😍 I have several of these in the ground on the gulf coast of florida. They bloom at 3 years, and reach 20ft in 5!!! Every time they bloom the lowest leaves die off and they shoot up another foot. Very sturdy pants, no fertilizer, just rain and the occasional hurricane shredding the leaves. Can chop them to the ground and they sprout right back up!
I’m also in NW FL I’ve had mine over 8 years, 6.5 - 7 ft tall and I have yet to see it bloom. I want to propagate but figure out how. It’s huge, started as a Lowe’s house plant
I know this is an old video but I want to thank you for all of your hard work you put into your videos. You are always so informative. Your plants and animals are absolutely beautiful 🫶
I got mine at Walmart 3 years ago. $5.00 (2 ft plant w/3 leaves in a 4" pot). It is now 4ft tall and was busting out of the 6" pot, so I put it in a 10" pot and added some caladiums this this spring. It over winters fine in my lower light kitchen (just a few hours of morning sun, then pretty dim light for the remainder of the day). I only fertilized once this summer as it looks healthy, and I really like the size it is now. Hopefully no hail storms before I have to bring it in. Its 3 leaves from last summer got shredded by hail, but it has 2 perfect leaves and one on the way 😊
I have two pots of these inside my two story farmhouse. I got them in spring and they have grown so much over the summer. I have extra wide south facing windows with sheer curtains over them, so sunlight comes streaming through from morning until evening. These things are going to be huge in no time, I can tell. I fed them compost tea all summer and they love my overwatering hand 😂. I took a cat litter jug and filled it with dechlorinated water (used fish water dechlorinater), egg shells, coffee grounds, banana peels, mosquito bits to keep fungus gnats from infesting the pots and let that sit getting steeped together-then watered my bird of paradise plants with it. It smelled like actual sewage, quite frankly, but the smell was gone as soon as it hit the dirt and the cap was back on the jug. They loved it so much though and grew a new leaf what seemed like every week. Still doing that going into the fall, a new leaf just opened today. Now that it is fall I’m going to back off the fertilizer water though. I fell in love with the giant pots of these at a garden center around our area but every one of them was sold out and waiting to be picked up. It was in a big hospital town and the plants were very expensive-so I’d assume that some doctors (or maybe even the hospital) with those massive tall great rooms purchased them because they had the room to grow them already that big. They towered over my 6’2” husband.
That sounds like an excellent compost tea! Oh yeah, I bet those went to a mall or big office space somewhere. Wish they would stay smaller so we could enjoy them in our homes longer.
This info was amazing. I have a 12 foot one ive been keeping indoors in a north facing window with some led plant lights. Humidity is closer to 40% due to the AC amd definitely not hot enough....good know not having them flower easily is the norm
Swoon!!! Your White Bird of Paradise is healthy & gorgeous! I love the ways that you explain each detail. Clap Clap Clap! Thank you so much! Have an amazing day!! :)
Hi Jeff! You always give such great information on plants. Even though I don't have the right conditions, or room for BOP, I enjoyed listening to you talk about them. Thank you so much for sharing!
Hi Jeff. Great video here. Probably the best all-encompassing video we've seen on this plant. We have 3 of these beauties (2 Nicolai and a Reginae), one of which is a 250lb, 7 foot behemoth that we move outside for the summer (fun move, by the way) and we're always looking for better ways to care for them. Keep up the great work, it's greatly appreciated! Best regards from Rob and Liz in the Netherlands.
I just found your channel, thank you for such an informative video. I'm new to BOP and I learned so much about this gorgeous plant! I've had two new leaves and it was amazing watching them grow! Thank you for your time and your knowledge!! 💚🌱🌿
I have mine in my little greenhouse! I live in KY so it gets pretty cold outside, but I have a small solar fan that I turn on when it snows! Got her when she was about a foot, now she's 5ft tall! and outgrowing my small greenhouse!
Thanks for the update 🤠 regarding 🪴 growing the Large Bird of Paradise aka Strelitzia Nicolai. I grow 🪴 mine in a raised bed on the South East side of my House where it recievies Full 🌝 to part afternoon Sunlight but alas I still get a little bit of Wind 🌬️"Dried". It seems to slowly adjust to it's new home, and I now know why it went from"Beautiful to Dry ". The Nursery never or forgot to inform me of the change in the appearance as it adapts to it's new home. But it is starting to slowly adjust and I will give it a good feeding and get it hooked up to a soaker hose line very soon. Thanks 👍💯 again! Sincerely Yours 🤠 Mr Severance, "The Cake 😋 🍰🎂 🥳🎉🎈 Man", "World 🌎🌍 Cruiser"&"Succulent Collector", and"Teacup's & Saucer's Set's and Teapot's 🫖 Collector".
I've had my bird-of-paradise for 3 years. I bought two of them in small pots captain that way for two years. Last year I put all four together in one big pot. Too big and too small plans. I alternate between Miracle-Gro and fish emulsion fertilizer. I take them out on the summer vacation every year they get the morning sun and they're doing fabulous. Already over 6ft tall. I do believe mine are the orange flower. If anybody knows the difference between orange and white plants please let me know.😉
I planted my bird of paradise plant in clay soil emended with manure and compost. I’m really worried it is not good enough. What else do I do to the soil? How far down do the roots grow? I’m nervous about root rot. It is in full sun, zone 9. Thank you for this awesome video!
Just got my first one (on line big box store) It arrived with nearly frozen soil and 12 of the 14 leaves were bent over and nearly snapped in shipping. Once this poor thing thawed out, the soil was soaked. I just hope it makes it, although I doubt it. 😞
I’m in SW Florida and have many in clumps that are 20 ft tall and blooming regularly. The roots are invasive at this point and encroaching the walls of our koi pond. Any idea how to get the root system out without killing the whole clump
Hi I just got a BOP plant from a nursery. It is in the grow pot and then placed in to a plastic decorative pot. Should I remove it from that pot or allow it some time? It left Florida weather and came to Wa state so a drastic change in temperature. Also I found your video very helpful in taking care of my second BOP plant I received. The leaves of that one were yellow I’m sure from then overwatering in preparation of shipping plus the box was damaged. Needless to say all the leaves on the plant dried and curled up. So I had to cut them all to start a new.
Every video I've seen regarding BOP have different suggestions. I got one from Costco beautiful green noticed it was curling searched info on this plant indirect sunlight still curling . 4 weeks later leaves turning yellow. Did see to use shower water to water it and leave to drain. Leave her in the bathroom once I have it steamed. Noticed today root rot smooch now I'm like what?! I'm in Chicago and this is not a low maintenance plant lol
"if the leaves are kind of flaccid, give them" VIAGRA! I think it is weird growing something as a houseplant that gets as big as a house (same with people trying to grow a Travelers Palm in their living room). They are still pretty cheap here for a moderately large plant, though availability has been somewhat spotty.
Yeah they get flippin huge to be kept inside, but their growth indoors is much slower. Usually can keep them inside for several year before they outgrow a space, depending how large they were when purchased. I've also though the same for all the ficus plants. They're literally trees! 🤣
Mine was a prima donna inside it lijes a splash often and all 3 our in the biggest plastic pot lowes sales. I have 2 white and the normal one or orange and a elephant ear in the next sizedown inside my kitchen and 2 have leaf spikes the 3td just unfurled1 and the E. Ears each have a spike on them there are 3 in 1 pot of those. My normal i got last year fall and my whites i hot this spring. The Elephants i planted this spring 5 had to repot and i gave 2 away potted like mine to a friend
My father gave me a White bird of Paradise as a housewarming gift. I unknowingly planted it outside my bedroom window on the west side of the house. As you said I didn't see it flower for a long time, then out of no were it started to bloom tons of flowers😊!! Iam by no means a Gardner and to tell the truth I do absolutely nothing to my plant not even water. It is now taller than my house and covers my bedroom windows. I really would like to learn how to separate the plant if possible? Can you help?
I just got my first bird of paradise in April here in Pensacola Florida. I planted it in ground should I reconsider putting it in a pot for better performance. I’ve seen folks leaving them out all winter here but they are in protected areas. Should I consider being it inside? As usual great educational video
Hey Wesley! Pensacola is right on the line for them. They will grow better in the ground, but there is that risk of a bad winter doing damage. In Pensacola, I would think that even if it got killed to the ground, it would likely return from the roots when it warmed back up.
Hi, my plants lower part of the leaves are curling up, and now the biggest and needy leaf fell off to the floor - it didn’t drop it, it’s just that i can’t stand on its own. Why Can that be? Could you please help me? Thanks a lot!
I need help! Mine is small (5 leaves), but the roots grew through the bottom of a thick plastic pot! (Not a nursery pot) The roots are significantly thicker than the drainage holes which they grew through and I need to repot it, but I am not sure how to get the plant out of the pot without damaging the roots! Would it be ok to cut the roots off that are sticking out with sterilized pruning shears or will this shock/kill my plant? Is there anything I could add to the soil when I repot it to minimize shock? I’m not sure what to do, but need to repot it before the root situation gets even worse! 😢
If possible, I'd try to cut the pot open, but I'd that's not an option, it will survive having some roots cut. When you repot it, I'd give it a heavy watering with a root stimulator like Root n Grow to speed recovery. 😊
Hi Jeff, great video!! Love BOP and have two large plants indoors. Could you help with how to treat black spots on base and stems? I don’t see any bugs at all. I repotted 6 months ago from root bound in plastic container to clay pot, use moisture meter and water every 3-4 days. Sprouting it’s 4th large leave so it seems to be happy. Just worried about the black spots mostly on inner stem on base and smaller dots on stem towards leaf. Please let me know, thank you!! 🌱
Hello. Thanks for the video. One question I have is if I can shorten my bird by cutting the stalk. It’s getting really tall….10ft….and I can no longer cover it for the one to two times of year it freezes.
I bought my BOP in the “tropical plant” section at my local Kroger grocery store for $15. It is right at 4 ft tall with large gorgeous leaves. It’s in my bedroom and gets bright sunlight most all day (I live in Louisiana) as the room faces west. I have it about 8-10 feet from the window and it’s doing well so far for a dormant period (February). Should I move it outside in Spring and Summer? Can I keep it in a pot if I do? Also, I’m worried about the heat and, if it grows too much, bringing it back in when it gets cooler. I’m sort of a novice with not killing anything other than snake plants or pathos so the fact that I’ve had this one 2 months now is making me nervous. Lol
Hello! You don't have to move it outside if you don't want to. In Louisiana with all that heat and humidity it will likely put on a lot of growth outside and you're right that it will eventually make it more difficult to move in and out of the house.
Hi Jeff, very helpful! I need to dig up young white BOP plant tubers from my South Florida garden and mail to my other home in Northern California. Are there any tips to help me? The plant is outdoors and flowers like crazy in Florida. I am selling the property as my mother -in-law passed away recently and we inherited this house and the BOP, so I wanted to remember her by shipping the tubers to Northern California. How does one do this? Do I pull of all greenery? And, is it legal? Thanks!!! Helen
Hey Michelle! Usually it's suggested to turn the plant the opposite direction if the windows or main light source. Doing that should encourage the growth to correct itself.
Hey Jeff :D , Love your channel , I was wondering if the Orange Bird's will bloom indoors, under good grow lights or is there no point in wasting my time...Thanks
Rotation every week or so, it’s just leaning toward the sun and if it’s not for that reason add more soil and rod and help straighten her out she is just to heavy
