| I have a Bird of Paradise houseplant. It bloomed about two years ago and has not since. How often should it be fed/watered and how much light does it need? |
| Congratulations on those blooms. A Bird of Paradise plant (Strelitzia reginae) can take 4-6 years to bloom for the first time! It may take the same amount of time to flower again, so a little patience may be in order. In the meantime, you can make the plant happy by providing average warmth, keep it in a room that is about 55-60F in the winter months. For lighting, provide as much as possible, but shade from direct summer sun. From spring to fall, water thoroughly and then allow the surface to dry before watering again. Water sparingly in the winter months. This plant does appreciate some humidity so a good misting now and again would be great. You can feed the Bird of Paradise with a simple analysis fertilizer such as a 5-10-10, be sure to follow package instructions. It is important that you do not feed during the winter months; feed only spring to autumn. |
