I was under the impression that bird of paradise (Strelitzia reginae) freeze below 32ºF. I just saw some huge plants at Home Depot for $19.99 (3 in each container) that would sell for a lot more any where else. The tag states that they are hardy to 20ºF. The tag did not state the plant's scientific name. Is there a species that is more cold hardy than Strelitzia reginae? Do I believe the tag?
Bird of Paradise, Cranesbill
Hazel, this link says it is hardy down to 20 degrees.
http://www.thegardenhelper.com/birdofparadise.htm
Josephine.
Hazel - marketing I guess they all cannot live below 32 and really there will be damage below 40. When the freeze came to Durango Mexico with temps of 32 for two hours we lost a nice old one.
Thanks, you guys.
Well, there he is. Hello Stranger !!! It is nice to hear from you.
I think there is nothing better than actual experience, so I would keep it potted if I were you.
they bloom better root bound so pots work great!
MitchF, how cold is it there? If I buy the plant, I will keep it root bound.
Has anyone had experience with them inside? That is one of those -" I gotta have it" plants for me - hehe
Mitch, the one you left with me is now all cozy in the "greenhouse". Maybe the pot is too big. Didn't know it needed to be pot bound. Will take care of that on the first warm day.
We all know that Texas has a lot of warm winter days.
Christi
I've been raising BOPs for years now - 20 or so - and the ONLY way I could get them to bloom was to put them in the ground. I had to re-pot 2 of mine when we moved early last summer and I put them both in the same pot and they are blooming really well. 5 blooms and 2 buds ready to bloom within the next 3 days. They like a lot of water, sun and fertilizer, I have found and when this winter is over I'm having the gardener plant them in the ground. Remember that they bloom only after they get 5-6 leaves per plant (which I assume means that they are old enough) and don't cut off any leaves until AFTER you get your first bloom no matter how raunchy those leaves look. Don't ask me why - I just know that's what is necessary.
Ann
I bought a small one of these this summer. A lot cheaper than they used to be and I wondered why. It even had blooms. After reading this thread, I believe it will come out of its' pot in the spring time. Thanks for asking!
Ann, thanks for the info.
I put BOP which I bought from HD into the ground, and it was killed the next winter. Undeterred, I got three more, and before the first freeze I put about a foot of mulch over the base of them. Last winter the part of the plant above the mulch died, but the rest of all three came back fast, and I got blooms all summer. I'm doing the same this winter. Since I am north of San Antonio, this will surely work for you, htop. (Unusual ID you have 'htop'!)
Kendalia, heavy mulching is the key. Thanks for sharing your experience. My ID is a combination of the first initial of my first name and the first 3 letters of my last name. Some people have tried to figure it out before suggesting all kinds of things. :o)
Durango - normal is between 120 and 50 degrees.. got to 30 just that one year and wow..
They love being pot bound - in fact a lot of tropical countries will keep them in pots to make them bloom - they have to have next to nothing in the pot but roots roots and more roots.
Christi - it is young so this year should be fine - when it gets bigger (it was started from seed, two years old now so in 5 years or so it should bloom) you will want to keep it pot bound and I would just bury the pot in the garden for easy greenhouse time.
I have one now in the house - with no major issues other then a little slower in growing.
And, don't be too eager to go dividing your BOP. My DH had one in a pot when we married (3 years ago this Wednesday), and in my eagerness to get all the dying patio plants under control, I decided to divide the BOP that had never bloomed. It was approximately 3 yrs old and rootbound. Imagine my horror when I laid it out and started sawing the root ball in half to discover the "bird" forming. I felt like I had killed a real bird, and hastily got rid of that evidence! Now, I just keep it watered.
It looks ratty as all get out, and has seriously outgrown its container, but I'm too afraid to try to separate it again. Don't know what's lurking beneath the soil line....
Anybody know when it's safe to try to divide it, please LMK. Thanks!
Gymgirl
MitchF, 120 degrees ... wow! I am glad you told us about keeping it pot bound. The ones I was contemplating about buying have 3 in each pot and I was thinking about dividing them. Now, of I do buy them, I will not separate them.
Gymgirl, I have made some booboos like that too. I can imagine how you felt killing that "bird".
It gets hot, very hot in the summers... ... ... and being so high up in the Mexican Mts. it is dry to boot. But the palms are stunning and the pines..
Side note - John Wayne owned a ranch and lived there part of the year at least.
Every winter I miss it and each summer I am thankful :-)