Orange Bird of Paradise

Description

The Boldest and Most Beautiful of Exotic Flowers

Some say the Bird of Paradise or Strelitzia Reginae is named for brightly colored birds in flight. Others believe it resembles a sunbird drinking water. Still others find that it looks like a colorful crane’s head. This South African beauty makes a bold statement in bright orange, purple, blue and white playing off evergreen leaves.

Best with full sun to partial shade, its flower is considered a monocot and provides a seasonal bloom. Of course, we know it’s a dramatic ornamental addition to landscaping, but it also works well for container gardening.  If you’re going to grow it indoors, make sure to find a sunny spot with moderate temperatures. Remember though,  it is toxic to animals and children, if ingested.

The Bird of Paradise grows up to 4 feet in height with a 2 to 3 foot spread. Plant in rich soil and make sure to monitor the amount of fertilizer and compost you use. It’s wind resistant, does well in drier regions, and it’s great for coastal regions, too. It’s extremely sensitive to cold, however, and needs to be well protected from any kind of frost.

Caring for your Bird of Paradise

You need to provide the Bird of Paradise with the best care. These plants are fast-growing, and if you use the right tips and tricks, your plant can bloom fully.

Light

The Bird of Paradise requires indirect light, but the light should be bright. These plants can grow super tall, but you need to give them lots of light. The lack of light indoors can prevent the plant from blooming flowers, which is one of the biggest reasons why the plant does not bloom indoors.

However, if you want to keep the plant indoors, you must find a spot that will be able to give your plant at least 6 hours of direct sunlight. If you fail to give it proper light, the plant will suffer and not produce flowers and leaves as big as it would otherwise.

Soil

Well-drained soil is the best fit for the White Bird of Paradise. You can use different ingredients such as perlite or lava rocks to provide the best environment, and this will help increase the soil aeration.

Water

For the optimal growth of the plant, it is wise to water it once a week or two weeks. But make sure that your soil completely dries out during the watering sessions. If you give your plant a lot of light, you will need to increase the amount of water you give it. On the contrary, you shouldn’t go overboard with the water if your plant does not get enough light. Moreover, give your plant filtered water if possible as it is good for the Bird of Paradise.

Fertilizer

To fertilize the plant, you may use a liquid fertilizer every other week during the growing season. You can also put a layer of organic compost on the soil, which will help fertilize your plants. If you provide all the necessary nutrients, your plant will quickly grow to its full potential.

Common Issues

Even though the Bird of Paradise is typically easy to keep, there may be some problems that you must look out for. These common issues include pests and diseases that you must watch out for.

Pests

The Bird of Paradise is usually pest free, but some insects can harm the plant. For instance, Spider mites are very dangerous and can harm the plant. To avoid infestation, you can spray the plant with organic pesticides such as neem oil. You can also take a cloth and wipe the plant regularly to remove any infestations.

Disease

Different diseases plague the Bird of Paradise most commonly. For example, your plant may suffer from the split end that runs along the leaves’ sides, which usually happens because of strong winds.

Other than that, if you over-water the plant, it may cause the plant to have yellow leaves. On the contrary, if you underwater the plant, that may cause the leaves to wilt and curl because of dry soil.

Pruning 

You don’t need to prune your plant regularly, but once in a while, it will be fruitful for your plant. You must trim all the dead leaves so you can give space to new leaves; this will also help improve the aesthetics of your plant.

Propagation

You can propagate the plant using division. To divide, separate the plant and report the separations. If you are looking for bloomed plants, you need to wait a while before propagating your plant.

Potting / Repotting

You may not need to re-pot your plant for a very long time. Instead, you can wait until the plant is crowded before you report it. When you report your plant, you can choose a pot that is a few inches bigger so your plant can get ample space to grow.