Bird of Paradise
Strelitzia reginae / S. nicolai
Through the year 🗓️
☀️ Summer now
Sun, water, and food. It is building those giant paddle leaves.
🍂 Fall
Taper everything as the light drops.
❄️ Winter
The brightest window is mandatory; water down, no feed. Leaf splits are normal.
🌱 Spring
Repot or divide; the feeding season opens.
The details
Light & placement
- Light
- The brightest spot you have: bright indirect plus several hours of direct sun; low light means no blooms
- Ideal PPFD
- 400–700 µmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹
- Grow-light distance
- 8–14 in below LED
Water & feed
- Watering method
- Water thoroughly when the top 2 in are dry; drain well. Big leaves drink a lot in summer, so taper in winter.
- Fertilizer
- Balanced feed at ½ strength, monthly in spring–summer (a heavy feeder for its size).
Home & habit
- Soil
- Rich, well-draining mix with perlite; pH 5.5–7.5
- Humidity
- Average–high (50%+)
- Temperature
- 65–85 °F; keep above 55 °F
- Mature size
- 5–7 ft indoors (S. nicolai taller)
- Repotting
- Every 2–3 yrs; snug roots encourage S. reginae to bloom
- Propagation
- Division of the rhizome clump; seed (slow, taking years to bloom).
When something looks wrong
- Overwatering signs
- Yellowing leaves, black stem base, curling new leaves
- Underwatering signs
- Drooping, browning edges, leaves that won't unfurl
- Common pests
- Spider mites, mealybugs, scale
Common problems 🩺
The usual suspects when Bird of Paradise looks unhappy. Most houseplant trouble is watering or light, not disease — see all plant problems if you are not sure which plant is the culprit.
Brown crispy edges
Likely cause
Dry air, tap-water salts, or underwatering.
What to do
Water deeply, raise humidity, and switch to filtered water if your tap is hard.
Never blooms indoors
Likely cause
Not enough light and not yet mature — it needs years plus sun to flower.
What to do
Give it the brightest spot you have with direct sun, and be patient.
Yellowing leaves
Likely cause
Overwatering, or a pot that stays soggy.
What to do
Let the top 2 inches dry and make sure it drains freely.
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