It looked fantastic after purchase. Now, about a year later, it is dying and doesn't want to bloom anymore. Maybe you forgot to fertilize the parrot flower?
How should you fertilize a Strelitzia?
To fertilize a Strelitzia successfully, you should supply it with liquid fertilizer for potted plants every 2-3 weeks between April and October and fertilize sparingly in winter when it is warm over the winter.
Too little fertilizer, too few flowers
If you don't supply your Strelitzia with nutrients regularly, you have to expect that the plant will hardly grow and won't produce any flowers. While fertilization in winter is irrelevant, fertilization in summer is highly recommended.
Fertilizer application intervals
It is sufficient to fertilize the plant every 2 to 3 weeks between April and October. Ideally, it receives a light dose of fertilizer every week. Basically, it can be fertilized more frequently in summer than in spring, autumn and winter.
Suitable fertilizers for Strelitzia
Liquid fertilizers for potted plants (€9.00 on Amazon) are best suited for this houseplant. You can simply add such fertilizer to the irrigation water. The fertilizer should not only contain nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus, but also other trace elements that are important for plants.
Why shouldn't you use slow-release fertilizer?
Long-term fertilizers are less suitable for the parrot flower. These fertilizers often do not distribute properly in the root network. Overconcentrations occur in certain areas and the roots are damaged. The plant can die.
What happens if you over-fertilize?
Overall, you should fertilize the Strelitzia sparingly. Too much fertilizer causes this tropical plant to develop numerous leaves. But the leaves come at the expense of the flowers. Either only a few and small flowers are formed or none at all.
In winter - only fertilize when the winter is warm
In winter, the following should be noted when fertilizing the Strelitzia:
- do not fertilize in cool locations
- fertilize in 18 to 25 °C warm places
- Fertilization interval: 4 to 6 weeks
- fertilize sparingly
Do not fertilize after repotting
If you repot your Strelitzia in spring - it is advisable about every 3 years - you should plant it in fresh soil. Fertilization is then not necessary and is even harmful. Only six months later should fertilization be carried out again gradually.
Tip
You should generally not fertilize seedlings! Only when the plants are around 2 months old can they be slowly fertilized.
