Hi. In my new garden, I have inherited a Strelitzia, which is very overgrown and badly in need of a prune. I have noticed that it flowers beautifully, but black spots develop once the flowers open. Help!
This plant seems to be suffering from either a bacterial or fungal infection. Luckily there are a few things you can do to help it out. I recommend putting wettable sulfur around the soil, along with a little dolomitic lime, and try to keep it from getting overly wet. You may also spray the plant with one or more of the following: Garlic oil, neem oil, rosemary oil, lavender oil, or mint oil. All of these have wonderful antiseptic properties. Here is an article of over-all care of the plant. https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/bop/bird-of-paradise-an-exotic-flower-like-none-other.htm
ALSO, CAN I DIVIDE STRELIZIA THAT IS PLANTED IN THE GROUND? HOW BEST TO DO??
These articles should help:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/bop/dividing-bird-of-paradise.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/bop/bird-of-paradise-pruning.htm
Have had 2 of the above for several years. One flower all the time. The leaves (one pot very long the other shrivelling short). They're in mulch, I don't water often, but worried how much when I do because recently I've been cutting the leaves off low down because they're curling up on the tall pot and going yellow and shrivelled on the other. Am I doing something wrong? As I said had for a several years, should I empty my wood chipping mulch and start again re-potting or do they need feeding?
Repotting with rich, well draining soil would be a good idea. They need regular water and fertilizer. Here is how to care for them properly to produce the most blooms.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/bop/bird-of-paradise-an-exotic-flower-like-none-other.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/bop/bird-of-paradise-blooms.htm