Interview sheet: Strelitzia (Nicolaï)

It is not for nothing that the Strelitzia is better known by a name evocative of tropical regions. Thus being a " Bird of Paradise " implies a majestic flowering, at the height of its foliage, the density of which is of good quality. You will spot him under the no less imperial name of Nicolaï chez Pousse .

Maintenance sheet

Exposure

Light can flood it, provided it is provided with a suitable shaded space.

Watering

Water it regularly during hot weather, preferably in the evening to limit evaporation, especially if it is grown in pots. Give it more limited watering during the winter, preferably with rainwater. If you transplant it in the ground, keep it cool, moist and well-drained whatever the season, and avoid wetting its leaves.

Cultivation errors

The Strelitzia which should not be exposed to the cold! Its vital minimum requires that the plant be grown in a garden only in temperate regions, or failing that in a pot and brought in the winter. Thermal shocks are therefore to be avoided, preserving it from temperatures below 2° is therefore imperative. Cozy atmospheres are comfortable for her, so in your home she will enjoy staying by your side.

 Fertilizer

In order to boost your plant it is best to wait until early March: the arrival of spring to put some fertilizer on it :)

You can give him a dose 3 months later before the arrival of summer.

Diseases and pests:

Its greatest fear is rot , its predators are aphids and scale insects .

These are small insects that are easy to detect, but when whitish clusters appear, it is urgent to treat your Strelitzia . Once they pump the sap from its leaves, they eventually fall off and it's a bit late.

• Consequences: The sticky honeydew secreted by aphids covers its leaves, which lose their shine and become soft.
• Solution: Asphyxiate them with a decoction of garlic or with a mixture of water and black soap (20 g per liter of water). Dab the leaves with rubbing alcohol if the plant is infested with scale insects .

As for rot, you can spot it easily! The leaves atrophy and form a kind of accordion. This is a sign that it is overwatered or bathed in stagnant water, the remedy is to avoid cups under a pot.

How to repot a Strelitzia?

The ambient climate will determine whether you should place your Strelitzia Reginae in a container or in the ground. You will have no alternative but to grow the bird of paradise in pots if you live in a cold region.

1. Knowing that its leaves can reach two meters, the only choice you have is to grow it in a large pot. 40 to 50 cm in diameter is a good size, the main thing being that you shelter it for the winter under a veranda or in a temperate greenhouse... bright but without direct sun.

2. Remember to give it good drainage, using clay shards or small pebbles, and prepare a mixture accordingly: 1/3 potting soil, 1/3 garden soil and to complete 1/3 sand. You can use a special substrate for houseplants and do not hesitate to add an organic amendment.

3. For planting in the ground, it should be done in the spring, in a bright place. Mix potting soil with garden soil, keep it all in a rather humid and well-drained environment. In terms of exposure, your plant will tolerate partial shade, provided your feet are cool and your head is often in the sun.

Good to know

This splendid perennial plant hardly has the opportunity to flower in our regions! When she resolves to do so, it is to produce long, slender inflorescences of an unusual variegated color. Count 6 years to see your Strelitzia in bloom, after that it is once or even twice a year that it will deign to open up to you.

Note: The cuttings are done at the beginning of autumn, provided that you wait until it has reached a respectable age, estimated at 4 to 6 years. Proceed with delicacy to the division of its clumps, and do not hesitate to share this little marvel of nature. Germination for its part is possible, but expect to pay a high price for its seeds!

POUSSE, the plant architecture agency that reconnects your spaces in Lyon, Paris and Bordeaux to nature.
Contact us: bonjour@pousse.fr