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Indoor/Outdoor Dilemna w/Strelitzia

Gardening Reference » Gardening in 2005
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by Amy R. on January 21, 2005 08:28 PM
I have two young, healthy and previously flawless Bird of Paradises that I purchased last fall. Since then, they have only been inside near a sunny window. They were doing beautifully, even growing a bit despite the chilly temps(we don't use heating here in Tucson), but since it's warmed up a bit, I have been taking them outside in the daytime. Of course, I have gradually introduced them to "real" sunlight, and even then I usually only leave them out for a few hours a day.
Now I have noticed that the smaller one is starting to brown at the tips, which is unacceptable to me as I am nuerotic and everything has to be Perfect, LOL.
Really though, it's too cold/unstable to leave them out all night, and I'm worried that they might not get enough full sun to grow to their full potential inside, but am I just stressing them out moving them back and forth? Cuz I feel stressed out about it, hee hee.
Hmm, maybe I just answered my own question.
Any info much appreciated.
P.S. Sorry so long, but they are in well drained soil, haven't fertilized, and I make sure they are well dried out before I water. Shoot, maybe it's the hard water???
by njoynit on January 22, 2005 07:16 AM
I have a 3 yr old .I grow it inground in summer(march-Nov anyway S TX8b)I pot her up for a few months.on nice days and sunny days I move her to edge of porch or out in yard.I have a screened porch and is covered with plastic.my cold greenhouse.On cold nights I cover with sheets.

Try letting your water sit for 24 hours before watering plants..lets the chlorine evaporate.

Not sure how stressful all that moveing is to our plants.I bet mine scream"hey lady...you got 4 plant bulbs...USE UM!"

I always give a lil water too all the plants when coldness moves in& my most sensitive plant goes under the porch light.draped in sheet hooked on porch light& I break hands/arms if my porch light gets shut off till I say so..is a lil index card says this switch is under MY control till last frost.

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I will age ungracefully until I become an old woman in a small garden..doing whatever the Hell I want!

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by Carly on January 27, 2005 08:32 AM
Doesn't browning at the tips usually mean too much water?

I've never tried to raise the B of P though.

Ohhhhhhhhhhh! Wonderful to hear that you don't have to use indoor heat in Tucson - grrrrrrrrrrr!

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When sorting seeds, do not whistle.
by Amy R. on January 27, 2005 06:52 PM
I think browning of the tips can mean any number of things, but with my BofP I have been real careful to let it dry out completely before watering it. I finally said to heck with it and left them outside all week, so of course it started pouring(my penance for bragging about the nice weather here). Now they are saturated, but I'm hoping the sun will come back and dry them out.
I was thinking that maybe the "real" sun was too much for them and causing them to brown. But I just checked on them, and they look great, so no worries.
Just me being my usual nuerotic self! [perplexed]
by njoynit on January 28, 2005 07:03 PM
They are tough lil plants as long as frost protecton& 30's we are fine.here is page with info and mentions about winter protection,but also about pests and stuff.

http://www.thewisegardener.com/Bird_of_Paradise.htm
I believe I will move it to a 3 gallon pot and sink pot from now on.i'ts a 3 yr old seedling.now growing on 4 yr [thumb] I can't say I'vve seen the leaves brown up from watering and we had quite our share this year.May 19 in,July 20in ,aug 23 inches.I had no browning.I had a lil yellowing when 1st planted out last spring but added some bone meal& was better in 2 weeks.

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I will age ungracefully until I become an old woman in a small garden..doing whatever the Hell I want!

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