Bird of Paradise Flowers Shriveling Indoors

Why Bird of Paradise Blooms Fade Quickly Inside

Chee purchased a flowering bird of paradise (Strelitzia) and within a week the flowers began to shrivel. She wondered if there was a second flower inside each "head" and whether to remove the dying blooms.

One Flower per Stalk

Each flower stalk produces only a single bloom. What appears to be a second flower is likely the same bloom partially opening. Once the flower starts to shrivel, it is finished—nothing can reverse the process. Indoors, bird of paradise flowers typically last only about a week due to lower light and humidity compared to their native outdoor conditions.

Care for Future Blooms

To encourage future flowering, provide the brightest possible indirect light (a south or west window), keep the soil evenly moist but not soggy, and fertilize monthly during active growth with a balanced fertilizer. The plant may not rebloom until it receives sufficient light intensity and a period of cooler, drier rest.