Bird of paradise: is it hardy?
H1b: Tender, needs above 10°C. It survives above 10 °C.
Can it grow in a pot?
Slightly pot-bound conditions actually encourage flowering, so avoid repotting into a much larger pot too often.
Bird of paradise: when do you prune it?
Remove any damaged, torn, or yellowing leaves at the base; deadhead spent flower stems once finished.
Bird of paradise: when does it flower?
In the climate of UK it flowers in June–September.
When do you feed it?
A balanced feed every two weeks through the growing season — this is a large, hungry plant and an underfed one simply makes leaves and never flowers. Ease off in autumn and stop over winter. Feeding months, UK: April–August.