I looked at the new leaf coming out of my orange bird and there's a double set of stalks deep inside the newest growth not sure what this means but i caught it on video on my samson cam. will try to have somebuddy help get the video online. I hope it is a flower! I know the plant has about 10 leaves or so on it. so this could be its first flower
I don't think ATP supports videos but I'd love to see photos if you could upload a few here! I love BOP's but have never had any luck with them in pots for some reason ... same with Sago Palm (Cycas revoluta) For some reason they don't survive very long when I have them potted.
~ I'm an old gal who still loves playing in the dirt!
~ Playing in the dirt is my therapy ... and I'm in therapy a lot!
Could a mod clear it with me to see if I could post a video.
As for the BOP its going to bloom, i'm just as surprised as you are, I think this plant was older then it looked when I got it and its really doing well. Its been in my care for under a year, that doesnt mean its only a few years old.
Happy you are going to see blooms. Here is some info for you that you may be interested in on seeds/propagation. Not sure what zone you are in, but was at my MIL's in Zone 9b today and her S reginae is blooming like crazy. It grows in ground in a fairly protected area on the southwest side of the workroom.
I'm in MN zone 4, so the plant cant go outside until in may.
I read in the article that it will flower in responce to stress, Looking back I did repot it a few months ago guess thats what it was. But hopefully it will do well.
I do hope it does very well for you. Since it is an African plant, I figured that link would give you good growth and care info. Don't forget to feed it in May when it goes outside for the summer.
Name: Carol Santa Ana, ca Sunset zone 22, USDA zone 10 A.
My BOP was in bloom when I bought it in a 5 Gal. pot, but didn't bloom for a couple of years after I planted it in the ground. It may be they just take time to settle in. They do need lots of room, and sun.
There are a number of plants that get "resentful" when disturbed. They can take a couple years to forgive being disturbed. Some just sit and show no new growth, others enter a form of dormancy and still others just refuse to bloom.
Crinums, peonies, cordylines, some Irises and Bird of Paradise don't like having their roots disturbed, just to name a few.
Mine is in a 20 inch pot and it needs to be either split or repotted VERY bad. But it blooms quite a bit for me so I hesitate to disturb it. It has had 4 or 5 blooms since I took it in the greenhouse in October. Hmmmm.............wish I could divide it and share the divisions. LOL The most it has ever had was around 12 at one time.
Anna, very nice! I say, if it ain't broke, don't fix it! I've always heard that they prefer tight roots and yours seems to be very happy. I've never tried growing one as a potted plant; they grow as landscape plants here in Florida and seem to grow in tight clumps.
~ I'm an old gal who still loves playing in the dirt!
~ Playing in the dirt is my therapy ... and I'm in therapy a lot!
@AnnaZ I would have to attribute your BOP's super blooms to good ole dairy cow poop! Gorgeous! Wish I had had room to scoop some up when we were up there!
I have a single bloom right now in one of the hoops. We had to open the hoops as it was 80 this afternoon. I probably would have missed the bloom, otherwise.
Name: David Laderoute Zone 5B/6 - NW MO (Zone 5b) Ignoring Zones altogether
AnnaZ said:Mine is in a 20 inch pot and it needs to be either split or repotted VERY bad.
Anna - how old is that plant? I got one this summer at fire sale price and could not resist. It is doing very well in my Living Room behind my chair. It has 8 leaves with a new one coming. ~ 5 feet tall.