Bird of Paradise not flowering
I was given a Bird of Pariadise as a gift over 7 years ago which has never flowered? It is positioned in a sunny place in my living room, until about a month ago when the leaves started to curl? so I have now moved it where it is slightly cooler. It has also grown with very healthy leaves and stands very tall, I have had to re post a couple over times due to pot bound. I went to a well known gardening centra for some advice and they suggested that I buy another one as having a pair of them would help pollinate and then I would get flowers? Wasn't too sure on that suggestion so I didn't bother purchasing one. I am really confused as to what I am doing wrong, it is well looked after, just waiting for these beautiful flowers but 7 years is long enough something is not right? Please please could someone advise where I am going wrong?
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Not sure what you are doing wrong.
We have had a Bird of Paradise for about 25 years,it flowers each year.
It is kept in a greenhouse heated by a parrafin heater in the winter,it is watered about once a week in the summer and just enough in the winter to stop it drying out completely.It is fed with tomato feed two or three times in the summer.
It seems to like being slightly pot bound,we have repotted only twice.We have never had a second plant ,so don,t think the purchase of another would help with your lack of flowers.
Ocassionally odd leaves go a bit brown and I usually pick these out,but Have never had leaves curling..
When viewing a house a few years ago the vendor had one in his conservatory which he was very proud of as he'd grown it from seed. If I remember correctly it wouldn't have had a lot of sun as it faced north west and was shaded from midday sun because of the owner's house and neighbouring one as well. He only had one so it sounds like the GC advice was a bit of a con. Perhaps the conditions are a bit too hot for it? Sometimes overwatering can be an issue with many plants - could that be a possibility? Gilly's suggestion of tomato food sounds a sensible one as it promotes flowers.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
They like being pot bound, so perhaps you are being too kind to the Strelizia. Do you know what variety it is? Am guessing it is not Nicoli.