Tropicals & Tender Perennials: White Birds of Paradise Problems, 2 by dyzzypyxxy

dyzzypyxxy wrote:
Those white birds get 20 to 30ft tall here. I fertilize mine and they will take all the sun and water you can give. I'd venture a guess that it's in a dormant state with not nearly enough light or water right now, hence the fertilizer burn. (it's not growing so it can't use much food)

Pot it up into a huge pot, gradually increase watering, then move it outside. Once it starts a new leaf, fertilize it with your timed-release, and water it every day as long as the weather's hot. (it will use up the fert faster than the package says, when the weather's hot and you're watering a lot) Be careful not to shock it with cold water from the hose. Keep it outside for the summer, in a sunny place, and bring it in when the nights start getting cold. You can maybe extend its outdoor stay by moving it to the south side of your house, which will stay warmer longer in the fall. Mine withstand a light frost occasionally, but they're BIG and in the ground, so yours will be more vulnerable.

Really, on the whole I'd say it's not a great house plant unless you have a big atrium with tons of light, or a greenhouse. If this strategy is successful, it might be too big to come into the house by this fall. You may end up cutting off the tallest stem each year. (won't hurt it) But it will be big, lush and healthy with satiny dark green leaves. The biggest leaf in this first pic is 5ft. long and almost 2ft. wide. Plant is about 15ft. tall.

You might get flowers by late in the season if you can grow a big enough plant.

This message was edited Apr 30, 2012 1:38 PM