After the blooms on your plant have faded be sure to cut the stem down as far as you can. They should bloom on a yearly basis once they start to bloom providing they receive the proper care.
Propagation of this plant is done by dividing the old specimen. The old dead leaves should be removed. It is also necessary to thin the plant out from time to time by division.
A great place to grow your Bird Of Paradise in the summer months would be by a pool or pond. The plant not only gives the area an exotic look, but it seems to benefit from growing under those conditions, and the leaves don't show signs of water spotting.
The Bird Of Paradise is commonly attacked by scale. A good way to treat this problem is with ultra-fine horticultural oil. This oil has recently been approved to be sold to home gardeners. If you cannot find this oil in your area, you can remove the scale by hand.
However, you must keep an eye on your plant because you may not see them all at once. The horticultural oil contains a growth regulator that keeps the scale from maturing.
Should your Bird Of Paradise get frosted on, it will be very slow to recover. If the frost is light, then you will have a good chance of your plant surviving.
The Bird Of Paradise is quickly becoming a common plant to find. Look in your favorite tropical plant section at your local nursery and you will probably find one. The white ones seem more easily accessible than the orange, but seeds are available. The seeds are very slow to germinate and should be soaked and pricked prior to planting if you intend to have any success with them. I have been waiting for almost a year now for my Bird Of Paradise seeds to germinate without any luck thus far, but I haven't given up.
I personally feel that the Strelitzia family has quite a showy flower that is well worth waiting for. Each person has individual tastes and patience with a plant, but it is one I would recommend checking into.
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