White Bird Of Paradise Question? (flowers, growing, cats, tree)
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I have a question about a White Bird Of Paradise... Let me start off by saying that I live in northeast Ohio in USDA Hardiness Zone 6A. I am currently growing cannas in my garden that my neighbor gave me. In the fall once the flowers have dropped, and prior to the first frost, I will dig up the bulbs, store them in a safe place in the winter, and replant them in May the following year. Yesterday I purchased a White Bird Of Paradise at Lowes which was near the section where cannas would be, and also near perennials such as hostas (which I have a ton of BTW). I asked the people at Lowes if I can plant this in my garden, and as with the cannas cut the stalks, and dig them out in the fall. I was told yes. My neighbor who has quite the green thumb seems to think so as well. However; everything I've read online references growing in a pot and moving indoors during the winter months. So, my question is for those who live in northern climates and may own one, or those with experience with this plant.... could I cut down the stalks in the fall, dig it up, and replant it in my garden in the late spring when I put my canna bulbs back in?
First, I don't know the answer to your initial question because where I live, these plants live outside year round and are used as shrubs around houses. But I hope you realize how big they get.....some around my neighborhood are about 15 ft or more.
First, I don't know the answer to your initial question because where I live, these plants live outside year round and are used as shrubs around houses. But I hope you realize how big they get.....some around my neighborhood are about 15 ft or more.
Yeah I read that they can get rather large. I wish there was a way that I could keep it outside year round, but sadly that isn't going to happen, because come October we get frost for sure (sometimes snow) definitely will have snow come November, and December, and January and February gets downright cold. I can't put it in my house because I have cats, so the only other option may be to stick it in a pot, and then take it to work, and keep it at the office in the winter time. If I can do with it like I can do with my cannas then that would be fantastic.
So I actually called a nursery down in South Florida yesterday in regards to this question, and sadly I won't be able to treat this particular plant like cannas where the stalks can be cut down, and the bulbs stored to be replanted in the spring. They said if I cut it down I'll kill it. So, my choices are, leave it in the ground, and enjoy it while it lasts, or dig it up and pot it, and attempt to keep it in the house over the winter and hope my cats stay away from it, or maybe try and store it at the office through the winter. Decisions...decisions....
I think you might not realize that this is the same as planting a regular tree in a pot and treating it as a house plant. They get huge.
I do now. It's a gorgeous plant, and I love tropical plants. I purchased it at Lowes. It was in the section near the hostas and other perennials and where the cannas would be. When they went to ring it up, the barcode did not come up in their system, so I told him that it was by the hostas which were $6.48. They gave me the plant at that price (it was probably double), so I'm beginning to think that if it wasn't in their POS system that they probably received them in error. So, I now know my options;
1. Leave it in the ground, and enjoy it for the season while it lasts.
2. Dig it up and put it in a large pot and attempt to keep it in my house through the winter, and put it back on the patio in the summer. I just don't know if I have the space for it, and I have 2 cats, and don't want them messing with it.
3. Put it in a large pot, and take it to work and either leave it at the office permanently or temporarily and take it home in the summer. We have plenty of room at the office.
4. Or perhaps I can pawn it off on my parents, as they have cathedral ceilings. And given how big they get as I've learned, that may be perfect. They have cats too, but my parents have plenty of indoor plants so they're used to them.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
They said if I cut it down I'll kill it. So, my choices are, leave it in the ground, and enjoy it while it lasts, or dig it up and pot it, and attempt to keep it in the house over the winter and hope my cats stay away from it, or maybe try and store it at the office through the winter. Decisions...decisions....
It's a gorgeous plant, and I love tropical plants. I purchased it at Lowes. It was in the section near the hostas and other perennials and where the cannas would be. When they went to ring it up, the barcode did not come up in their system, so I told him that it was by the hostas which were $6.48. They gave me the plant at that price (it was probably double
), so I'm beginning to think that if it wasn't in their POS system that they probably received them in error. So, I now know my options;