The exotic Bird of Paradise is a total favorite around here, whether it’s brightening up a living room, chilling in a pot on the patio, or showing up in a stunning floral bouquet. Since these beauties hail from sunny South Africa, they’re used to a warm, humid vibe—which means they aren’t exactly built for a chilly American winter. They have zero tolerance for frost, so leaving them outside in the cold is a no-go. But don’t worry! If you bring them indoors, overwintering them is actually a breeze.
The Winter Dormancy Period
In the wild, the Bird of Paradise (or *Strelitzia*) thrives on heat and tons of bright light. To keep yours happy at home, you’ll need to mimic those conditions. During those gloomy winter months, the main goal is to keep your plant in a bright spot that doesn’t get too drafty.
Believe it or not, your Strelitzia actually *needs* a few weeks of “beauty sleep” in the winter to save up enough energy for its next blooming season. As soon as those nighttime temperatures start dipping below 55°F (12°C), it’s time to move your outdoor pots to a cooler, bright indoor spot. Even if your plant lives inside year-round, giving it a slightly cooler “winter break” for a few weeks will reward you with way more impressive flowers next year. Great spots for wintering include:
- A cool hallway
- A guest bedroom
- A sunroom (as long as it doesn’t get too hot)
- A bright, frost-free garage
- An unheated stairwell
This cool-down period tells the plant to stop putting energy into new leaves and start focusing on those iconic flowers for early spring.
Getting Ready for the Big Move
If your Bird of Paradise spent the summer soaking up rays on the patio, give it a good once-over for hitchhikers before bringing it inside. It’s super common for pests or bacteria to hide out in the top layer of soil. A pro tip? Scrape off that top inch of dirt and replace it with fresh potting mix. You should also snip off any wilted flowers or brown leaves to keep things tidy before the move.
Winter Care Tips
Even though it’s resting, your Strelitzia is an evergreen, meaning it’s still performing photosynthesis and needs a little love. Keep watering it—just don’t overdo it! You want to avoid “wet feet” (root rot), so just give it a small drink whenever the top layer of soil feels dry to the touch. Humidity is also key. These plants hate dry indoor air, so give the leaves a regular misting or set a bowl of water nearby to keep the air moist.
You can totally skip the fertilizer during the winter break. Feeding it now would just force the plant to grow more leaves instead of focusing on those gorgeous blooms. Once early spring hits, you can move your plant back to its sunny spot—just remember to introduce it to the direct sun gradually so the leaves don’t get sunburned!
