Bird of Paradise plants (Strelitzia) are absolute showstoppers. They’re fantastic houseplants that love soaking up the sun outdoors during the summer months. With those extravagant, exotic blooms, they bring a total tropical vibe to any space. But here’s the catch: if you aren’t consistent with your fertilizer routine, your Bird of Paradise will stop growing and—worst of all—stop blooming.
What’s the Best Feeding Schedule?
During the active growing and blooming season (April through October), your Strelitzia needs a boost every two to three weeks. If you prefer a “little and often” approach, you can even do weekly feedings with smaller doses. The secret to those iconic flowers is making sure the plant is well-fed during the warm months. Once winter rolls around, you’ll want to scale back significantly or stop fertilizing altogether.
Which Fertilizers Work Best?
A high-quality liquid fertilizer designed for container plants is perfect for a Bird of Paradise. It’s easy to measure out and mixes right into your watering can. When you’re shopping for plant food, look for these three essentials:
- Nitrogen (N) for strong, lush green growth.
- Phosphorus (P) which is the “magic ingredient” for big, beautiful blooms.
- Potassium (K) to help with overall plant stamina and pest resistance.
When a fertilizer has all three, it’s called a “complete” or NPK fertilizer. For flowering plants like these, a phosphorus-heavy blend is a great choice. One quick tip: while slow-release spikes or granules are great for some houseplants, they aren’t ideal for Strelitzias. Because of their dense, fleshy root systems, slow-release fertilizers don’t distribute evenly. This can lead to “hot spots” that burn the sensitive roots, which can actually kill the plant over time. Also, be careful not to overdo it! Too much fertilizer will give you tons of leaves but zero flowers.
Winter Fertilizing Tips
In the winter, your Bird of Paradise prefers a bright, cool spot. If you keep it in a room that stays around 60-65°F (18°C), you don’t need to fertilize at all. The plant goes into a dormant phase to save up energy for the next blooming cycle. However, if you’re keeping it in a warm living room all winter, it won’t fully go dormant, so you’ll need to provide a very light feeding occasionally.
Every three years or so, you should repot your Strelitzia into fresh soil. New potting mix is usually packed with nutrients, so you won’t need to add any extra fertilizer for about six months after repotting. If you’re growing them from seed, don’t fertilize the tiny seedlings right away. Wait until they’re about eight weeks old and have been transplanted before starting with very diluted, small doses of plant food.
