We recently purchased a bird of paradise plant for our landscape with lots of green leaves. How do we keep it healthy and promote blooms?
Most bird of paradise plants need time to get accustomed to their new home and to grow before beginning to flower. Even if they are flowering when planted, they may stop blooming for a year or more. Help your plant become established and restart the flowering process by giving it a sunny to lightly shaded location in a well-drained soil. Keep the soil moist, and add a 2- to 3-inch mulch layer to cover the root system. Feed lightly with a general garden fertilizer every six to eight weeks April through September. After a year or two of good growth, reduce the feedings to once monthly in March, June and September to slow growth and encourage blooms.
