The Strelitzia Nicolai is happiest when most of its soil is damp. Before watering, only let the top layer of soil dry out first. You can check this by dipping your finger about two inches into the soil. Aim to water your plant once a week- 10 days depending on the time of year. Please check the moisture levels before rewatering, if the top layer of soil is still moist, leave it a couple more days.

Your birds of paradise enjoy plenty of sunlight, so place it somewhere bright and sunny. Be careful of full sunshine in the heart of summer, as this could scorch the leaves and they may turn brown.

The Strelitzia will thrive in increased humidity, so try misting your plant in winter when the central heating is on and the air is dry.

Don’t overwater your plant or let it sit in water. Always check the bottom of the ceramic and pour any excess water away. Brown spots can be a sign of over watering, whereas dry, brown leaf edges can be a sign of under-watering.

Avoid dark corners or too much shade, as this will slow down growth. It’s also best to avoid placing your plant in a draught or near a radiator, as this could dry out the leaves prematurely.

Unlike the Bird of Paradise cut flowers, it’s quite unusual for the plant to produce flowers out of its natural habitat, as this plant needs at least 6 hours of sunlight a day to bloom.