The bird of paradise flower is also known under the names Strelitzia reginae and parrot flower. Their flowers have already captured the hearts of many a plant lover. But what's behind it when the flowers don't appear? What can you do?
Why isn't my bird of paradise flower blooming?
If a bird of paradise flower does not bloom, the causes can be overfertilization, frost damage, injured roots, a dark location or overwintering that is too warm. Proper care, a sunny location and cool wintering promote flowering.
Main reasons for missing flowers
Many reasons, including three main reasons, can lead to Strelitzia reginae not flowering. The main reasons are:
- Overfertilization
- Frost damage caused by overwintering that is too cold
- injured roots (e.g. due to careless repotting)
Other causes
Furthermore, a location that is too dark can be behind a missing flower. Overwintering that is too warm can also be to blame. If none of these points apply, drought and nutrient deficiency would also be mentioned.
Lastly, perhaps you grew your plant from seeds that you brought with you from vacation, for example? It can take up to 10 years for a bird of paradise flower from seed to bloom for the first time
Sun-hungry and in need of care in summer
In summer, the parrot flower needs a lot of sunlight and ideally a protected location in the open air, for example on the balcony. The warmth and brightness are important so that it can grow properly.
In addition to a sunny, warm location, care is crucial for flowering in spring or summer. This includes fertilizing this plant every two weeks from March to August. Watering must be abundant, preferably with low-lime water.
The plant should be repotted every 3 years. If the pot has too many roots, it suffers from a lack of nutrients and space. As a result, the flowering stops. If you have fertilized too much, you will notice that the plant is lazy to flower but develops many leaves.
Winter properly
In addition to a bright and warm location, overwintering is crucial. The bird of paradise flower wants to take a rest period in winter. Therefore, please note the following:
- winter brightly
- keep cool at 10 to 14 °C
- do not fertilize
- water little
Tip
If you overwinter the bird of paradise flower at temperatures around 14 °C and place it in a very bright location in January, you can enjoy its flowers as early as February.