Hmmmm, Amy...a challenge. LOL OK, first thing you need to realize is that BOPs are native to South Africa, specifically a biodiversity hot spot that runs from CapeTown to Mozambique. Why is this important? Because the western part of this region is Mediterranean subtropical with wet mild winters and dry summers. Go up the coast a little bit and it turns to a warm-humid subtropical (like Florida). BOPs straddle this line, which is why they thrive in both types of climates. That being said, BOPs can be drought tolerant...they can also take summer rains (remember the northern part of their range), thus they are one of the few flowers that can be the official flower of Los Angeles and also be a symbol of the wet tropics. My experience is that they flower more (peaking near winter) in California than they do in wetter climates. So...the bottom line is that you can do either and it will work. BOPs prefer not to be soaked and can handle considerable dryness, but not bog conditions. They are equally at home with impatiens (water hungry) at their base, as well as xeriphytic plants such as aloes (same origin) and smaller succulents. Depends on whether SE Asia interests you more or the Palm Springs look. ;-) If you want SE Asia in your Zone 8 garden, you can go the annual route, BUT use indoor plants commonly available at big box retailers (go with the 4"). To replicate most Balinese/Thai tropical styles, go with a three-level planting with the BOP as a centerpiece. You can use things like pothos (grows like crazy until it gets cold), shorter bromeliads like vreisias, and peperomias (especially the variegated ones). To frame the BOP (especially since it's in plenty of shade, you can use anthuriums (the bigger, red flowered ones like "Florida" are typically tougher), crotons (from a 2-3 gal), and smaller ti plants. Also tuck in a fern or two...like maidenhair to green up the base. Despite their reputation, most tropical plants abhor constant wetness...deep water the area and wait until the soil dries on top. The only thing I might suggest is bumping up the humidity in the area on those really dry days with a mister (or small water feature). Again, the previous list must be treated like annuals where you live, but they'll definitely give you the SE Asia look that's common in Bali, Singapore, Bangkok and it won't hurt the pocketbook. I'd recommend orchid masses (in our case cymbidiums would have to substitute for the phalenopsis they use), but the leaves don't provide enough contrast to a BOP. You can also cheat a little bit with another South African plant that loves shade and flowers in the winter/early spring, clivia lilies. They are a little tougher and though you won't see these in Singapore, if you're BOP survives, this will too. Same with the old standby, agapanthus. Common, I know, but it will be in bloom when your BOP isn't, though light may be an issue. That's the wet look...I'm sure you can handle the dry since you know succulents, but you can't go wrong with smaller aloes (shade tolerant). Some of the blue-green senecios or lower growing sedums will give a nice contrast in color with the BOP leaves. Apple-green aeoniums in masses might look good too, as well as some of the echeverias. One good coffee table book for xeriphytic ideas is Desert Gardens. B&N or Borders will probably have it and it's full of great pics of succulent combos. I hope this helps, Amy. Good luck. spectre

My mother had a tiny plant given to her. She didn't like it. It just seemed to sit there, doing nothing, so she gave it to me (I'm supposedly the green-fingered one, so I was happy to take it on...!) The small black square pot it was in, was beginning to distort so I knew the roots were outgrowing the pot. I took it home and carefully split the pot away, and sure enough the roots were fighting to get loose. Re-potted it into a 9" plastic pot, good drainage, sunny S/W window and it took off. It's now a healthy 2' high even though (to my utter dismay, having put it outside for the "summer" ha, ha, bloody ha!) the leaves were battered by a hail storm and are now all split along the veins. They're not completely tattered, but every leaf has some damage.... The added light and fresh air must have done it some good though, because the roots are now poking out of the bottom; having brought it back indoors, I have had to raise the pot from its drainage saucer by cutting 2 wine corks in half and standing the pot on the 4 halves... The water drained from the pot when I did this, came to about a quarter inch... I hear they love being pot-bound and that plastic pots are better, because they crack clay/terracotta pots, mercilessly if pot-bound... I'm still awaiting a first flower, by the way, but I hear it can take a few years. That's ok... I'm patient, as all gardeners must be! Anyone else had experience with Bird of Paradise plants (or BoPs as they seem to be affectionately known)?

I would just google banana plant and BOP you'll see the difference. Cats shouldn't be chewing on either of them :P

age is irrelevant ... but it should not have been outside in those temps unprotected .. its a tropical plant.. and single digit temps are not tropical... lol.. especially if they are minus ... just water it properly ... and see if new growth thrives... and if it does.. then eventually the old ugly leaves can be removed ... even a damaged leaf can process light into energy .... so dont go cutting them all off immediately .. the idea might be as it makes a new leaf.. take off the ugliest leaf.. sort of thing ... my daughter just gifted some plants.. it was 30F or so.. we put the pots into plastic grocery bags.. to they wouldnt leak.. then put them in a paper grocery bag.. and stapled it shut ... sorta made a little temp chamber to protect them ... and told them they couldnt stop for a 2 hour dinner on the way home... and if it was much colder.. i would have asked them to warm the car before they left ... its damaged and stressed.. its not hungry.. fert is not a response at this time ... ken ps: the plant is growing to one side.... put that side away form the light source.. so it straightens itself up over the next few months ... else it will start tipping over ... if it continues the grow that way ... it will probably also need a bigger pot .. and i would do that outside in late summer .. early fall ... start a new post when you d that.. and we can guide you on good media ...