When and How Often Does the Bird of Paradise Bloom?
The Bird of paradise has a very unique-looking bloom. It consists of 6 petals, 3 above and 3 below, which are fused together. The result looks like an exotic bird in flight, which is how the plant got its common name.
Even though the flowers of Strelitzia reginae, a plant that is often grown as a houseplant, are bright and beautiful, they rarely bloom inside.
Why is my Bird of paradise not flowering?
Two of the most common reasons your Bird of paradise may not be flowering are receiving insufficient light and age. While your Bird of paradise might tolerate low light, it definitely will not thrive. If your plant does not receive at least 6 hours of indirect light, it likely will not flower.
A flowering indoor Bird of paradise is not common, simply because in most cases, it will not receive enough light to be able to bloom.
Another reason is age. If you have an immature plant, it will not bloom no matter what you provide it with.
The Bird of paradise needs to be at least 3-5 years old to produce its first bloom.
Bear in mind, however, that your plant may never bloom, regardless of age, if the correct conditions are not met.
How to get your Bird of paradise to bloom
Want a plant that flowers? Here are some tips and tricks to get those beautiful blooms.
Buy mature plants
If you want a Bird of paradise that flowers, your best option would be to purchase a mature plant. While a younger plant will spoil you with beautiful foliage, they don’t produce their show-stopping blooms until they are a few years old. When shopping around, ask nursery staff about the plant’s estimated age if you don’t see any visible blooms.
Always select a healthy-looking plant. Stems should be firm to the touch and able to support the weight of the leaves. Avoid plants with signs of damage like pest infestation, yellowing, or curling of leaves.
Provide more sunlight
In order for your plant to bloom, it must receive bright light for a minimum of 6 hours per day. The Bird of paradise does not commonly bloom indoors, so moving it outdoors for the warmer summer months might be a good option to help your plant bloom. Place it somewhere that is sheltered from the wind and receives bright light to have the best chance of your Bird of paradise flowering.
Avoid repotting
If your plant is happy in the container in which you bought it, avoid repotting. Only repot your plant when it shows signs of outgrowing its current container. Disturbing the roots will result in a lack of flowers the following season, so leave any plants that are actively growing or blooming. Blooms will return after a few seasons.
An exception to this rule is if your plant is suffering from root rot. In cases of root rot, your plant should be repotted as soon as possible.
Allow your plant to become root bound
The Bird of paradise is happiest when it is in a root-bound state. When your plant remains in the same container and becomes tightly packed, it will spend less time growing more rhizomes. Instead, your plant will put this energy into producing more blooms.
When your plant does outgrow its current container, you can repot it. Only repot it into a new container that is one size bigger than the current container.
Do not plant your Bird of paradise too deep
Strelitzias do not like being planted too deep. In fact, exposing the plant’s top roots slightly encourages the plant to produce more flowers.
Use a fertilizer
If you are wanting your plant to produce more blooms, look for a fertilizer that is high in phosphorus.
This might be referred to as a high ‘P’ content on the bottle. If you are unsure, you can ask a member of staff at a nursery. Always refer to the label for the correct dosage.
Alternatively, you can give your plant a weak-strength balanced fertilizer twice a month.
Provide a consistent care routine
Your plant will not produce any blooms if it has to live in survival mode.
Your plant needs plenty of sunlight to be happy, and even more to bloom.
The Strelitzia requires regular watering as it loses a lot of moisture through its leaves but does not like soggy soil.
Temperature tolerance is a weak spot for this tropical beauty, so it will do best if you keep it inside if you live in a cold climate. Exposure to the cold will damage any blooms.
How long does it take a Bird of paradise to begin producing blooms?
As mentioned, an immature Bird of paradise will not produce blooms.
If grown under the correct conditions, a Strelitzia will begin flowering when it is between 3 and 5 years of age. If your goal is for your plant to produce beautiful blooms -when it does begin to produce flowers, avoid repotting.
Leave your plant in its container until signs that it has outgrown the current one are clear. Repotting your plant will cause disturbance to the plant, resulting in a lack of blooms for a few years.
When does a Bird of paradise bloom?
The Bird of paradise is a lover of warm, humid environments. If the plant is mature, you will see it flower from fall to spring. For younger plants, the time they bloom is a bit shorter, from the end of winter to the beginning of spring.
In conclusion
The Bright colorful blooms on a Bird of paradise are just one of the reasons why it is so loved. To be rewarded with a blooming plant, simply meet all your plant’s requirements to be happy, the most important being adequate light.
Don’t be discouraged if you have a young plant. Treat it with love and care and in no time you’ll be rewarded with plenty of buds.