I'm new to this site, I have a Bird of Paradise, about 4 feet tall, its green, it look good, it never flowers
last couple of years I put it outside in summer full sun, no blooms, I have it on an enclosed porch ..trying that...any suggestions on how to get it to bloom? Live in Michigan
Bird of Pardise
Do you keep triming brown leaves off the plant? I've heard it must have at least 5 leaves to bloom.
Jeri
I do trim of the bottom leaves, I'll have to ck how many leaves I have, the wing span is about 4 feet also leaves are hugh.
Good luck!!! You know the plant can't take weather colder than 30 degrees.
I checked how many leaves..about 15. 7 or 8 really large ones and about 7 or 8 new shoots like the size would be like the plants they sell at florists.
It's very healthy, just never has bloomed.
Sounds like you have the white bird of paradise which I doubt will bloom in a pot (they get over 20 foot tall in the ground). I let mine out two winters ago because I got tired of dragging it in and out each year (good riddance). If you like large leaves, then keep it - else get rid of it.
You would have more luck with the orange one since it stays manageable but still can get to a good size. Mine blooms sporadically which is why I do drag it in and out each year.
Jerri,
Does yours (BOP) bloom for you on zone 8? Here, my unknown variety BOP just grew in size, but hasn't bloomed for the last 5 years. However, this winter; it gave "birth" to two babies. LOL. I'm getting ready to transplant the babies and learn to be contented with its exotic foliages.
Mine bloom the first two years I had it. Then I got the bright idea to divide it and it hasn't bloomed since. I might say I butchered it in the division.
Jeri
That makes me .... perhaps, wait, and won't devide it for a tad longer. Thanks.
Kim
I must have the white BOP because this plant is over 7 ft tall and wing span approx 4 to 5 feet. A woman gave it to me because she had it for over 3 years and it never bloomed. She thought I might have luck, I do well with house plants, but I am stumped.
If you feed you BOP a high bloom fertilizer once a week you will increase you chances of getting a flower. We grow them here, in ground, their flowers are not showy.
Here is one in the background, they bloom in early summer mostly.
Where did the photo go? I will try again.
Ok, that picture looks like mine, I have put it outside in the summer in a its container, but it just gets taller and wider too big for house, this year it's on a enclosed screen porch with enough sun. The leaves brown up and split it isn't my favorite, because of the enormous size. Thank you all for your input.