The drooping looks normal, but I’m unfamiliar with this species. It is magnificent though!
LilBowWowW
Will a fan with a slight breeze make the stems stronger?
ILRoots
Am I correct that it’s only happening to the older/oldest leaves.
Are the stakes no longer working because they are too short or because the leaves are too heavy?
nodesandwhiskers
When this happens at my work I add a tall pole and tie some string to support them straighter. Ultimately this is purely for the aesthetic and isn’t optimal for the plant. Higher light and a larger pot would be your best bet long term.
ElaineBenesKennedyJR
Same thing happened to me when I tried growing a strelitzia indoors, ended up giving it to my parents who planted it outside and now it’s thriving. They need way more light than one would think which is why they get “leggy” like this
ILRoots
My understanding is that this plant wants to spread, not climb. So to some degree you are fighting nature.
However, here’s something you can try.
Step One: At the hardware store don’t think ‘plant or garden stakes’ which by definition are shorter. Think driveway stakes which will be metal, stronger and taller. I’ve even used driveway snow markers and have snapped off the reflective red circle at the top.
Buy 3 and put them in the pot in a triangle shape with your stalks inside. Experiment with placement, using Velcro tape around the stakes to create a narrow space for the stalks. The tape will be more gentle on your plant than wire or string. You can also easily adjust the tightness with Velcro. You might need to have 2 or even 3 individual Velcro circles around the stakes initially. For looks you can purchase Velcro tape in green to blend in for plant use.
Step Two: Buy a floor lamp that directs the light down such as for reading, not up for ambience). Or depending on the height of the plant, put a spotlight holder on the wall high up so that the light is above the plant shining down on it. Your plant will reach UP for the light and have encouragement from your triangular support to do so. The spotlight on the wall can end up looking quite spectacular, like a focus light on a museum sculpture!
I’ve done this a couple of times and it has worked for me. You just have to tinker a bit with the triangular stick shape to get it right.
Own_Experience_7903
her pot looks so small
longteadrinker
This is one of my dream plants. I mean, I did just buy a 4 inch BOP (lmao) and I know it’s high high hopes that I could ever get it like this… but still. She’s so gorgeous. I could dream under her all day.
Jazzisbanasss
You can’t. That’s just how she grows! I have seen people tie a rope or something around the middle, bunching the stems together to keep them from toppling over.
WoozyTraveller
These plants spread out in nature. I had a giant BoP one in the front yard of one of my previous home. It’s doing what it naturally does.
Also, like many plants (like ficus, which are true trees, for example), they are used to being in the wind. Without any gusts of wind, they don’t build the strength to be strong in the stems/trunks, resulting in weak plants. It is why there is the tip to (not joking) shake your ficus lyrata (fiddle leaf fig) vigorously for 30 seconds or so when you water it
CaRpEt_MoTh
These plants get way bigger and you kinda need to accept that this can’t be a houseplant for much longer, they are quite cold hardy and can tolerate a mild frost with absolute min night temperatures of 1.c and I am assuming that you are in the northern hemisphere so moving her outside is perfect
Partysausage
Honestly it’s a nightmare… I had some success binding the middle section of the plant with a strip of fabric.the leaves spread to provide space for new leaves though so it reaches a point where it’s pretty cramped for new leaves
corkie12
Good golly, now that is a house plant. Impressive
Prize_Ant_1141
U need a wider pot.
motolady
Hang chains from your ceiling to support the leaves and give it a real Bird of BDSM vibe
LuckNo4294
I want this problem😭
BasurtoA
Wow she is so cool so big! sorry about your situation.
mosspoled
Deeper and wider pot. A plant that size is in way too small a pot
20 Comments
No advice, but she is glorious!
Time to cut
The drooping looks normal, but I’m unfamiliar with this species. It is magnificent though!
Will a fan with a slight breeze make the stems stronger?
Am I correct that it’s only happening to the older/oldest leaves.
Are the stakes no longer working because they are too short or because the leaves are too heavy?
When this happens at my work I add a tall pole and tie some string to support them straighter. Ultimately this is purely for the aesthetic and isn’t optimal for the plant. Higher light and a larger pot would be your best bet long term.
Same thing happened to me when I tried growing a strelitzia indoors, ended up giving it to my parents who planted it outside and now it’s thriving. They need way more light than one would think which is why they get “leggy” like this
My understanding is that this plant wants to spread, not climb. So to some degree you are fighting nature.
However, here’s something you can try.
Step One: At the hardware store don’t think ‘plant or garden stakes’ which by definition are shorter. Think driveway stakes which will be metal, stronger and taller. I’ve even used driveway snow markers and have snapped off the reflective red circle at the top.
Buy 3 and put them in the pot in a triangle shape with your stalks inside. Experiment with placement, using Velcro tape around the stakes to create a narrow space for the stalks. The tape will be more gentle on your plant than wire or string. You can also easily adjust the tightness with Velcro. You might need to have 2 or even 3 individual Velcro circles around the stakes initially. For looks you can purchase Velcro tape in green to blend in for plant use.
Step Two: Buy a floor lamp that directs the light down such as for reading, not up for ambience). Or depending on the height of the plant, put a spotlight holder on the wall high up so that the light is above the plant shining down on it. Your plant will reach UP for the light and have encouragement from your triangular support to do so. The spotlight on the wall can end up looking quite spectacular, like a focus light on a museum sculpture!
I’ve done this a couple of times and it has worked for me. You just have to tinker a bit with the triangular stick shape to get it right.
her pot looks so small
This is one of my dream plants. I mean, I did just buy a 4 inch BOP (lmao) and I know it’s high high hopes that I could ever get it like this… but still. She’s so gorgeous. I could dream under her all day.
You can’t. That’s just how she grows! I have seen people tie a rope or something around the middle, bunching the stems together to keep them from toppling over.
These plants spread out in nature. I had a giant BoP one in the front yard of one of my previous home. It’s doing what it naturally does.
Also, like many plants (like ficus, which are true trees, for example), they are used to being in the wind. Without any gusts of wind, they don’t build the strength to be strong in the stems/trunks, resulting in weak plants. It is why there is the tip to (not joking) shake your ficus lyrata (fiddle leaf fig) vigorously for 30 seconds or so when you water it
These plants get way bigger and you kinda need to accept that this can’t be a houseplant for much longer, they are quite cold hardy and can tolerate a mild frost with absolute min night temperatures of 1.c and I am assuming that you are in the northern hemisphere so moving her outside is perfect
Honestly it’s a nightmare… I had some success binding the middle section of the plant with a strip of fabric.the leaves spread to provide space for new leaves though so it reaches a point where it’s pretty cramped for new leaves
Good golly, now that is a house plant. Impressive
U need a wider pot.
Hang chains from your ceiling to support the leaves and give it a real Bird of BDSM vibe
I want this problem😭
Wow she is so cool so big! sorry about your situation.
Deeper and wider pot. A plant that size is in way too small a pot