Bird of Paradise

[Rhona]

Has anyone tried growing these flowers? I've got a packet of seeds that have been hanging around for a couple of years and I really should give them a go!

I know they take a looong time to flower but I don't mind a long term project.

Any tips?

[BrideXIII]

erm... well I have grown them, virtually , on the xbox360

although we are supposed to be giving them a go next year, so good luck and let me know how you get on.

[Alison]

My mother in law brought some seeds back from the Canary Isles about 10 years ago. She doesn't speak Spanish so didn't understand the instructions and just shoved a couple of seeds in a pot. They both germinated, she gave one of them away and the other one is now huge and outgrowing her conservatory. It's flowered a couple of times and is a beautiful if over large plant! Since then she's actually looked up what she should have done and apparently you break off the little yellow tufty bit and soak them for 24 hours before planting.

[Flummery]

A friend of mine (a VERY PATIENT friend of mine) grew some from seed. They took 5 years to flower but what beauties they were when they did! Give it a go.

[tracy]

i have grown two from seed and both times i have soaked the seed for at least 48 hours
the bigest thing i have found is that restricting the roots even when the plants gets older is really important. the meaner you treat them the better and more sun equals more flowers x

[lynda66]

i started mine off in that really nice sunny bit we had in march/april or whenever it was, they were in biodegradeable pots, they sat there for a month or so, and i got fed up of waiting, so i planted them in the pots, in the flower bed ........ they were hiding behind some nasturtiums ....... they are currently about 6 inches tall and i'm debating whether to bring them in for the winter or not?

i think they are a bit hit and miss, and can take up to 9 months till they germinate. but hopefully they might not die now

I would say, stick em in a pot and hope

[burnie]

I did have a beauty I'd grown from seed but it died when we moved to Scotland(it was in storage for 3 months and I think they over watered it,but they did try).The key as has been stated is to pot bind them to get them to flower.I didn't know this and kept re-potting for 12 years with no flowers,you should have seen the size of it.It did finally flower after being stuck in a corner of the conservatory and neglected for a bit,well worth the effort and I don't really like flowers that much.

[lottie lizzie]

I have one in a large pot which we bought about 4 or 5 years ago. It hasn't flowered yet but they seem to be a long term project. Hubby left it outside over the winter last year, thought we'd lost it, but new leaves grew up through the centre of the old ones and it is now back in the greenhouse, still going strong.

Liz

[flowerofshona]

I have 3, an orange one a white one and a black one all grown from seed, the oldest one is 7 years old and not flowered yet !! its kept in the hot part of the greenhouse and is pretty pot bound ! They are not hurting so i will just have to wait for them to flower (im hoping next year !!! )
Germination was easy !!
I have a tip for passion flower seeds to, soak then in orange juice for 12 hours, it breaks the coating !!!