Heliconia
Heliconia spp.
Heliconias are bold tropical plants with banana-like leaves and dramatic upright or hanging bracts in red, orange, yellow and pink that last for weeks. They need warmth, humidity and moist soil.
Photo: Justin Lebar · CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Essential Care Requirements
Light
Full sun, Partial sun
Watering
High
Keep the soil consistently moist; never let it dry out in warm weather.
Soil
Rich, moist, slightly acidic soil; pH 5.5–6.5.
Temperature and humidity
12–38 °C · High humidity
Feeding
Feed monthly with a balanced fertilizer and mulch with compost.
Pruning and propagation
Propagate by division
Cut each stem to the ground after it has flowered.
Heliconias are not toxic.
Top Cultivation Tips
Shelter from strong winds that shred the leaves.
Divide rhizomes in spring.
Smaller species suit large pots.
Attracts nectar-feeding birds.
Common problems
Leaf spot
Fungal or bacterial infections that cause brown, black or purple spots on leaves, often with a yellow halo, leading to early leaf drop.
How to treat it →DiseaseRoot rot
Roots decay in waterlogged soil, so the plant wilts and yellows even though the soil is wet.
How to treat it →PestScale insects
Immobile, shell-covered insects that cling to stems and leaves, draining sap and weakening trees and houseplants.
How to treat it →
