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Strelizia Regina - Bird of Paradise - no top growth - Help please

gardenninggrannygardenninggranny Posts: 803
in Plants
I bought a small strelizia about four years ago.  It only seems able to produce three leaves, dropping one if it produces a new one.  It is in a large pot - kept indoors in an unheated lobby
 over winter, and goes outside in the summer.  Today I have emptied the entire pot out to see if there were any of those nasty little white grubs.  I was surprised to find a mass of fat well grown roots but no sign of grubs.  What to do now?  Obviously feeding it has caused massive root growth so should I just re-pot and starve it?  Water it just a little bit, or give it a good soak?  Change the type of compost to something more barren and gritty?
Any help welcome right now 'cos clearly I'm not doing it right at the moment.























Posts

  • Paul B3Paul B3 Posts: 3,154
    Hello gg
    Your Strelitzia reginae sounds like it's struggling a bit ;I can't see a picture so I'm guessing the plant is still fairly small but in a large pot? Root growth has probably been stimulated as you say by feeding .Try re-potting into a loamy but free-draining soil ; water once a week when we eventually get some warmer weather ,and if possible place near a sunny south-facing wall .Leave the feeding for a while .
    They need maximum sunshine and minimum temperature of around 10 C .

    Very little water during winter , otherwise sappy and weak growth will result .

    I have a massive Aloe marlothii which stands out all summer , rarely gets watered and relies on rainfall ; your plant can stand similar conditions ; to quote an old adage , "you can kill them with kindness" ; hope I've helped in some way ; good luck !
  • gardenninggrannygardenninggranny Posts: 803
    I've put it's huge root system back in the pot and covered it with a mixture of rose and shrub compost and multi-purpose with a generous  addition of grit.  I'll give it a light watering in the morning and then pop it in the greenhouse for a few days before siting it outside for the summer.  Leaves are substantial, but only three.  I think it will benefit from a bit of neglect!
    Thanks for your helpful advice.
  • Paul B3Paul B3 Posts: 3,154
    One point to remember though ; it's going to get much warmer and brighter this week, so don't 'bleach' your plant by exposing it to sudden (and rare) sunlight ; acclimatise gradually !
    Hope it's allright !
  • gardenninggrannygardenninggranny Posts: 803
    Many thanks - we'll just have to see what happens, otherwise I'll have to give
     it a bit of a talking to!
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