How to care for a Bird of Paradise

Queen Strelitzia

Our protagonist is tremendously popular in temperate gardens around the world. Its peculiar flowers of bright colors attract a lot of attention, in addition, they are very decorative and not demanding at all.

So now you know, if you want to have one in your particular green area, discover how to care for a bird of paradise.

Bird from paradise

The scientific name of this peculiar plant is Queen Strelitzia. Originally from South Africa, it grows to a height of approximately one and a half meters, with green lanceolate leaves with a very well defined midrib of about 40cm in length (not counting the stem that supports them). Although due to its height, you might think that it is a shrub, it is actually a herbaceous plant that is increasingly being planted in gardens with a mild climate. And it is that, as if that were not enough, if you do not have land, you can have it in a pot thus decorating your patio or terrace.

Its flowers are made up of three yellow or orange sepals and 3 blue petals. They are distributed in such a way that they are reminiscent of the birds of the Paradisaeidae family.

Bird of paradise flower

In cultivation we are facing a really very grateful plant, which will prefer to be in areas protected from the sun’s rays, but which will adapt to living in those most exposed locations. So that it has an optimal development, it is advisable to water often: during the summer, the frequency will be 3 times a week; the rest of the year it will be 1 or 2 times a week. It is also recommended to fertilize during the entire growth period, being able to use universal fertilizers, or any fertilizer of natural origin such as guano or worm castings.

The bird of paradise is a plant very wind resistantbut not so to frost. Withstands temperatures down to -3ºC. If the winters in your area are very cold, take advantage of those months to enjoy it by keeping it inside your home.

Do you dare to have one?

How to care for a Bird of Paradise

Leave a Reply

Scroll to top

Discover more from DIY Gardens

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading