How to Prune or Thin Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia reginae), Coto de Caza

Thinning out my Bird of Paradise after the first blooming of Spring. This is a little rugged....I would suggest being much more careful if you want a beautiful indoor plant - use proper tools and cutting techniques. But for a rough outside area, this method is easy and fine. This plant is super tough.
This thinning is for FALL time, in SPRING just before growth season, cut them way down (best for diagonal cuts) and they will come back really fast, full and pretty.
#birdofparadise #strelitzia #battlefoxx #cotolife #cotodecaza #cotoliving #cotopride #gardeningtips #cotolivingmagazine

[@mari-at-wiredlikeme8728]

I really appreciate this video. I have lived in MV (hi neighbor!) and this is the first video I have seen explaining this. When I couldn't figure out what to do I hired a gardener to trim them and he did remove what was dead and he cut to the ground the outside edge. Wasn't sure about that.

[@jenenamaughan1992]

I have a large clump of strelitzia in my garden, probably close to fifty years old & it's so tough. I live in a warm area of Australia & it gets cut down to ground level after flowering & comes back better than ever, no pampering required.

[@battlefoxx]

Super. People don't realize how easy this plant is to grow, you simply just have to make sure you clean out the dead and old stuff, thin it our 'as you go' and hack it way back before the blooming season. Good Job.

[@raulrivera5009]

I rather use special hand saw is much faster and better then scissors lesser pain for your hands if is to much pruning.

[@battlefoxx]

Probably a much better idea, or at least some much sharper proper pruning tools than what i used.

[@rochelle7901]

if you just clean out the flower petals that have dried, leave the flower stem intact, after a while not too long, pods will emerge from the area that the flowers bloomed from. Let the pods dry until they are brown and hard, eventually the pods open up and there you have bird of paradise seeds. Thanks for your video!

[@battlefoxx]

Wow, sounds great! Thanks

[@ooopticnerveee]

How cool, thanks for sharing that info 😊

[@rochelle7901]

@@ooopticnerveee My pleasure! The seeds lay in the pod just like peas. They are black seeds with bright orange tufts. I've collected them but have not planted yet. Info on KZbin on how to sow. Good Luck!

[@angeltrudo]

If you didn’t save those flowers next time do so. All of those flowers have a ton of seeds in them you can plant and grow new plants!!!! Great video btw!

[@battlefoxx]

I am thinking of just bagging some up and selling them, and other plants too. But, not sure exactly how to do it.

[@angeltrudo]

@@battlefoxx I have not tried it yet, but what o read is that you want to cut the flower and let it dry out completely and then it’s easier to open and get the seeds. Once you do you need to soak the seeds for 48 hours before trying to plant for germination. That’s as far as I’ve gotten with the whole research. But I really want to try it. Good luck on your experiment

[@joshuabourgeois9734]

With simple scissars ? 😂

[@battlefoxx]

you should probably use clean garden shears or nippers, but I just used the pruning scissors cuz that's all I could find at the time.

[@markcunich]

Thanks for the video. Most others I’ve seen recommend cutting at a diagonal angle

[@battlefoxx]

I agree, thanks for the update. Diagonal is always better for thicker stemmed plants, but it is just so hard to get into mesh of the plant, and....I am a bit lazy, too.

[@markcunich]

I haven’t tried it yet but will probably end up taking the easier option as well 😄

[@michelemiller6275]

If you’re “too Lazy”, why bother making a you tube video with a sloppy ending?

[@michelemiller6275]

Anyone interested in a well formed, beautiful planting, visit the other resources. UCSB at Isla Vista, UH Manoa on Oahu, the San Diego Zoo, anywhere but a self-identified Lazy Ass. You disrespect my time.

[@battlefoxx]

OK.

[@thomaspittock4018]

I tried to do mine in Brooksville Fl and found out it has either spiders or scorpions in it as I got stung in my face reaching in to trim out the dead stuff. Suggestions.

[@mari-at-wiredlikeme8728]

Hire a gadener

[@tnaesp]

Thankyou! Helped me tidy up my MILs bird in her front patio in Spain as it looked exactly like yours 🙏🏾

[@battlefoxx]

thanks. This is just tidying up, but 'real' gardeners get far into the plant, dead head, prune a lot. Also, make sure you have good shears. Have Fun. Thanks for watching

[@hector-lee-taylor]

Thanks. In the end it was useful, but try to reduce the blah, blah, blah and cut to the chase.

[@battlefoxx]

thanks, i agree to much blah blah

[@lisasun9623]

This is helpful

[@battlefoxx]

Thanks. I sort of did a rush job. But, this plant is so resilient, it just pops right back. I prefer thinning it out throughout the year instead of giving it a big hackjob at the end of blooming season.

[@michelemiller6275]

I really appreciate the form of a well maintained B of P. While you took the time, spent the energy, sorry but it was still a mess. Maybe look at how Hawaiians maintain them, so much prettier. ❤

[@battlefoxx]

I had the wrong shears and my fingers were blistering and peeling...so, sort of got discouraged. But, it grows nicely anyway.