Originally from the tropics, requires a lot of light and warmth and looks good all year round with its evergreen foliage - that's it, the Strelitzia! It is the perfect houseplant!
How do you care for a Strelitzia in a pot?
A Strelitzia in a pot requires permeable, nutrient-rich soil, a sufficiently large pot and regular repotting. Care includes liquid fertilizer every 2 weeks, moist soil, removing dried leaves and wilted flowers, and foliar spraying in hot and dry conditions.
Poorly hardy, so prefer growing in pots
In this country you should not plant a Strelitzia outdoors such as in a perennial bed. This plant does need a lot of sun and warmth. But it is precisely these demands that make outdoor cultivation a problem. The plant wouldn't survive the winter outside
Free range yes, but only temporarily
Changing the location in the pot is no problem. If the Strelitzia has been kept in the warm room over the winter, it can conquer the outdoors from mid to late May and move to the balcony or terrace, for example. It tolerates direct sunlight and copes well with temperatures up to 30 °C.
Which soil and which pots are suitable?
You can plant the Strelitzia in a standard pot plant soil (€18.00 on Amazon). Potting soil is also suitable for them. It is important that the soil is permeable, loose and nutrient-rich. A well-rotted compost can also be used as a base.
The pot should be sufficiently deep and wide, because this plant can reach gigantic proportions! A small strelitzia that was freshly bought can fit in a pot that is approximately 20 cm wide. Later, a bucket up to 50 cm wide will have to be used.
Repot regularly
The Strelitzia grows extremely quickly. Then over the years it becomes necessary to repot them. You should look for a new pot at the latest when the root tips are sticking out of the drainage holes at the bottom.
Be careful when repotting! The roots of this plant are thick but extremely fragile. The Strelitzia should not be repotted more often than every three years in order not to weaken it too much.
Care in the pot
The following care is recommended:
- Provide with liquid fertilizer every 2 weeks from April to August
- Keep soil moist
- Tear out brown, dried leaves
- spray the leaves in hot and dry conditions
- remove wilted flowers
Tip
Reduce the risk of pest infestation by placing the parrot flower away from the heater!