Birds of paradise - 17cm diameter pot

Origin

South Africa

Light
The Bird of Paradise requires bright indirect light, and lots of it. These plants can grow to be very large, and they require a lot of light to bulk up. They also require a lot of light in order to flower indoors, which rarely happens!

Water
Allow the top couple of inches of soil to dry out before watering and when you do water, saturate the soil until excess water drains through the grow pot. Since this houseplant requires lots of bright light, that may cause the soil to dry out more quickly, so be prepared to water the plant more frequently. Cut back on how often the your Bird of Paradise is watered during the fall and winter months.

Temperature
Comfortable temperatures between 65-85 degrees are good for Strelitzia Nicolai. As a tropical plant, the Bird of Paradise does not like to be cold, so if you bring the plant outdoors for the warmer months, get it back inside before the overnight lows dip below 60 degrees.

Humidity
The Strelitzia nicolai can live in average humidity, but increased humidity will help this plant thrive. Place the Bird of Paradise in an area that is naturally humid, or use a humidifier or a pebble tray with water to create the ideal environment.

Fertilizer
Fertilize using a diluted complete liquid fertilizer every other week during the growing season. The Bird of Paradise can grow somewhat quickly and providing additional nutrients can help the plant and reach its full potential.