The bird of Paradise is one of the best striking tropical species, which is also known by its scientific name, Strelitzia reginae. It got its name from the flower’s uniqueness, which makes it look like a colorful bird is flying.
This plant originated from South Africa but can be grown in other continents as well. However, the Bird of Paradise family Strelitziaceae includes 5 genera and 50 species of plants.
Heliconia plants are similar to the Bird of Paradise plant because they’re closely related; it’s also a tropical plant famous for its exotic, bird-like flowers.
The bird of paradise can be used indoors and outdoors in different types of environments, including warm and humid climates. That’s the reason why it is famous all over the world.
Physical Characteristics
Here is some important information about the bird of Paradise that you need to know.
Plant structure and growth habit
- Trunk or stem: it doesn’t come with a trunk or a woody stem because it grows from a rhizomatous root system. This means it can produce self-supporting leaf stalks, also known as “Pseudo stems,” and can reach up to 6 feet in size.
- Leaves and foliage: The bird plant’s paddle-shaped leaf can grow nearly two feet. However, its leaves are eye-catching because of its bluish-green color and glossy texture.
Flowers and inflorescences
- Distinctive shape and colors: The Bird of Paradise grows three, consisting of three bright orange petals, which look like a bird’s beak and head, and three blue, petal-like sepals, which look like a bird’s wings.
- Symbolism and cultural associations: In South Africa, the bird of paradise is associated with joy, freedom, and paradise. Plus it’s one of the first choices for wedding celebrations etc because of its eye-catching look.
Bird of Paradise Native Origins and Distribution
The Bird of Paradise is native to a small South Africa region, Eastern Cape. Its natural habitat is also the southern and eastern coastal area, including the cities of Port Elizabeth and East London.
If we talk about its natural habitat, then the Bird of Paradise is characterized by a warm subtropical climate and moderator rainfall.
Ideal bird of paradise growing conditions
When you are growing a bird of paradise plant, you need to focus on these things so they can thrive perfectly:
Sunlight and temperature requirements
The Bird of Paradise can be planted outdoors and indoors as it can thrive in full sunlight to partial shades. However, it still requires nearly 6 hours of direct light.
The bird plant likes the tropical temperature, which is approximately 18 degrees to 29 degrees Celsius or 65 to 85 Fahrenheit. Remember, it isn’t forest tolerant, so you need to protect it from cold weather conditions.
Soil and water needs
You need to provide well-draining, nutrition-rich soil to your ball-of-paradise plant. And remember, it needs to be slightly acidic to neutral in pH (5.5-7.0).
They want consistent moisturization but not the soggy oil. Therefore, you can provide water in moderation every day, but make sure the soil isn’t getting soggy.
Propagation methods
There are two methods for propagating a Bird of Paradise plant, including division and seeds:
How to plant bird of paradise seeds, here are 9 steps:
- Get Seed: Okay so how do you plant bird of paradise seeds? First of all, you need to get seeds. You can collect it from a plant that produces seed pods. You can also directly purchase it from a reputable store.
- Scarify Seeds: The outer coat of the Bird of Paradise is hard. Therefore, you can scarify the seeds by rubbing them with sandpaper to break the surface.
- Soak Seeds: After scarifying, you need to soak Bird of Paradise seeds in warm water for nearly 24 hours to 48 hours until they get soft; you can also touch them to get an idea.
- Potting Mix: Then you need to use a well-draining potting mix. For example, a combination of peat, perlite, and Sand.
- Holes: Make sure where you’re sowing seeds, like seeds or pots, has holes in them.
- Plant the seeds: After that, you can plant Bird of Paradise seeds around 1 inch deeper in the soil. Make sure you place the seed horizontally, and the scarified part should face up.
- Water: Now you can provide water and keep it moisturized until germination.
- Germination time: It will usually take 1 to 3 months, depending on the conditions. You can also check the seed regularly for any signs of sprouting.
- Transplanting: Once seedlings are large enough, like 4 to 6 inches, you can repot them in individual pots that have well-draining soil and place the pot in bright indirect sunlight.
Tips: When you’re planting a bird of paradise from seed or propagating it, remember patience is very important. Because it’s a long process, which can take 3 to 5 years to get your plant to mature and produce beautiful bird-like flowers.
Division or offsets
The division method is the most common technique for planting the Bird of Paradise plant, and it’s much faster than seedlings.
- Select a healthy and mature plant: You need to make sure the mother plant from where you will divide the stem is mature for at least 3 to 5 years.
- Tools: After that, you need to take a sharp, clean, pruning knife, which you can also take to avoid any infection.
- Remove plant: Without damaging the root, you first need to remove the plant from the pot.
- Find Natural division: Now look for the root ball and find a natural section of the plant that has at least 2-3 steam and healthy roots.
- Separate Sections or clumps: Cut the plant’s section using your knife while making sure it has some roots with it.
- Prepare Root: Now, you can plant it in a pot or directly in the ground, wherever you find a suitable climate.
- Replant the division: After that, you can replant the division in an individual pot. But only when roots are spread out.
Tips: Post-division care is important, so make sure you are providing light, water, and humidity in the proper amount. It will help the division to grow perfectly.
If everything is fine, then after a few months, you’ll start to see growth. However, the best time for division is the growing season (Spring or early summer)
How to prune a bird of paradise plant and maintain it?
To prune birds of paradise plants, you need simple tools like sharp, clean pruning shears or scissors. After that, you can use it to remove or cut dead or damaged stems, leaves, flowers, etc.
Besides this, you’ll also want to remove any small offshoots, crowded growth, etc. This helps your plant to maintain its shape and focus on new growth.
How to care for a bird of paradise plant
When you are growing a Bird of Paradise or any other blind, the most important part is caring, so let’s know some important things about lightning, watering, and fertilization:
How often to water Bird of paradise plant
If you have planted your bird of Paradise indoors, then you can provide water in one or two weeks, especially during summer and growing season. However, make sure the soil is completely dry.
On the other hand, In fall and Winter, you can provide water to your plant every 2-4 weeks. Again, you need to make sure the soil is dried.
However, if you have planted Bird of Paradise outdoors, then you need to provide water every week, and during fall and winter, provide water once every 2-3 weeks.
Watering Tip: Whether it is an indoor plant or an outdoor plant or whatever season, always make sure the soil is dry. You can touch it with your fingers to get an idea.
Besides this, you can also focus on misting, which will help you maintain humidity around the plant, especially when the plant is outdoors or has a dry environment condition.
Pest and disease management
You need to be aware of pests and diseases that can happen to your Bird of Paradise plant. Most of the time, you’ll have to deal with spider mites, Aphids, Mealybugs, Scale Insects, Fungus Gnats, etc.
The number one way to deal with all these problems is that you regularly inspect your plant. If you see anything like spider mites or something unusual, then you need to clean it; for example, I’ve many times removed whitish powder-like substances from my plant, which had happened due to mealybugs.
Besides inspecting your plant every day and removing insects or spider mites, you can also use neem oil and insecticidal soap solution.
Remember that all these bad things happen to your plant when you don’t care about your plan. For example, if the surrounding area is not clean, spider mites, mealybugs, and Aphids will love it. So keep the surroundings clean too.
Other steps you can take to prevent any disease or unusual thing are to inspect regularly, provide proper water, control humidity as they like humidity in moderation and clean leaves; plus, you can quarantine new plants and fertilize the plant properly.
If you don’t pay attention to all these things, you can see some common diseases in your plant, such as rote rot, leaf spot, powdery mildew, botrytis, etc.
Bird of Paradise varieties
There are three most common and popular varieties of the Bird of Paradise plant, including Strelitzia reginae, Strelitzia nicolai, and the Strelitzia juncea.
- Strelitzia reginae: It’s also known as the “common” or “orange” bird of paradise. It blooms orange and blue flowers.
- Strelitzia Nicolai: It’s also called the white bird of paradise. Because it has larger, paddle-shaped leaves and it grows white and blue flowers.
- Strelitzia juncea: It’s also known as the reed bird of paradise because of its uniqueness. It has slender, reed-like foliage and smaller, more compact blooms.
Uses and Applications
World of Paradise plants are unique, and they are used in weddings in South Africa and many other places. Therefore, you can also use them for landscaping and garden design. Due to their uniqueness, they would look stunning.
As I have said, Bird of Paradise comes in different varieties. Even if you buy the most common variety, Strelitzia reginae, it can grow up to 6 feet tall and can be planted outdoors and inside as well. Trust me, they’re incredibly beautiful, and many people haven’t seen them in their whole lives.
People commonly know about roses, sunflowers, tulips, lilies, etc., but not about birds of paradise, as they are totally unique. It is really a home decor item.
Conclusion
Overall, the Bird of Paradise is one of the best plants with a unique appearance. Its flowers look like a bird. Moreover, you can grow it indoors or outdoors. In both conditions, it will look excellent and thrive.
And if we talk about propagation, then I’d suggest propagating the bird of paradise using the division method instead of seedling one.
It can take a lot of time, nearly 3 to 5 years; on the other hand, if you follow the division method, within a few months, you will start to see new growth.
You can also buy the Bird of Paradise and then focus on multiplying your plant through the division propagation technique. Bird of Paradise Plant: How to Grow and Care