Photo: Gabriel Collares / CC BY 4.0

Bird of Paradise Care

Strelitzia reginae · Strelitziaceae

⚠️ Toxic to pets 🎯 Moderate ☀️ Bright with some direct sun 💧 Every 7–12 days

🕮 8 min read 🕓 Last reviewed: 2026-08-23

Care at a glance

Watering

Every 7–12 days

Light

Bright with some direct sun

Temperature

18–27 °C (64–81 °F)

Humidity

Average

Soil

rich, moisture-retentive but well-draining mix

Difficulty

Moderate

Mature size

120–250 cm (47–98 in)

Pet safety

Toxic to pets

Care effort Medium

The short version

A little attention keeps it happy.
Give it Bright with some direct sun.
Water every 7–12 days.
Keep away from cats and dogs.

The Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia reginae) is a popular houseplant from the Strelitziaceae family, native to South Africa. It is rated Moderate to grow and typically reaches 120–250 cm indoors. Here is everything you need to keep it healthy — watering, light, humidity, feeding, propagation, and pet safety. It is a Moderate grower, putting on most of its growth in the warm, bright months of spring and summer.

Also known asStrelitzia reginaeストレリチア鹤望兰Ave del paraísoOiseau de paradis (Strelitzia)

📋Quick facts

Growth rate	Moderate
Mature size	120–250 cm (47–98 in)
Native region	South Africa
Plant family	Strelitziaceae
Toxicity	Toxic
Air-purifying	No
Ideal for	a pop of colour, filling a corner

⚖️Pros & cons

Pros

Flowers indoors
Big, room-defining presence

Cons

Toxic to cats and dogs
Needs a bright, sunny spot
Eventually needs plenty of room

📷Photos

💧Watering

Water your Bird of Paradise roughly every 7–12 days, letting the top few centimetres of soil dry out between waterings. Always empty the saucer so the roots never sit in water — overwatering is the most common way this plant is lost.

Not sure when to water? Push a finger 2–3 cm into the soil and water only when it feels dry at that depth — a cheap moisture meter or the weight of the pot works too. Water thoroughly until it runs from the drainage holes, then tip away anything left in the saucer. Soft, yellowing lower leaves usually mean too much water; crispy, curling leaves usually mean too little. Always ease off in the darker months, when the plant drinks far less.

Never forget to water

Adds a repeating event to Google Calendar every 10 days.

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☀️Light & placement

The Bird of Paradise wants bright light with a few hours of direct sun, such as a south- or west-facing window.

A south- or west-facing window is best, where it soaks up a few hours of direct sun a day. If it has been in a dim spot, introduce stronger sun gradually over a week or two to avoid scorching.

🌡️Temperature & humidity

Keep it between 18–27 °C and away from cold draughts and heating vents. It prefers Average humidity; if your air is dry, group it with other plants or use a humidifier.

🪴Soil & feeding

Plant it in rich, moisture-retentive but well-draining mix. Feed with a balanced liquid feed monthly in spring and summer, and stop feeding in autumn and winter when growth slows.

🗓️Season-by-season care

Season	Watering	What to do
Spring (Mar–May)	Resume regular watering as growth restarts.	The main growing season begins — start feeding again, repot if it is pot-bound, and take cuttings now for the best success.
Summer (Jun–Aug)	This is the thirstiest season; check the soil more often.	Keep feeding on schedule, watch for pests in the warmth, and shield the leaves from scorching midday glass. Higher humidity is welcome.
Autumn (Sep–Nov)	Let the soil dry a little longer between waterings.	Taper off feeding as growth slows, and move the plant away from cold windows and doorways before the first chills.
Winter (Dec–Feb)	Water sparingly — overwatering now is the number-one killer.	Stop feeding, give it the brightest spot you have, and keep it away from radiators, heat vents, and cold draughts.

🪟Repotting

Repot roughly every 2 years, ideally in spring as growth picks up. Move up just one pot size (2–3 cm wider) with drainage holes — too big a pot holds water and invites root rot. Signs it is time: roots creeping from the drainage holes or circling the surface, water running straight through, or growth that has stalled. In the years you do not repot, scrape off and replace the top few centimetres of soil.

✂️How to propagate, step by step

Spring and early summer, during active growth, give the best success. Here is how to do it, step by step:

division at repotting

Water the plant the day before to reduce stress on the roots.
Slide it out of its pot and gently shake off the loose soil.
Tease the root ball into sections, each with healthy roots and a few shoots.
Pot each section into fresh mix at its original depth.
Water them in and keep out of direct sun for a week while they recover.

seed

Sow fresh seed onto the surface of moist, fine seed-starting mix.
Cover lightly only if the seed needs darkness; most need warmth of 20–25 °C.
Keep humid under a clear cover in bright, indirect light.
Germination ranges from days to months depending on the species — be patient.
Prick seedlings out into their own small pots once they have a few true leaves.

🔬Classification

Plant type	Flowering plant
Genus	Strelitzia
Family	Strelitziaceae · Strelitziaceae
Native to	South Africa

🩺Common problems

Symptom	Likely cause	What to do
Brown, crispy tips	Dry air, or salts and fluoride from tap water	Raise humidity and water with filtered or rested water.
Will not flower	Too little light, or it is not mature yet	Give it brighter light and be patient through a season.

🩺 Plant Doctor →

🐛Pests & prevention

The usual indoor pests are spider mites (fine webbing, speckled leaves), mealybugs (white cotton-wool tufts), scale (small brown bumps), and fungus gnats (tiny flies from soggy soil). Inspect any new plant before it joins the others, wipe the leaves now and then, and let the topsoil dry to keep gnats away. At the first sign, isolate the plant, wipe or rinse off what you can, and treat with insecticidal soap or neem oil every week until it is clear.

🐾Is it safe for pets?

The Bird of Paradise is toxic to cats and dogs (toxic seeds & sap). Keep it out of reach of pets and children. If you think an animal has chewed it, contact your vet or a pet poison line. If a curious cat or dog chews it, the irritant sap can cause mouth and skin irritation, drooling, and stomach upset. It is rarely life-threatening in small amounts, but rinse the animal’s mouth, take away any plant pieces, and call your vet if symptoms are severe or last more than a short while.

Toxicity information is a general guide based on ASPCA data. If your pet or child may have eaten any part of a plant, contact a vet or poison control right away.