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New Petals Gently Coaxed

By Diohio

New Petals Gently Coaxed (Strelitzia reginae (Bird of paradise))

10 Jan, 2009
13 likes

Well I did as Majeekahead suggested and I was able to gently coax out another bloom !! It was fairly hard to do but like she said, gentle is the word. I got most of it out and then felt I was pushing it so I backed off and within an hour it spread out nicely ! Surprisingly I didn't get sticky at all ! I'm not sure if there are more petals in there but I couldn't feel them today. Also, bloom to the far right was starting to fade, but still looked good so I didn't have the heart to break it off, so that probably made the job harder than it had to be. Thanks Majeekahead !! I wouldn't have done it without your suggestion ! Now it will last even longer !

Comments on this photo

Irish

that is beautiful

10 Jan, 2009

Milky

That is stunning Diohio.......

10 Jan, 2009

Ams

I am so jealous but happy for you ;-)

10 Jan, 2009

Gilli

Beautiful Diohio

10 Jan, 2009

Greenthumb

What a wonder! I love it.

10 Jan, 2009

Readbythepond

Very impressive! Do they grow from bulbs or did you buy a plant?

11 Jan, 2009

Mikec

This is fabulous Di. To think that I had these blooming in large clumps all over my front yard when I lived in California.

11 Jan, 2009

Diohio

Thanks so much everyone !

Oh Mikec, you're kidding !! And you moved away from that ! Oh my. I know, I love the snow too but that would have been very hard to move away from ! Did you cut them/ handle them much?

11 Jan, 2009

Diohio

This baby was given to me Readbythepond. I know you can buy seed but you should also be able to buy the tubers. Not sure on that though.

My next question is should I let one of the blooms go to seed or should I save energy and cut them as they fade? I'd love to try to start some from seed.......not even sure they'll make seed though.

11 Jan, 2009

Readbythepond

I used to be a floral designer in another lifetime. I loved designing arrangements with them. Didn't get the opportunity often as they are so expensive.
Yours is incredible. What a wonderful gift.
Lisa

11 Jan, 2009

Ams

I managed to germinate 4 seeds out of 6. Soak seeds overnight, press into damp sand cover with polythene bag leave in warm airing cupboard until germinated (mine took 6 months). I have been waiting 4 years for flowers but maybe my region is too cold.

11 Jan, 2009

Mikec

I think that it's worth a try to see if one will go to seed and to see how they do for you Di. As Ams mentioned it does take a while but it must have been a lot of fun to watch them grow. I did cut some from the front yard in CA to bring in the house.

11 Jan, 2009

Diohio

Thanks everyone !
And thank you Ams for the seed info. I'll give that a try if I get seeds !

12 Jan, 2009