Question
Is the Heliconia part of the Bird of Paradise family?  I see it sometimes included in the Bird of Paradise family, but sometimes it is called a 'false' Bird of Paradise.  Either way it is a beautiful plant, but it will help me to give it the best care possible.  Thanks!!

Answer
Hi Marvin, they are related to the BOP and the Banana, for they grow in the same manner, utilizing underground Rhizomes to spread; Heliconias are pretty easy to care for, they like a fertile soil , but will tolerate less. The most difficult part of growing them, is controlling them; they can overpopulate and need to be thinned out occasionally. When you do this, prune them back to the ground to thin them, and once a year, divide the clumps by digging sections up and moving them. A granular used for tropical palms/plants will suffice nicely twice a year, but they will do just fine if you hit them once a month with Miracle-Grow attached to your hose. Nick