How to grow Strelitzia from seed: practical tips

Strelitzia or "bird of paradise" got this name for a reason. It is called so because of the extraordinary beauty of flowers, which are compared with the phoenix, then with the heat-bird. The name "Strelitzia" comes from the surname of one English queen. The natural habitat of this flower is the equatorial part of Africa, Madagascar, and South Africa (places with high air humidity). The popularity of gardeners in our country Strelikia gained recently. In our country it is mainly grown as a houseplant, but in the southern regions, characterized by warm winters, the “bird of paradise” can be planted in the garden or in the flower bed. In this article we will describe in detail the cultivation of strelitzia from seeds, as well as how to transplant and care for the plant at home.

Requirements for planting material

When buying seeds should pay attention to shelf lifeindicated on the package. The main requirement for planting material is its age.It should be noted that the older the flower seeds, the lower the seed germination, which means it is better to buy only one that was packed no more than 6 months ago.

In addition, you should pay attention to the dryness, purity, one-dimensional seed. Sowing material should be pure and without any signs of various diseases, so it is better to buy seeds from verified vendors.

Timing

Virtually all amateur flower growers in our country grow strelitzia in room conditions, so there are no specific allowable planting periods in this case. Plant a "bird of paradise" as an indoor flower can be in any month of the year, only you need to control the temperature, humidity and lighting in the room. However, if you plant seeds in open soil, you should follow some recommendations and be extremely careful, as this plant is tropical, and without proper care will die in our harsh conditions.

First, if you are going to grow a "bird of paradise" not in room conditions, then make a special greenhouse for it, because if you plant a flower under the open sky, in winter it will die due to frost.For Strelitz air temperature below + 10 ° C is already considered harmful. Secondly, in the greenhouse it is necessary to maintain high humidity, twelve-hour lighting and air temperature within + 20 ... + 22 ° С. Thus, if such plants are planted in the southern regions of our country, in greenhouse conditions, then the best time to plant will be from late May to early July, when the air temperature at night will not fall below + 18 ... + 20 ° С. Such a high temperature of air will be needed for the seeds to germinate successfully. In summertime, it will be possible to open the greenhouse so that the flowers can enjoy the natural sunlight.

Seed preparation

After buying the seeds they need to properly prepare for planting. For 36-48 hours, the seeds of Strelitzia are soaked in warm water (+ 35 ... + 40 ° C), having previously cleaned them of dark yellow hair tufts. After swelling from the seeds remove the remnants of the pulp of the fruit (if they, of course, are). However, seed aging in ordinary warm water will not guarantee good plant germination. Some experienced growers recommend purchasing special phytohormones for aging seeds before planting. It is necessary to use such additives according to the instructions for use or simply by asking the seller about the features of the use of a particular drug for shots.

Soil selection and preparation

The soil for planting seeds of this exotic plant can do it yourself or buy at the store. If you are going to independently prepare the optimal substrate for the "bird of paradise", then you will need: river sand, peat and compost. From these components is a mixture. In order to prepare 1.5 kg of prepared soil, you need to mix 500 g of each of the components. Also, humus and leaf soil can be added to the soil mix, but the main thing is not to forget about the construction of drainage.

Growing tank

In this case, there is no consensus. Capacity can be purchased at the store or build the most of the usual plastic cup. The essence of his mission will not change in any way.If you will buy containers for planting in the store, then choose those, the volume of which varies from 200 to 300 ml. Also, such a receptacle for a flower should have several holes at the bottom for water flow.

In order not to buy pots, you can use regular 250 ml disposable cups before germination. They are filled with soil for 2/3 or 3/4 parts. At the bottom, several small holes are made to drain excess water.

Sowing seeds

Before planting strelitzia seeds in pre-prepared containers with soil, you need to do the following: pour boiling water over the soil in cups and wait until the water begins to flow through the bottom holes, then stop pouring water. Next you need to wait until the soil has cooled completely, and its temperature will be about + 23 ... + 30 ° С. Then in each tank for sowing you need to pour a two-centimeter layer of sand.

Seeds should be planted in this surface sand layer. One seed is planted in one seed (only if you are sure that the planting material is of high quality, with the slightest doubt, it is better to plant a few seeds at a distance of 2-3 cm from each other). Seeds should be pressed into the surface layer of sand so that their “backs” remain visible.

Conditions and care for crops

Growing seed shoots at home is not a difficult process, but a long one. Sometimes the first sunrises need to wait 2-5 months (at best). It happens that poor conditions were created for the seeds, or the planting material was of poor quality; in such situations, seedlings can appear only after 9-12 months (or not at all).

After the seeds are planted in the containers prepared in advance, they are covered with glass and put in a well-lit place (but constant contact with direct sunlight is unacceptable). Glass crops are covered in order to fungus spores could not get into the soil and hit the already weak seeds of the plant. Tanks with seeds should be at rest until the first sunrises. The main thing - to be patient and not to lift the glass without the need. When the first leaves of a young exotic flower appear, you can remove the glass from a glass for 15-20 minutes a day, but no more. 10-12 days after seed germination, the glass should be removed and no longer cover the plants.

Sunrise conditions and care

Usually, almost immediately after seed emergence, young plants are transplanted into wider and deeper containers. But until this point, the soil in the cups with them should be regularly moistened. Watering is done boiled distilled water room temperature. The frequency of watering will depend on how quickly the topsoil dries. At this stage, the flower does not need any additional feedings and pest control, since its normal growth and development processes will begin only after transplantation.

Further transplant

Strelitzia should be transplanted to deeper and wider tanks, which are equipped with holes for water flow and drainage system. The size of the tanks for transplantation must be such that the plant can grow freely in it for at least one year.When performing the procedure one should be very careful, as the roots of the “bird of paradise” are thick but very fragile, and if they are damaged, the plant may not settle down in a new place. In the first 5-6 months after transplantation, strelcium must be maintained at a temperature of at least + 22 ° C and watered regularly. In addition, do not forget about high humidity and normal lighting. It is best to place a container with flowers on the east or west window sill, where the lighting will be optimal for them.

I would also like to note one important nuance: even if you are the best way to care for the plant, earlier than after 4 years, it will not bloom. It also happens that strelitzias bloom only 7-8 years after planting. To activate flowering, which lasts for 40-50 days, the plant needs to create a piece dormant period: keep it at + 12 ... + 14 ° С, water less, and shade. It is best to create a rest period in late autumn or winter. To feed the plant to the age of four need mineral fertilizers with a high nitrogen content.When strelitzia will be ready to bloom, you need to help her in this and feed fertilizers, rich in potassium and phosphorus. During the rest period, the flower does not need to fertilize.

As you can see, there is no particular difficulty in growing the “bird of paradise”, it just needs patience, because first you have to wait a long time for seedlings, and then even longer than the flowering period. But strelitzia blooms so beautifully that every year it is gaining more and more popularity among amateur flower growers in our country. Try to grow this flower and you. Use our recommendations and you will definitely succeed.