Parrot beak (Heliconia psittacorum)

La Heliconia psittacorum It is a very beautiful plant, especially when it is in flower, something that happens every spring and summer. Although it is tropical, and therefore quite sensitive to frost, that does not mean that the home cannot be beautified with it, either only for a few months or the whole year.

The maintenance that you require could be said that it is not complicated, but it is important to control irrigation and provide it with adequate soil. And if it were not done, he would have to deal with fungi, microorganisms that would cause him many problems.

Origin and characteristics of Heliconia psittacorum

This species belongs to the genus Heliconia, and is together with the H. rostrata the most easily found in Europe. It is a native of Central and South America, where it is part of the jungles and tropical forests. It reaches a height of 3 meters, with elongated, pointed leaves, and has a size of between 15 and 60 centimeters, and a width of between 6 and 12 centimeters. They have a very marked central nerve, in fact, you can see it from a few meters away.

From the center of each rosette of leaves some inflorescences or groups of flowers sprout formed by a series of orange, yellow or pink bracts depending on the cultivar. These clusters measure between 3 and 15 centimeters, and if all goes well they produce fruits of 1 centimeter in diameter and dark blue round shape. These contain three small seeds.

In popular language it is known by these names: parrot beak, parrot banana, false bird of paradise, and parrot flower.

How do you take care of yourself?

La Heliconia psittacorum It is a very interesting plant, which can be had in a garden, terrace, or indoors. Its growth rate is rapid when temperatures are high and water is available, but during the mild winter it remains "asleep" until spring returns. But, what are your cares?

Location

This is a plant that, as we said, is tropical. So, the place where it is grown will depend a lot on the climate in the area, and whether or not we want to decorate our home with it:

• If we are going to have it abroadIt is highly recommended that it be in shade or semi-shade. The Heliconia psittacorum it is not prepared to withstand direct sun, and less so if it is as intense as that of the Mediterranean for example. Therefore, if you have a corner where the light does not reach directly, or a large tree that provides shade, it is a good idea to place it there.
• If, on the contrary, it is going to be grown indoorsAs in these conditions the light is scarcer, you have to find a bright room, with windows. Of course, you do not have to put it right in front of them, since its leaves would burn every time the sun rose. In addition, the pot should be rotated a little every day, to prevent the plant from leaning to one side, looking for a more powerful light.

Soil or substrate

In general terms, the land in which our heliconia grows has to meet these characteristics: it must be fertile, porous, capable of absorbing water and staying moist for a time (days), with a neutral or slightly acidic pH, and also of quality. That is, compact and heavy soils, with a shortage of nutrients, are not at all recommended since they will not allow it to grow normally.

Therefore, we recommend the following:

• Flower pot: a quality universal substrate must be achieved. I really like the Flower and Fertiberia brands, since unlike others, they do not compact to the point of becoming a "block" of earth unable to absorb water. But if you opt for other brands, make sure it has perlite, and if it doesn't, mix it with 30% of this substrate.
• Garden: the soil in which it grows must be rich in organic matter and have very good drainage. Also, the pH must be between 6 and 7.

Irrigation

It has to be watered immediately. The Heliconia psittacorum it does not withstand drought, so you have to try to water it several times a week during the summer. The rest of the year, the frequency of watering will be reduced, especially during autumn and winter, since with the drop in temperatures the rate of growth slows down, and as the soil remains humid for longer, it is not necessary to water as much.

Taking this into account, we will water an average of 3-4 times a week during the summer, and much less in winter. In fact, if you are at home, it is not convenient to do it more than once every 7, or 10 days, and only if the ground is dry or almost dry.

Humidity

Being tropical, of humid jungle, it is necessary that the humidity of the environment is high. Thus, if it is indoors, we can sprinkle its leaves with distilled water in summer, or put containers with a little water around it.

If it is outside and the environment is very dry, we can also spray it, or wet its leaves every time we water it. But if we live on an island or near the coast, we will not need to do anything.

Pests and diseases of parrot beak

La Heliconia psittacorum can be attacked by the most common pests, such as the Red spider, mealybugs or aphids. But there is nothing that diatomaceous earth (for sale here), a natural insecticide, cannot eliminate. In fact, you just have to spray the pest, and then add a little of this product, covering the parasites. The next day (or a few days later) you will see that the plant is much better. Other insecticides just as good are potassium soap (for sale here) or neem oil (for sale here).

As for diseases, if overwatered, or if grown in a pot with a dish underneath which is constantly filled with water, the roots rot. Therefore, the plate must be drained after each watering, in addition to planting it in a pot with holes in its base. If we see that it has white or gray spots, either on the stem and / or on the leaves, we will treat it with a fungicide such as aliette (for sale here).

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We will pay it throughout the year. If the weather is warm and frost-free, a regular supply of compost will help you grow, and if the winter is cold, that same compost will keep your roots a little warmer than they would be if it were not fertilized.

For this reason, it is very interesting to use fast-effective fertilizers, such as guano (for sale here), during spring and summer, and slow-release such as worm castings (for sale here) in winter.

Multiplication

La Heliconia psittacorum multiplies by seeds. When? The ideal thing is to sow the seeds as soon as they mature, that is, in summer or autumn depending on the climate, but of course, if the temperatures in your area drop below 15ºC in winter (or earlier) your thing is to wait until next spring. In the meantime, you can store them in a small box or cardboard bag tucked in a dry, dark place.

Once the good weather returns, then you have to sow them in a pot with soil for seedlings (for sale here), in semi-shade, and water so that the soil is moist.

Transplant

It is convenient to plant it in a larger pot when the roots have occupied the space of the current pot. This happens more or less 3 years after planting it in it, although it may be earlier if the container in question is small, and / or if the growth rate of the heliconia is faster than expected, which happens when the climate is tropical and is watered frequently.

The time is in spring, or after flowering if the climate is tropical or subtropical. Also at that station it will be a good time to go ashore, if you like.

Rusticity

It supports up to -1ºC once it is an adult and it is acclimatized, but it is better not to drop below 0 degrees.

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