Heliconia Care

Heliconia flowers are known for their bright and vibrant colors, and these beautiful flowers are every gardener's favorite choice when it comes to landscaping! They are also known as lobster-claw because they look like them, false bird-of-paradise because they resemble the flowers known as the bird of paradise, and wild plantain. The heliconia plant is native to the tropical regions of America and the Pacific Ocean islands towards the west of Indonesia. The term 'heliconia' is derived from a Greek word helikonios after Mount Helicon, which according to Greek mythology is the seat of the Muses (the 9 goddesses of science and arts). Taking care of Heliconia is not difficult, but it's not an easy task either. There are certain tips that one would need to know in order to be able to grow this beautiful plant all the more beautifully.

Scientific Classification of the Heliconia Plant

Heliconia was earlier a part of the Musaceae family but now is the only genus that exists in the family of Heliconiaceae. There are about 100 - 200 species of heliconias which can grow from 3 - 30 feet tall. The flowers actually are modified leaves and bracts which contain the flowers inside them so that only specialized birds like the hummingbirds can take its nectar. The leaves of the heliconia plant come in attractive colors like orange, green, red, pink, etc., which grow opposite to each other. In fact, as the plant ages, the leaves actually form large clumps, and therefore cutting the extra ones can be done. Mentioned below is the scientific classification of heliconias.

Scientific Facts

Family: Heliconiaceae

Genus: Heliconia

Kingdom: Plantae

Order: Zingiberales

Division: Magnoliophyta

How to Take Care of Heliconia Plant

The heliconia plant is a non-woody plant and the flowers are grown on long, erect or mostly drooping branched clusters. These plants are tropical plants and therefore proper care should include focus on water and sunlight. Mentioned below are some important tips that you need to know in order to grow them beautifully in your garden.

• Since the heliconia is a tropical plant, you must make sure that the soil is well drained and is rich in organic matters. Therefore, loamy soil rich in humus would work best for growing heliconias.
• The spacing too is very important for proper growth of the heliconias. As mentioned earlier, there are many different species of heliconias so you must know whether they are the ones that form a cluster at one spot or need space to spread themselves. It is advisable to grow them with a space of 4-6 feet.
• You must water your heliconias very frequently (depending upon the species). Heliconias love water and therefore it is advisable to water the plant once in the morning and once in the evening. But make sure that you don't over water it as the plant may get a fungus attack. Just never let the soil go dry.
• The heliconia plants also need a lot of sunlight. It would be good if you can keep them under direct sunlight for 6 hours everyday! You can also place them under a sun lamp if required.
• Another important point to keep in mind, is to keep them feeding with fertilizers at least once in the season, bone meal being the most preferred one!
• Once your heliconia plant has bloomed, it is important to cut of its stalk all the way to the ground, this helps in promoting more flower growth in the plant.
• Mulching your heliconia plant regularly helps in weed control and retain necessary moisture that is required around the roots.
• Always remember to clean off the dead leaves and stems from the plant as soon as possible. You can also cut off the extra leaves of the plant as it gets clustered when the plant starts to age.

Taking care of this plant is not a piece of cake, but if you take care of the basic needs of the plant, then the heliconia plant is not demanding at all! The best part about the attention and hard work on the plant, is that your efforts will be rewarded when you see the heliconia flowers blooming in your garden and gathering the attention of all those around. Good luck!