Garden Care Guide

Bird of Paradise Care

Strelitzia spp.

Likes places with plenty of light but no direct midday sun. It does well in rich, well-drained soils. It is grown for its iconic bird-like flowers and large, showy leaves.

Frost-tender (protect from frost) · -2 °C / 28 °F

Monthly care calendar

Timings are for a temperate Northern Hemisphere climate. In warmer areas tasks start earlier, in colder areas later; in the Southern Hemisphere shift them by six months.

January
  • Watering: Water as the soil surface dries (1-2 times a month). For outdoor plants, rainfall is usually sufficient.
  • Fertilizing: Do not fertilize; it is the dormancy period.
  • Pruning: Cut only leaves that have dried out completely and old flower stalks at the base.
  • Plant protection: Indoors, check for mealybugs and scale insects. If you see pests, wipe them off with alcohol-soaked cotton.
  • General care: Wipe the dust off the leaves with a damp cloth.
  • Pests & diseases: Excess watering can cause root rot, so make sure the soil has dried out.
  • Frost risk: If frost is expected, cover with frost fabric; if in a pot, move to a sheltered place. Damaged below approximately -2 °C.
February
  • Watering: Toward the end of the month, as the weather warms, gradually increase watering.
  • Fertilizing: If signs of active growth (new leaves) appear, a half-strength balanced liquid fertilizer can be started at the end of the month.
  • Pruning: Remove leaves that dry out in winter.
  • General care: You can prepare for repotting or propagation by division.
  • Pests & diseases: Check the new shoots.
  • Frost risk: If frost is expected, cover with frost fabric; if in a pot, move to a sheltered place. Damaged below approximately -2 °C.
March
  • Watering: Water as the top of the soil dries out (once a week).
  • Fertilizing: Apply a balanced fertilizer or well-rotted organic fertilizer once when it wakes from dormancy.
  • Pruning: Continue removing drying leaves.
  • Plant protection: Check the new leaves for aphids or mealybugs.
  • General care: If the roots have completely filled the pot, this is the best month to repot.
  • Pests & diseases: Drying on the leaf edges can be a sign of irregular watering or low humidity.
  • Frost risk: If frost is expected, cover with frost fabric; if in a pot, move to a sheltered place. Damaged below approximately -2 °C.
April
  • Watering: If there is no rainfall, water every 15 days.
  • Fertilizing: As growth accelerates, apply a balanced liquid fertilizer every two weeks. Do not overapply.
  • Pruning: Cut only completely dried-out leaves at the base.
  • Plant protection: Be watchful for mealybugs and spider mites.
  • General care: Clean, dust-free leaves let the plant breathe better.
  • Pests & diseases: It is normal for the leaves to tear naturally from the edges; it is not a sign of disease.
May
  • Watering: If there is no rainfall, water once a week.
  • Fertilizing: Continue fertilizing every two weeks. Do not overapply.
  • Pruning: No pruning is done other than cleanup pruning.
  • Plant protection: Check regularly for pests.
  • General care: Spread a 5-7 cm layer of mulch over the root zone; it retains soil moisture and suppresses weeds. Do not pile mulch against the trunk.
  • Pests & diseases: Yellowing of the leaves can point to overwatering or nutrient deficiency.
June
  • Watering: Water deeply twice a week; prefer infrequent and generous watering over small and frequent. Water so that the soil is wetted 10-15 cm down from the surface.
  • Fertilizing: Continue fertilizing every two weeks; skip fertilizing on very hot days if the plant is stressed.
  • Pruning: Cut only dead leaves and flower stalks.
  • Plant protection: Hot and dry weather increases the risk of spider mites. Check the undersides of the leaves. If you see pests, apply soapy water made with Aleppo soap.
  • General care: Protect from direct midday sun, which can cause leaf scorch.
  • Pests & diseases: Fine webs on the undersides of the leaves are a sign of spider mites.
July
  • Watering: Water deeply twice a week; prefer infrequent and generous watering over small and frequent. Water so that the soil is wetted 10-15 cm down from the surface.
  • Fertilizing: Continue fertilizing. It is a heavy feeder.
  • Pruning: Continue cleanup pruning.
  • Plant protection: Continue pest control.
  • General care: Avoid relocations that would stress the plant.
  • Pests & diseases: To prevent root rot, make sure the pot's drainage holes are open.
August
  • Watering: Water deeply twice a week; prefer infrequent and generous watering over small and frequent. Water so that the soil is wetted 10-15 cm down from the surface.
  • Fertilizing: Continue fertilizing.
  • Pruning: Remove drying leaves and fading flowers.
  • Plant protection: Continue pest control.
  • General care: The plant gradually prepares to slow its growth.
  • Pests & diseases: Do a general check for pests that have accumulated over the summer.
September
  • Watering: If there is no rainfall, water once a week.
  • Fertilizing: Reduce to once a month. From the end of the month, stop fertilizing completely.
  • Pruning: Continue cleanup pruning.
  • General care: Prepare the plant for winter dormancy. You can move outdoor containers to a more sheltered area.
  • Pests & diseases: Be careful about fungal diseases during seasonal changes.
October
  • Watering: If there is no rainfall, water every 15 days.
  • Pruning: Not done; only the parts that have dried out completely are removed.
  • General care: Move outdoor plants to a sheltered spot away from heavy rain and wind. Keep indoor plants away from heat sources.
  • Pests & diseases: Check the general health of the plant.
  • Frost risk: Keep the plant away from windows that cool at night and from cold drafts.
November
  • Watering: Reduce watering further (1-2 times a month). For outdoor plants, rainfall is usually sufficient.
  • Plant protection: Check for pests that overwinter indoors.
  • General care: The plant enters a semi-dormant period.
  • Pests & diseases: The biggest danger in winter is overwatering.
  • Frost risk: If frost is expected, cover with frost fabric; if in a pot, move to a sheltered place. Damaged below approximately -2 °C.
December
  • Watering: Water very little (once a month), only to prevent the soil from drying out completely.
  • Pruning: Remove only completely dead parts.
  • General care: Do not disturb the plant and allow it to rest.
  • Pests & diseases: Be very careful about root rot.
  • Frost risk: If frost is expected, cover with frost fabric; if in a pot, move to a sheltered place. Damaged below approximately -2 °C.

The care advice on this page is general and for information only; it is not professional advice. Plant age, soil and your garden’s microclimate can change the outcome. Plant protection products are mentioned only as general information; they are regulated, and the choice, dose and timing must be decided by a qualified professional under local rules. Consult a landscape architect or agronomist before applying.

Want reminders for every plant in your garden? Our garden-care app with monthly task lists and frost alerts is currently available in Turkish; the English version is on the way.

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