When is the best time of year to do this? It’s now April, so in the Uk my plant is still inside a conservatory and just about to finish flowering as we head through spring into summer.
Basically yes Matthew as long as there are about 3 or so big tuba roots attached to the portion you remove. If the natural division is close to ground level and you can make a clean cut and retain a fair amount of the root system the chances of survival will be good. I would be confident the portion you leave in the ground will survive. The problem with established plants in the ground is that the root system will be pretty extensive so a fair amount of the roots will have to be cut. On the plus side these plants are tough and can recover from trauma quite well.
The cut roots will be susceptible to underground pathogens and some may go black and die, however this has never been a significant problem for my plants and if anything the trauma to roots seems to encourage the growth of flower spikes. I think as long as the split plants are planted in well drained soil they will survive just fine even after the roots have sustained a brutal pruning. Thanks for your comment Jessica
Hey, yours looks like mine! Leaves are all curled up and hard instead of the wide, sweeping, split leaves I see on nice BOPs all over the internet. Any idea why? Are they just gonna look like this forever?
Good question Tyrone. I have tried adding nitrogen (blood&bone) but it makes no difference to the greeness or leaf curling. This makes me think it comes down to the plant itself. In other words, starting off with a plant that has the greeness and leaf shape you want should ensure this is what you get as it grows. I guess you could try adding magnesium as this is known to enhance leaf greenness but I think this is a longshot. Anyway Tyrone, please let me know if you work out a way to get your existing plants to green up. Regards
It is quite likely a Strelitzia Reginae (aka. Orange Bird of Paradise ) instead of a Strelitzia Nicolai (White Bird of Paradise. The orange BOP is the smaller kind of its family. And the white is the bigger plant of the Strelizia family and probably what you typically see on line.
Hi Kevin, the plant in the video is a Reginae but I'm pretty sure all Strelitiza varieties can be divided this way just as long as the main feeder roots remain ajoined to each divided clump - Regards
I know it looks pretty bad seeing half the root system being cut off with a saw but I have found the split plants recover well producing flower spikes and foliage. Thanks for your comment Palm Tree Singh.
quick to the point, no fluff, great video
Thanks Devon...less is more...
Ha ha I love your no fuss approach…. Don’t need him now…. *throws it away*
Thanks Baily B -it's the laconic Aussie approach that keeps us grounded - no point getting too precious about stuff...
I don't think I would have the nerve to do this.but turned out good.
Yes, the plant can survive a severe root cut back which seems to stimulate flower spike growth
When is the best time of year to do this? It’s now April, so in the Uk my plant is still inside a conservatory and just about to finish flowering as we head through spring into summer.
End of spring
Planta extraordinaria
Yes Gustavo, these plants can recover well
What happens if its a in ground plant and I cant expose the root system, can i still cut at the natural divide and shovel it out?
Basically yes Matthew as long as there are about 3 or so big tuba roots attached to the portion you remove. If the natural division is close to ground level and you can make a clean cut and retain a fair amount of the root system the chances of survival will be good. I would be confident the portion you leave in the ground will survive. The problem with established plants in the ground is that the root system will be pretty extensive so a fair amount of the roots will have to be cut. On the plus side these plants are tough and can recover from trauma quite well.
Does having open wounds on the root make it susceptible to disease? Do you just put it in soil after?
The cut roots will be susceptible to underground pathogens and some may go black and die, however this has never been a significant problem for my plants and if anything the trauma to roots seems to encourage the growth of flower spikes. I think as long as the split plants are planted in well drained soil they will survive just fine even after the roots have sustained a brutal pruning. Thanks for your comment Jessica
Hey, yours looks like mine! Leaves are all curled up and hard instead of the wide, sweeping, split leaves I see on nice BOPs all over the internet. Any idea why? Are they just gonna look like this forever?
Good question Tyrone. I have tried adding nitrogen (blood&bone) but it makes no difference to the greeness or leaf curling. This makes me think it comes down to the plant itself. In other words, starting off with a plant that has the greeness and leaf shape you want should ensure this is what you get as it grows. I guess you could try adding magnesium as this is known to enhance leaf greenness but I think this is a longshot. Anyway Tyrone, please let me know if you work out a way to get your existing plants to green up. Regards
Ok thanks mark!
It is quite likely a Strelitzia Reginae (aka. Orange Bird of Paradise ) instead of a Strelitzia Nicolai (White Bird of Paradise. The orange BOP is the smaller kind of its family. And the white is the bigger plant of the Strelizia family and probably what you typically see on line.
Hello Mark. Thank you for the video. Im sorry if i missed this, but is this a strelitzia reginae? or strelitzia nicolai? Thank you
Hi Kevin, the plant in the video is a Reginae but I'm pretty sure all Strelitiza varieties can be divided this way just as long as the main feeder roots remain ajoined to each divided clump - Regards
@@marktaylor7607 Thank you for the reply Mark. Have a nice day and all the best for you Mark.
Such a waste.. You're killing it
I know it looks pretty bad seeing half the root system being cut off with a saw but I have found the split plants recover well producing flower spikes and foliage. Thanks for your comment Palm Tree Singh.