Re: bird of paradice
 

Having had to deal with big white birds outside and in containers over the years I think it's more about the root development than anything. In a container it's either going to take forever to grow roots because it doesn't need to or it is neglected (this I can tell you for sure) and not bloom ever or if it's really suped up it will get root bound which would most likely make it bloom like mad.

In the ground is best. You can build a frame around it and keep it warm over the late fall and winter months in it's very own hothouse.

Outdoors in the heat they grow much faster and tall and bloom. I've never read or heard anything about birds needing cold to bloom since they are a tropical and in the banana family. They don't like cold!

Re: bird of paradice
 

Yes and no. Of course, they must be able to bloom without a cold period as they grow and bloom in warm zones, but coldness (of limited duration) is no hindrance for them to bloom (as my S. reginae plants show). You`re probably right - maybe S. nicolai needs to be in the ground to bloom.

Re: bird of paradice
 

What kind of cold do you mean? Ha ha. 50F? When I say cold, or whatever it was I said, I guess I meant below 32F. They bloom like mad in New Orleans and St Petersburg, FL all summer long. Hell, they bloom when it's cold out even (60F to 40F). They must get to an age where it doesn't matter what temperature it is (unless it's below freezing, of course), they're gonna bloom.

Re: bird of paradice
 

Re: bird of paradice
 

The photo you can see below shows a plant on the wonderful island Madeira (Portugal). My own S. juncea plants are still quite small as they germinated just two years ago.

Absolutely, but I ask myself if there needs to be something more than just the age that makes the plant bloom.

Re: bird of paradice
 

The cold - anything below 70F - will just make it take longer to bloom ie slow it down. Cold is not a good thing for white bird considering where they are from.

Re: bird of paradice
 

I forgot mine s.reginae last winter outside, when i brought it inside it was totally damaged by heavy freeze few nights more than -5deg.C and one night -17deg.C. Now new leaves are evidently smaller than before, but the plant is ok.

Picture from past winter:

Re: bird of paradice
 

Re: bird of paradice
 

what a clump!!!

Re: bird of paradice
 

Nice clump Tony!

Re: bird of paradice
 

Re: bird of paradice
 

Goofy.

YouTube - Ken's problem with the white bird of paradise plants!

Re: bird of paradice
 

tommy.. LOL.. thats a great video man.. loved it..:)
i think im going to give a few big BOP a try this next yr..
worst thing that could happen is they dont work out for me..
hey..do you know if this "ken" has a website of the plants he has
for sale?
thanks all..

Re: bird of paradice