Bird of paradise in a pot

Credit: Maja Dumat

Orange and blue flower Strelitzia reginae

Credit: Björn S

Strelitzia reginae in pot

Credit: Jungle Rebel

Large green lanceolate leaves Bird of paradise

Credit: Forest and Kim Starr

Strelitzia reginae, the little bird of paradise

Do you dream of adopting a bird of paradise, but your apartment is the size of a rabbit cage? Choose Strelitzia reginae. Smaller than its arborescent cousins, strelitzia nicolai or strelitzia caudata, this South African native offers the same spectacular flowering.

How to recognize the bird of paradise, Strelitzia reginae?

Strelitzia reginae is a perennial with a bushy habit. In the wild or indoors, it rarely exceeds two meters in height. There's even a dwarf version, Strelitzia reginae Humilis, which grows to no more than 80 centimetres.

Strelitzia reginae is acaule. It has no stems, but long, sheathed petioles. They support evergreen, oblong, leathery leaves. They are 25 to 70 centimetres long and 10 to 30 centimetres wide. The green-gray blades are sharply veined. The center and margins may be purple-veined.

In our latitudes, flowering takes place in summer. Green bracts tinged with purple grow on a one-meter flowering spike. They enclose the orange and blue flowers. Their shape and position, perpendicular to the stem, give them the appearance of a bird in profile. This characteristic has earned Strelitzia reginae its nickname of bird of paradise.

In autumn, the flowers give way to the fruit. This is a woody, three-lobed capsule. When opened, it reveals a stringy, reddish husk. It protects the brown seeds.

Strelitzia are toxic if ingested, especially by cats. The roots and seeds are the most dangerous. If you're bringing a feline and a bird of paradise together, be sure to remove the fruits when they appear.

Our maintenance tips

Your Bird of paradise is not a diva. The plant needs plenty of light and regular watering. But for it to flower again, you'll need to overwinter it.

Watering

Water your plant when the surface of the substrate is dry to the extent of three centimeters.

Use non-calcareous water at room temperature, such as rainwater or filtered mains water.

After watering, drain off any water that collects in the saucer or planter. It can rot the roots.

Spray

Dry air favors the appearance of mites and other pests. Mist the foliage of your Bird of paradise to prevent invasions and improve hygrometry.

Use non-calcareous water, such as reclaimed rainwater. Tap water is often too hard and leaves marks on the leaves.

Repotting

Every spring, repot your Strelitzia reginae to give it more space.

Get a pot with a hole two or three centimetres larger than the previous one. In nature, strelitzia reginae likes to develop its roots deep down. Don't hesitate to choose a model that's taller than it is wide.

Line the bottom with a layer of clay balls or gravel to optimize drainage. Then add potting soil for flowering plants. Plant your Bird of paradise in the center and fill with substrate. Tamp down without damaging the roots.

Cleaning

Dust prevents the plant from photosynthesizing. Clean the leaves of your Bird of paradise with a soft, clean cloth.

Prune

You can remove the yellowed leaves.

Plantation

When the risk of frost has passed, it's time to plant.

If temperatures permit, you can plant your Bird of paradise in the ground.

Choose a sunny spot sheltered from the wind. Prepare a mixture of one third sand, one third soil and one third compost. Dig a hole wide and deep enough for your plant.

Place a bed of gravel at the bottom for drainage, followed by a layer of substrate. Plant your specimen in the center and fill in with your mixture. Tamp to eliminate air bubbles and water for the first time.

Seedling

Remove the stringy husk covering the seeds. Then soak them for 48 hours in water at 30°. Remember to change the water twice a day to keep it clean.

Prepare pots filled with potting soil for sowing and planting. Place three to ten seeds in each pot. Cover them with three centimetres of substrate.

Place the seedlings in a greenhouse, exposed to light. For the seeds to germinate, the temperature must be between 20 and 30° and the soil must remain moist. Remember to spray and aerate your seedlings for five minutes every day.

When the young shoots appear, you can leave them in the open air.

Cutting

Cutting is carried out during the strong growth phase, generally in spring and early summer.

Dig up the plant. Locate a rhizome with several stems. Separate it from the other roots. You can use your hands or a clean, sharp tool adapted to the size of the plant.

Prepare a pierced pot. Pour in a bed of clay balls or gravel to improve drainage, followed by a layer of potting soil for flowering plants.

Plant your plant in the center and fill in with substrate to within three centimeters of the rim. Tamp gently to remove air bubbles without damaging the roots.

Wintering

Strelitzia reginae need a winter rest period to flower. Reduce watering and install your plant in a room with a temperature of 10 to 15°, such as an unheated veranda or greenhouse.

Diseases / Threats

Red spiders

Mealybugs

Information

Family	Strelitziaceae - Strelitziaceae
Type	Bird of paradise - Strelitzia
Species	Bird of paradise - Strelitzia reginae
Lifecycle	Perennial
Foliage	Evergreen
Exposure	Sun
Substrats	Humus soil Sandy soil
Planting methods	Open ground In pots In tubs
Categories	Interior Rhizome Herbaceous Flowery
Tags	Beginner Fritillary Large pot Toxic
Origin	South Africa
Hardiness (USDA)	10a
Leaf color
Flower colors
Fruit color