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Re: Strelitzia reginae

Hi Vicki,

It's been several years since I started it from seed and I don't
remember how often I transplanted it when it was small, probably
whenever I felt it was too tall for the pot it was in or when I saw
roots coming out of the bottom.  For the past few years it has been in
an 18" self-watering pot.  The roots do seem to quickly grow out of the
pot but I no longer transplant it when I see them.  Twice it has broken
the pot it was in.  At that time I would divide it, put a smaller
section into another 18" pot, and give the other sections to friends.

It bloomed 3 years after I planted it.  I think it was in a 15" pot at
that time.  I think I read somewhere that they need to be potbound to
bloom.  I use prepackaged general houseplant potting soil mix.  I feed
it with Miracle Gro.  I put it outside each Spring as soon as the
minimum temperature stays above 40 degrees and move it inside in the
Fall when they predict temperatures in the 30s.  When I move it outside,
for the first week I keep it in a sheltered area with little direct sun,
then I move it to full sun for the rest of the summer.

I have not heard of S. reginae 'Kirstenbosch Gold' but it sounds
interesting.  No, I didn't see that Victory Garden episode but I wish I
had.  Our cable company just added H&G TV a couple weeks ago so I'll
have to watch for that episode.  Thanks for the information.

Good Luck with your streletzia.

Bonnie in Connecticut, USA


Vicki Morin Gallagher, wrote:
> 
> Dear Bonnie:
>         As you brought your Strelitzia from seedling to bloom stage how
> frequently did you repot?  I've been using standard depth pots and it
> seems that the roots show through the bottom of the next size pot in too
> short a time.  Do you think the plant should be repotted a the first
> root sighting?
>         How long did it take you from seed to bloom?  What size of pot
> contained the plant that bloomed?
>         What kind of soil mixture did you use?  What kinds of fertilizer?  Do
> you go outside in the summer with this plant?
>         Like you I have a seed grown Strelitzia but I've heard about a S.
> reginae 'Kirstenbosch Gold' that has pale orange-gold flowers.  Did you
> see the Victory Garden segment hosted by Adrian Bloom in S. Africa where
> they showed various species and cultivars available in S. Africa?  If
> you missed, don't despair it will reappear on the House & garden
> Channel.
>         Wonder if there are variegated leaves in Strelitzias?
> Best, Vicki
> 
> <<<<<<<<<<<<<  I also have a Strelitzia
> > (Bird of Paradise) which I started from a seed several years ago.  It
> > begins blooming each year in November and the last flower passes in
> > March or April.  Last winter it had 12 flowers.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
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