The bird of paradise plant is very loved by all those who like flowers, and especially if they are exotic. For this reason, we should not find it strange that there are those who wonder if it is possible to keep it inside a home, since that way we could see it every day and, therefore, enjoy its beauty as soon as we get up every morning. .
Then, How do you care for the bird of paradise plant indoors? Is there something we should take into account so that complications do not arise? We will talk about all this now.
Choose the right pot
One of the things we have to do when we buy a Strelitzia reginae -that's what the botanists call it- is to see if the pot it is in has become too small. This can be done in two ways: one is by seeing if the roots come out of the holes in it; and the other is holding the plant by the base with one hand, and the pot with the other, and now you simply have to pull the plant out as if you wanted to remove it from the container. In the event that the root ball remains intact, that is, without falling apart, then you will have to change the pot.
This last way can be done when we have a plant that does not grow roots but we suspect that a transplant would not hurt. I personally like it better, I think it's the surest way to know for sure if a plant, whatever it is, needs more space or not.
Once we know that yes, we have to plant it in a larger pot, what we will do is choose one that measures about three inches wider and taller than the one you have, and we will see that it has holes at its base. We will fill it with universal substrate, and we will plant the bird of paradise in the center of the container, ensuring that the surface of the root ball remains a little below the edge of the pot. And then we will water.
Put her in a bright room
This is very important. When we already have our Strelitzia reginae list, we will have to place it in a room where there is a lot, a lot of light, since otherwise it will not flourish. In addition to that, it is necessary to put it in a place where there is no air conditioning, fans, or the like, because the air currents generated by these devices dry out the environment and the plants.
And speaking of humidity, do not hesitate to buy one home weather station to know what percentage of humidity there is where you have your bird of paradise, because if it remains low (less than 50%) always, you will have to spray its leaves. Be careful, I insist: only if it is low. Don't go spraying it with water if you live like me in a house where the air humidity is very high, or else they will rot.
Watering the bird of paradise indoors
When should you water the bird of paradise plant if you have it indoors? It has to be done less frequently than if we had it outside, since the earth takes longer to dry out. To this we must add that since it supports drought much better than excess water in its roots, it will always be preferable to irrigate when the earth is dry and not when it is still wet. So that there are no problems, in case of doubt, what we will do is check the humidity with a stick, as indicated in this video:
Now, to water it properly, we will throw the water to the earth until it comes out through the plate that we will have put under the pot. And then we'll drain this one.
Fertilize your bird of paradise
It is highly advisable to fertilize it from mid-spring to late summer (it could even be done in autumn if the cold takes time to arrive and temperatures remain above 15ºC). For it, we will apply universal liquid fertilizers as this, or nails like these which simply have to be introduced into the pot.
In this way we will ensure that it not only grows well, but also that it flourishes one day, which in the end is what it is fertilized for. But yes, you have to follow the instructions for use that are in the same container, otherwise the roots could burn due to excess product.
remove the dry leaves
When you see that a leaf has dried up, you can cut it with anvil shears (on sale here) that you will have previously cleaned with dish soap and water.
Make a clean cut so the plant can recover as soon as possible. You should not cut any leaves that are green, because they are all useful to grow.
Where to buy?
If you don't have your bird of paradise yet, don't worry. You can get it here:
