Its showy bloom makes the originally native to South Africa bird of paradise flower also a popular pot and house plant in the local latitudes. This article tells you how to get the Strelitzia to bloom.
In a nutshell
- winter dormancy is required for flowering in summer
- hibernate cool and bright
- bright sunny location in summer promotes flowering
- regularly supply fertilizer for flowering plants
- young plants do not (yet) flower
Table of Contents
- Choose a suitable location
- Fertilize and water properly
- observe hibernation
- frequently asked Questions
Choose a suitable location
Due to the original homeland, it is important that the Strelizie gets a lot of sun in summer. Therefore, it should be given a place outside in spring on the first frost-free nights after the ice saints in May:
- protect from rain and draughts
- Covered terrace or balcony ideal
- Temperatures over 30° Celsius too warm
- In such a case, flowering may not occur
- do not place in the blazing sun in midsummer
- ideal temperature in summer between 20° and 25° Celsius
Tip: If you put the plant outside again after the winter, make sure that you get used to the sun again slowly. It is therefore advisable to place parrot flowers in partial shade for the first few days so that the leaves do not burn.
Fertilize and water properly
During the growing season, you should provide the plant with water and fertilizer regularly. The following must be observed in order to stimulate the Strelitzia to bloom:
- water only moderately
- the larger the leaves, the more watering
- Don't let the soil dry out for a long time
- Also avoid waterlogging
- Use liquid fertilizer for flowering plants
- fertilize only moderately
- less than specified by the manufacturer
- alternatively use chopsticks as long-term fertilizer
Tip: To protect the plant from waterlogging, it is advisable to place drainage on the bottom of the container above the drainage hole. Once the roots have been damaged by water, they will not flower.
observe hibernation
Very important for a decorative bloom in summer is the hibernation, which the plant needs in any case. Since it is not hardy in our latitudes, it has to go hibernate get a frost-free and cool place:
- bright location in winter
- Temperature between 5° and 12° Celsius
- unheated conservatory
- Glasshouse
- bright staircase
- water only moderately in winter
- definitely avoid waterlogging
- Stop fertilizing from August/September
- first fertilization after winter in March
Tip: If your parrot flower purchase, ask for age. Because the plants do not flower until they are four years old. Some even take six years to flower.
frequently asked Questions
The hibernation is particularly important for the parrot flower so that the decorative flowers appear in summer. For this, the plant must be really cool in winter. Hibernation in the apartment on the window sill is therefore not recommended. A fertilizer for flowering plants, administered regularly from March, also supports the process of flowering.
There can be various reasons for this. Either the plants are too dark over the summer months or have too little fertilizer for flowering plants in the Growing season preserved, the hibernation was not sufficient or the plants are simply too young to grow form a flower. The roots of the Strelitzia may also have been damaged by propagation or repotting. Check these reasons and change your care if necessary, then your Strelizien will bloom next year.
If everything has been done correctly with the plants, you can admire the decorative flowers in spring and summer from May to September. The flowers last between four and six weeks, the large plants develop their flowers one after the other, so that the flowering time is even longer here.
You should always repot the plants when the container has become too small. Because if the roots can no longer spread further, this can also be at the expense of the flower. When repotting, large specimens can also be divided. However, you must be careful not to damage any roots. Damaged roots can also be the cause of a missing flower.