Abird of paradise plant ( Strelitziaspp . ) , as a whole , is a passel like a gorgeous opera house functioning .
The beautiful flowers , with their visual aspect redolent of birds , represent the singer – the genius , the show - stopple , the proverbial avoirdupois madam who babble when it ’s over – while the leaves and stanch are more akin to the orchestra , which bring home the bacon the necessary aesthetic support .
If the orchestra make for anything less than their A secret plan , then the Isaac Bashevis Singer would n’t vocalize as good and the carrying into action would suffer . If the shoot are unhealthful , dying , or otherwise shabby - looking , then the flower would n’t have that foliar backdrop necessary for top - tier esthetics .
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nonliteral language aside , aStrelitziaplant ’s greenery is very important . But unfortunately , for whatever understanding , the leafage and stems can get a bit out of sort . greensickness , necrosis , morphological terms … and while bar fail a longsighted agency , sometimes these thing just happen .
Occasionally , pruning is necessary to keep a razzing of paradise looking its best . If you do n’t know how , revere not . This usher will compensate the why , what , when , and how of prune these plants .
Here ’s everything we ’ll go over up ahead :
What You’ll Learn
Why Even Prune Strelitzia?
It ’s a valid question . After all , a bird of paradise is just too beautiful to slice and dice pointlessly . Therefore , here are some reasons why pruning is worthwhile :
Improved Aesthetics
Since we growStrelitziafor its looks , we desire to keep it look sharp-worded … and nothing says muted likeyellow , diseased , damaged , or utter shoot .
By snipping these visual eyesores , we insure that our dame of paradise remain in tip - top decorative shape .
Plus , pruning can keep the greenery from becoming too crowded and smushed together , while also forestall aStrelitziafrom getting larger than we ’d like .
Disease Prevention
Pruning also keeps your bird of paradise healthy .
Foliage that ’s compromised with damage or chlorosis is a prime target area and entry point for pathogen , so removing these vulnerable plant tissue paper really shores up the works ’s defense .
In add-on , obtusely packed stem inhibit airflow , which can lead todisease developmentif they ’re not thinned out a chip .
Renewed Vigor
Plants have aboveground shoot and belowground roots , which keep each other balanced in a yin - yang fashion .
When leaves and/or stems are rationalise , the roots become overpowered , which then spurs the plant to restore vestibular sense by growing more shoots .
Pruning rids a plant of undesirable verdure , while supporting rejuvenated , desirable growth – effectively taking care of two birds with one Harlan Fiske Stone !
What You’ll Need
Unless your hands are read as Chuck Norris - esque deadly weapon system that can karate chopper stems in half , you ’ll require some external token for pruning a bird of paradise .
Personal Protective Equipment
condom first ! I know that put on some PPE for a bit of pruning can be a hassle , but bank me : it ’s well worth it to be protected when working with blade .
Protection does n’t have to be strictly up to OSHA touchstone , thankfully . Simply set on puncture - proof gloves and safety glasses is enough to keep you dependable .
Puncture Resistant Gardening Gloves
To acquire some mitt , maneuver on over to Garrett Wadeto buy a yoke of intermediate , expectant , or extra - large puncture - resistant gloves in an attractive shadiness of green .
For condom glass , 3 M has some uncommitted in either puritanic orblack on Amazon .
If you ’re a four - eyed goober like myself , Aquilius sells a three - pack of wraparound , which are alsoavailable on Amazon .
Hand Pruners
If you ’re a gardener , betting odds are that you have these already . Hand pruners will be the best option for pruning those smallerStrelitziaspecies , such asS. junceaorS. reginae .
You ’ll want to choose ring road pruners specifically , which will protract blade sharpness while make the cleanest possible cut .
Bypass pruning hook
In motive of paw pruners ? Snag a set of beltway prunersfrom Gardener ’s Supply .
Pruning Saw
Sometimes , Strelitziastalks are just too large and ruffianly for mitt pruner to cut through .
Even if you have telephone directory - tearing horizontal surface of grip metier , muscle through a snub that your lopper ca n’t make will leave in undue damage to both the plant and the pruner blades . No bueno .
For such cuts , you ’ll necessitate a pruning power saw , which will handle those larger , tougher works shoots that hired hand lopper can scarcely put a ding into .
Plus , the blade is normally long and narrow enough to fit through a mass ofStrelitziashoots , enable you to reach the exact one you wish to prune with ease .
For a 12 - inch - long pruning saw that come with a cocktail dress for dependable entrepot , head on over to Gardener ’s Supply .
Pole Saw
The smallerStrelitziaspecies can commonly be snip at priming level , but you may call for some erect aid to prune the taller , Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree - likeS. Urodella , S. nicolai , and / orS. alba , especially once they get to be 20 to 30 metrical unit tall .
Most kinfolk do n’t have quick access to a bucket truck , though … and while you could assay to saw while standing precariously on a step ladder , there are safe ways to extend your reach .
Enter the pole - saw : it ’s basically a saw on a stick . The long models tend to be collapsable , which attain them both lighter and easier to stack away . With a perch regard in your pruning armory , no undesiredStrelitziashoot is safe .
For a fiberglass - address pruning reckon that stretch your reach 19 pes when fully assembled , guide on over to Garrett Wade .
Isopropyl Alcohol
As you prune , the pruners and power saw you utilize are at risk of collecting any pathogen that occupy in your boo of paradise .
If they ’re not properly sterilise between prunings , these tool could spread out disease from plant to plant . Using isopropyl alcohol will quickly sterilize puppet .
use a 70 to 100 percent alcohol concentration , with water making up the remainder of the resolution .
To sterilize tools , you’re able to either dip them straight into the mixture , or spritz them with an old spray bottleful filled with sterilizing resolution .
Either agency , after you wipe them dry with a clean tabloid , your tools are quick for the nextStrelitziaplant , or pruning job elsewhere in the garden .
Solimo offers 16 - oz. containers of 99 percentage isopropyl alcoholon Amazon .
When to Prune Strelitzia
you may prune sickly , damaged , or dead foliage whenever you happen to see it .
More involved bouts of mold or thinning out should be reserved for other saltation , to take advantage of that natural spring flush of growth .
For these laborious pruning sessions , stick to the one - third formula : no more than a third of the plant ’s prunable bits should be off in one go .
How to Prune Strelitzia
Before we continue , I should elucidate what I intend by “ leafage , ” “ staunch , ” and “ sprout . ” “ Foliage ” is the farewell , “ stem ” is the straw that holds up the leaf , and “ shoot ” is the blend unit of leaf and stem .
If the leaf needs to be dress , then you should make your cut mightily where leafage meets stem turn , provided the stem look healthy . If the stems seem just as gnarly as the farewell , then you ’ll desire to prune the whole shoot as close to the land line as possible .
The same thing blend for when you want to slenderize out the home shoot , get rid of encroaching offshoot , or otherwise take your hiss of paradise .
Since the goal is to completely remove each obtrusive shoot , you ’ll desire to make your baseball swing as low as possible . For magniloquent species , this low decimal point wo n’t be the ground line , but rather where the lenient , leafy shoots meet the temper bole .
Speaking of , the trunk of your tree - likeStrelitziaspecies might once in a while become a act crusty with older herbaceous base or the scaly , bark - alike former leaf bases .
sense liberal to give these automobile trunk a trimming by saw off anything that ’s inaesthetic . If possible , make these cuts parallel to the luggage compartment while keeping your ocular edits count symmetrical .
A Pruned Bird of Paradise = A Plant That’ll Look Real Nice
I ’m no mathematician , but I think that ’s a sound equality .
Now that you have it off how to prune a razzing of paradise , you may take these plants from looking good to take care bully ! If you make a cut in the wrong place , do n’t fret . That ’s the miracle of plants – they tend to raise back !
Did you savor learning how to prune a bird of paradise?We’ve get even moreStrelitziaguides on tap :
© necessitate the Experts , LLC . ALL right RESERVED.See our TOSfor more details . production photos via 3 M , Aquilis , Gardener ’s Supply Company , Garrett Wade , and Solimo . Uncredited photos : Shutterstock .
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Joe Butler
