How to Grow and Care for Strelitzia Nicolai

Commonly referred to as the White Bird of Paradise or Giant Bird of Paradise, this variety definitely lives up to the name. Growing up to a max height of 30 ft, it has beautiful big leaves that echo the feel of a banana tree. The striking foliage and tropical appearance of the flowers are an incredible addition to any garden or home environment. They are easy to maintain and quite resilient plants. Flowering times start from late winter to early spring but they can bloom intermittently throughout the year. Although eye-catching and pleasant to look at, the flowers do not have any fragrance. They are an excellent plant to snip for decorative vases inside your home and can last around 2 weeks. The strelitzia nicolai can take 3-5 years to flower if grown from a seed, alternatively, a successful division of the plant can shorten the cycle to 1-2 years. The trick to a thriving nicolai plant is proper sunlight, watering and climate.

LIGHT

Outside, the plant should be in partial sun for the majority of the day and can tolerate full sun for short periods. Inside, the plant should be in a brightly lit room but avoiding too much direct sunlight. If the plant is in a movable pot, put it outside in the direct sunlight every 3-4 days, this will help ensure that it has enough light. 

WATER

Outdoors

The frequency you need to water will depend on your soil composition. When planted outside, watering in the mornings before the sun gets too hot is ideal. On particularly hot days don’t be afraid to water in the afternoons as well. When plants are just starting out, they need lots of water to get their roots well situated into the new spot. If the chosen location outdoors has well-draining soil, that is great news and it will quicken the rate of plant growth. That being said, if the soil isn’t well-draining and has clay for example, don’t worry, it just means that it may take a while longer for your plant to become adapted.

Indoors

If you have no drainage, your soil will be wet for long periods of time which will most likely lead to bugs, pests and viruses. Strelitzia nicolai are no exception to tropical plants and need well-drained soil to flourish. Assuming you have the right soil mixture, watering when the soil becomes dry is the easiest rule to abide by. You can try feeling the soil for moisture with a finger or scooping out a bit from the surface. Do this until you get a good feeling on how long it takes for your soil to dry out. When watering in a pot, be sure to run water over the plant until it comes out of the bottom, let drain and then set back on a saucer to capture any excess water.

SOIL

Potting mix consisting of 50% soil, 25% perlite and 25% bark is a quick and easy ratio to aim for. Things like perlite or vermiculite are good for aeration, although they do hold water as well, they are mostly for aeration. Products such as mulch, peat moss, compost,  coconut husk and coconut coir are great for keeping the moisture in the soil.

FERTILISER

Just like most plants, the strelitzia nicolai will do best when fertilised during the growing season in the spring. Every 1-2 weeks is ideal for spray types and following instructions for any slow release products. Watering plenty after fertilising to make certain that the nutrients get dispersed through the soil and avoid fertiliser damage.

PRUNING

Cut off any old leaves that are dying or yellowing with a clean pair of secateurs. Any leaves that don’t look healthy should be removed. If your plant is getting more bushy than you would like, don’t hesitate to cut off more.

See our FAQs page for some common issues with plants like yellowing leaves or when to repot your plants.