| Houseplant
Cultural
information: The "Orange Bird-of Paradise"
can reward it's owner with beautiful orange and blue
flowers that look like a brightly colored tropical
bird. Only mature plants will produce a flower.
To coax a Bird of
Paradise to bloom we used to remove a mature Orange Bird from its pot and
place a couple handfuls of bagged cow manure in the bottom of the
container. Sounds icky, but within a month or so the Orange Bird would
produce flowers.
Bird of Paradise needs direct sunshine for best growth and
flower production. Large south facing windows, heated sunrooms,
and greenhouses will provide optimum conditions.
Check for water weekly. Allow the surface soil to dry down
about one inch between waterings. Water all the way around the
plant with just enough water that a small amount seeps thru to the
drip tray. Remove any standing water from the drip tray that the
Orange Bird of Paradise has not absorbed within 24 hours to help
prevent root rot. Orange Birds have large roots that seem get root
rot pretty easily.
Feed bi-monthly with Peter's Houseplant food according to
label directions.
Bird of Paradise is difficult to propagate in our dry climate.
Common houseplant pests can include: Foliar Mealy bug and
scale.
Orange Bird of Paradise is available in 6" pots as a small
starter plant, and 10" thru 14" specimen plants to
48" in height.
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