Bird of paradise, also known as Strelitzia, is a beautiful plant native to South Africa. It grows in tropical and subtropical regions and is known for its stunning flowers. This plant is popular because of its interesting shape and vibrant colors. It takes three or four years for the Bird of Paradise to bloom.
Bird of Paradise is an expensive plant to buy, but it is easy to propagate, so you can grow plants from cuttings or divisions. Propagating Bird of Paradise is a great way to save money and have more flowers in your life.
When propagating Bird of Paradise, it is best to do so in the spring or summer because the plant will need warm temperatures and sunlight to thrive. You can propagate the plant indoors if you live in a colder climate.
How To Propagate Bird of Paradise by Seed
To propagate Bird of Paradise by seed, you must start with fresh seeds. You can purchase these from a nursery or online store.
Soak the seeds in water for forty-eight hours and plant them in a well-draining soil mix.
Water the seeds often and keep them in a warm, humid location. Indirect lighting is required until the seeds sprout. The seeds will germinate no sooner than eight weeks. Bird of Paradise is a slow grower.
After the seedlings are several inches tall, you can transplant them into larger pots. The new plants will remain delicate and vulnerable for up to a year.
Propagating by seed takes a long time, so propagating by division is often recommended as the better method.
How To Harvest Bird of Paradise Seeds
If you prefer to use seeds from a mature (blooming) Bird of Paradise plant, you can harvest them yourself.
The best time to harvest Bird of Paradise seeds is after the plant has flowered and the flowers have begun to fade.
Look inside the flower for the seed pods. These contain black seeds with orange hair. The seeds look like watermelon seeds and have a tough exterior.
Remove the orange hair and lightly score the outside of the seeds. Soak the seeds in water for forty-eight hours. The seeds should swell from water absorption.
From this point, you can plant the seeds using the instructions for store-bought seeds.
How To Propagate Bird of Paradise by Division
Rhizomes are stems that grow horizontally underground. You can use them to propagate plants by dividing them into pieces. Some plants can propagate using only stems and leaves, but Bird of Paradise requires a section of rhizome. The stems and leaves will not grow roots.
Choose a healthy and mature Bird of Paradise for division. Look for naturally loose rhizomes you can pull apart without cutting tools. If the roots are wound tightly around the rhizome, you can use a sharp knife to make clean cuts.
Each section of the rhizome should have several leaves and some roots attached. Water the plant before division to protect the roots from breakage. Prepare the pot or land where you will plant the division.
If you are planting in a pot, remember that Bird of Paradise grows to become very large, and the root system will use whatever space it has. If you are planting in the ground, dig deep enough to cover the entire bulb.
Prepare the substrate as a mixture of 70% soil, 30% peat, and some fungicide. Fungicide will protect the roots.
It is essential to replant the divisions immediately. Do not expose the roots to air for longer than necessary. Plant the bulbs in the substrate and water and place the pot in a shady spot until new growth appears.
Water the plants often and keep them in a warm, sunny spot after growth appears. The plants may appear weak for several days due to transplant shock, but they will bounce back quickly.
Conclusion
Propagating Bird of Paradise is a great way to get more of these beautiful flowers in your home or garden. Following our tips, you should have no trouble growing your Bird of Paradise plants from seed or division. Just be sure to provide plenty of sunlight and water and wait for those glorious blooms to appear.
Bird of Paradise grows slowly, but the results are worth the wait. These stunning plants add a touch of the tropics to any garden and are sure to be a conversation starter. Even though the plant will not bloom for several years, it will grow to be very large and showy when it does. So don’t give up hope; your Bird of Paradise will flower with time.