Bird of Paradise, when to prune and divide?

My white ones are chlorotic. What are they needing? Iron? Sulphur? Nitrogen? It is the new growth that is yellow.

Calalily.....Are they in a lot of shade? I had one that was in much more shade than the others, and the new growth came up slightly yellow, but would green up shortly after. If that's not the case ( and I tend to overreact, but this always works) I spray the overall plant with a hose-end sprayer of good 'ol Miracle Grow. A week after that, I load it up again with Mir-Acid and completely soak down the plant again. Then I sprinkle some Epson salts around the drip line. Usually, this takes care of any signs of plant weakness or malnutrition, and corrects things rather quickly.
MerryMary

Thanks Merry. These are the giant BOP, forgot to say. Two are in sun, one in shade and they all have the same problem. The ones in sun are more yellow though. I just gave them rabbit poo last weekend(they were yellow before the rabbit poo was added), I can give them epsom salts. I may have some azalea/rhodendron food left that I can give them. If not, I'll pick some up at the store.

My hunch would be epsom salts too.
After much hacking and groaning I managed to remove two pups from the bottom of the white BOP yesterday. Aggravated my bursitis ('weeding elbow') in the process, boy those babies want to HANG ON. I'll see how they do.

How big are those flowers on your giant BPD Susie? Do you ever cut them for a dramatic flower display? I bought some from Costco a few weeks ago. I thought they would last a long time but they didn't. They seem to last a long time on the plant though.

Here is a picture of my white Bird of Paradise bloom today; the distance from tip to tip is about 10 inches.
Also pictured: a bloom (sorry - it's a bit messy) of Ravenala Madagscariensis or Traveller's Palm. The finished blooms will have the most amazing bright blue seeds in them. This bloom is about 30 inches from tip to tip.......

And here is the Traveller's Palm

I have the same problem.....Traverlers....no good for bloom....But the White Bird....ah yes.....lasts a long time for me as long as I get is as soon as it opens. I just have problems doing and arrangement that it fits into....oh well

Hap

Yes, the BOP is best picked when they are just starting to pop thru the "shell." sometimes you have to split the green calyx thingie to help the flower open. I didn't pick my white ones, the stems were too short, but the orange ones have looooooong stems.

Has anyone grown BOP from seed? I see them listed quite often, but I'm more of a "buy an already established plant" person...I have a harder time with seeds. Are they easy?

I read many years ago that they take a long time to germinate. Have never done it, just what I remember.

Hap

MerryMary,

That is how I got mine - from seed. I think it was Park seed several years ago (3 to 5 seed but I only got one to grow after half of them germinated). You will need to take a jeweler's file or small saw blade to nick the tough shell but it didn't take too long to germinate after that.