I think it's sad that not many people post or respond on this site. Anyway, can't say that I can be of much help as I've killed two birds myself--just by trying to grow them... in the meantime, they grow all over the place here almost like weeds. I've never seen the birds set up keiki (babies) but I'm sure I wasn't looking too carefully. All said, I say just make sure that both have enough roots to survive, dust them with a root hormone and go for it! By the way, ever since I found out that tropicals were introduced to the islands from Africa, Australia, and South America (?), I've not been too impressed with calling them local. In fact, most of them are soooo invasive, I'm surprised that the government here doesn't have them on the "most wanted" list but I guess that tropicals are okay because they make the money-go-round. --Don't get me wrong, don't hate them, in fact I have some ginger and heleconia still around from before I switched out to other plants. --Lee ;)

I live in a solid zone 7 (this year more more like a 9 though) and I don't expect to be planting them in the ground anytime too soon. What is your zone?? I had mine in pots outside in mostly sunny position until about October when I put them against the side of the house on the north side (where I had some space). Then I put them into the garage some time in early December. Where they will problaby stay until early April. I couldn't expose mine to anything too much lower than the upper 20's (rare this year). I don't think you should be expecting flowers anytime too soon. I don't believe they flower until much larger. I find them only moderate to somewhat slow growing--which is fine with me because of their massive size. (PS: I also grow the species reginae and the their cousin the traveller's palm--difficult to buy outside of Florida.)

The problem with common names is illustrated by this thread. Bird of paradise, white bird of paradise, giant bird,(Strelitzia Nicolai) is a member of the same family of bananas, gingers, and heliconia. It is an upright growing plant with successively larger leaves and can get upwards of 15 feet. It resembles a banana and produces a purple and white bloom; typically, in the fall in the deep south. The yellow bird of paradise referred to by denisew is, I think, also known as Pride of Barbados and is a shrub like plant. Completely different family of plants. The white bird of paradise is only marginally hardy in Zone 9. It won't make it in a lower zone. Temps down to 28 or so only. The yellow bird is more hardy. Steve

it sure looks stressed.. and imo.. fert is NEVER a response to stress ... and definitely.. if you are applying it to stressed leaves ... i would insure it is fully and properly watered ... perhaps even putting it in a tub and wetting not only the media.. but the wood ... and then shove it in full bright shade for a month ... and leaving it alone.. but for watering it ... WHEN IT NEEDS IT ... insert finger and find out ... and after that much water.... it might be a long time.. before it needs more ... part of your problem.. might be that the wood is wicking water out of your media ... this is one of the reasons.. i would have found a plastic pot that fit inside the wood pot .. what they call.. a pot in pot system .... i would focus on the new emerging leaf.. to see what its current condition is .... that will be a better indication than the old leaves ... ken