Anyone who has ever spent a holiday on Madeira will certainly have encountered it several times. We're talking about the Strelitzia, also known as the parrot flower. Planting it doesn't take much effort if you know what it needs!
How do you plant a Strelitzia correctly?
To plant a Strelitzia successfully, it needs a warm, bright location with high humidity, permeable and nutrient-rich substrate, and ideally temperatures between 20-25°C. When sowing, the seeds should first be prepared and sown in seed soil.
Where does the Strelitzia feel comfortable?
Strelitzias like it warm and bright. Even in winter, these plants need plenty of light to thrive. In summer, several hours of sunshine per day are essential. If there is too little light, these plants will not produce flowers. Another important aspect of indoor culture is that the humidity is high.
When and how can you cultivate the Strelitzia outside?
The Strelitzia can be kept both as a houseplant and as a container plant. It is recommended to cultivate this plant indoors from autumn to spring and to place it outside, for example on the balcony or terrace, from May to September.
Here are a few tips for outdoor locations:
- best sunny location
- Penal shade is your tolerance range
- airy
- Bright midday sun is tolerated
- South and west locations are well suited
- ideal temperatures: 20 to 25 °C
Which substrate is suitable for culture?
Choose a large container (pot or bucket) for planting. The Strelitzia develops plenty of roots that require a lot of space. The substrate (if necessary also simple potting soil) should have the following properties:
- permeable (never prone to waterlogging)
- nutrient-rich
- easy
- preferably compost-based
- humid environment
- loamy-gravelly
When does the Strelitzia bloom?
If you grow Strelitzia from seeds, you have to wait several years until flowers appear for the first time. Basically, this plant can bloom all year round. In its homeland it usually blooms between December and May.
How to sow this plant?
How sowing works:
- remove orange hairs from seeds
- File the seeds (until the white interior becomes visible)
- Soak in water for 24 hours
- sow in seed soil
- keep moist
- Germination at 20 °C
- Germination time: 1 to 4 months
Tip
After overwintering, you should slowly accustom your Strelitzia to the direct sun outside. Otherwise the plant will get sunburned.
