How to Grow a Strelitzia Reginae Indoors

Combine 4 parts potting soil, 1 part perlite, 1 part compost and 1 part sharp sand to create a soil mix suited to growing bird of paradise plants. Mix the components until the perlite and sand are evenly distributed throughout.

Pot the bird of paradise in a large planter with an attached saucer at the base. Fill the planter with the soil mixture and dig a planting hole equal to the volume of the plant's root ball. Place the plant in the hole and firm the soil around it.

Place the potted Strelitzia reginae where it receives 200 to 400 foot-candles of light, such as near a large, unshaded south-facing window. Use a light level meter to learn the precise amount of light in a given area.

Maintain temperatures between 65 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit during the day. Provide cooler temperatures at night but do not let the thermometer drop below 50 F or the plant will fail to bloom.

Water the bird of paradise thoroughly whenever the top inch of soil feels dry. Pour water into the pot until it streams out the drainage holes and into the attached saucer. Allow the soil to dry out to a 2-inch depth between waterings during winter.

Feed the Strelitzia reginae every 14 days from March until September. Apply a balanced, 10-10-10 ratio, houseplant fertilizer to the soil as directed on the care label. Water the plant after feeding it.

Repot the Strelitzia reginae only after the plant has bloomed faithfully in its original container for three to four years. Repot during early spring using fresh soil. Choose a new container measuring no more than 1 to 2 inches larger than the first.