Strelitzia Nicolai – apparently pretty easy, fast-growing plant loved not only by me, but also by thrips

In my journey to find another fast-growing, resilient, and (hopefully) easy plant, I finally decided to give Strelitzia Nicolai a try. According to multiple sources, this species should grow faster and larger than its relative, Strelitzia Reginae. I had considered buying it earlier, but hesitated due to its light and humidity requirements. However, after replacing my south-facing windowsill with a deeper one, I finally had space for something bigger.

An easy and fast-growing plant—unfortunately loved by thrips

At first, I planted it in a transparent pot to monitor for potential root rot. After half a year, all roots looked healthy, and the plant had already outgrown its first pot. I moved it to a larger, decorative plastic pot, as its size made it increasingly difficult to remove excess water from the cover pot. Strelitzia Nicolai seems to drink a lot and, in return, grows constantly—especially if you have more than one plant in a pot; there’s always a new leaf on the way.

Of course, there are some downsides. The most significant is that thrips absolutely love this plant. I used to think Monstera Deliciosa was the ultimate thrip magnet, but Strelitzia easily takes first place. I speak from experience: I have about five monsteras and just two strelitzias. Before bringing home the latter, thrips only occasionally appeared on the monsteras. But shortly after introducing Strelitzia, thrips reappeared—this time exclusively on the strelitzias, especially on new leaves. The pests leave marks along the edges, making affected areas thinner and easy to spot even from above (see photo). Fortunately, the leaves are large and few, so cleaning and spraying them is relatively easy.

Another minor drawback is the appearance of older leaves—they tend to split, bend, and the tips may brown slightly. However, given the plant’s growth pattern, the risk of ending up with a bare stem is negligible.

A true sun lover

It may seem impossible to give too much sun to indoor plants, especially with triple-glazed windows, but some sun-loving species (like Monstera Thai Constellation or certain Philodendrons) can still get sunburned. Not Strelitzia! The more sun it gets, the faster and bigger it grows. During this process, it drinks a lot, so the risk of root rot is relatively low. I water mine about twice a week, when the pot feels significantly lighter or when my moisture meter reads around 3–4 on a 0–10 scale. I prefer bottom watering to help prevent fungus gnats.

💡 Final Thoughts

Strelitzia Nicolai is a robust, fast-growing, and visually impressive houseplant—perfect for anyone with enough space and sunlight. While it’s not entirely trouble-free (thrips are a real issue), its resilience and growth rate make it a rewarding choice. If you’re looking for a statement plant and don’t mind a bit of pest management, this one is hard to beat.

Tags: strelitzia, easy plants, houseplants, indoor gardening, thrips, sun-loving, plant care