Bird of Paradise????

Question

Recently moved into a new home and outside, at the side of the house, are a row of flowers. I believe them to be the Bird of Paradise with the red flower. Seems they were not taken care of and the leaves are dried out and some are laying across the walk way. I started to clean out a corner and cut some of the bad ones back to a stem...then I realized what if they dont grow back? Can you prune these back? How do you care for them?

Answer 1

they grow from ryzome,ive cut mine to the ground being careful not to cut any new growth,they will grow back,use a good balanced fertilizer once every couple weeks or so and u should be fine

Answer 2

Bird-of-paradise thrives in most soils, but does best in rich loamy soils with good drainage. The bird-of-paradise is salt tolerant and can be grown near the ocean, but not on the dunes. For good flower production, place plants in sunny or partially shaded locations. Plants grown in partial shade will be taller and have somewhat larger flowers. In full sun, plants are smaller and flowers are on shorter stems.

Bird-of-paradise tends to produce more flowers along the periphery of the plant. Thus, spacing the plants at least 6 feet apart will allow adequate space for flowering.

The success or failure of a planting often depends on whether the plants receive adequate moisture. Liberal watering during the growing season will encourage plants to grow more profusely and ensure a large crop of flowers during the blooming season.

To aid in proper watering, construct a saucer-like basin around the plant from the extra backfill soil. This will hold water until it drains down to the plant's roots. Both a soggy soil with poor drainage and insufficient watering will cause leaves to yellow and eventually die. During the winter months, plants should be watered only when the soil next to the plants is fairly dry.

Mulch placed around the base of the plants will help conserve moisture, stabilize root temperature, and reduce weed infestations. Keep a 2- to 3-inch circular area around the stem of plants free of mulch. Mulches against the stems of plants may increase the chance of stem rot.

Common organic mulch materials include leaves, pine needles, bark, wood chips, sawdust and bagasse (a sugar cane by-product). Inorganic materials like glass wool, gravel and crushed stone also are suitable. Peat should not be used because once dry it is very difficult to wet and may restrict water movement into the soil.

Answer 3

Red Bird of Paradise (caesalpinia) and Bird of Paradise (strelitzia) are two different plants. They both have red in them, although they are both primarily orangey to my eye. Which one did you mean?

Answer 4

wait if you can until your first frost, then you can safely cut then back!