Bird Of Paradise Plant Care At Home (Useful Guide)

The bird of paradise is a tropical foliage houseplant that is native to South Africa. 

It is considered the queen of indoor plants because of its beautiful features which include the banana-shaped leaves, and its rich and tropical flair to space.

If this plant interests you enough to add to your indoor plant collections, then keep reading as we walk you through everything that you need to know about how best to care for the plant. 

8 Best Bird Of Paradise Plant Care Instructions For Your Home

Below is the necessary care that you must give to your bird of paradise whether you are growing them indoors or outdoors. They include

1. Light Preference

The bird of paradise plant tends to enjoy being placed in a spot where it is exposed to bright indirect light. It helps to keep the plant blooming. 

However, the plant will also require shading of the plant from the direct midday sunlight during summer to avoid burning or damage to the leaves of the younger plant.

Furthermore, the perfect position should be in your room where the windows face east or west. Avoid rooms with only one north-facing window as the sunlight wouldn’t be sufficient to grow the plant healthy.

However, if the sunlight isn’t sufficient, you can purchase a grow light to add more light support for your plant.

2. Watering Schedule

Bird of Paradise plants need regular watering during the spring and summer growing seasons. They like their soil to be consistently moist but dislike their roots stagnating in water. 

However, it is important that while watering, you avoid overwatering or underwatering as both can cause some serious damage such as root rots and other diseases. Ensure that the pot is well-drained, moist and well-mannered throughout the year. 

3. Best Soil Mix

Bird of Paradise plants grows best when it is grown in rich, loamy, well-draining soil with a pH of 5.5. to 7.5. The loam-based potting mix is a mixture of clay, sand, and silt that avoids the extremes of clay or sandy soils. 

So while for healthy growth, ensure that you use a rich, well-drained potting mix for potted plants or a compost mixture. 

If you will be growing with a pot, make sure it has drainage holes that can allow water to flow through the soil and outside of the pot.

4. Humidity And Temperature Level

This plant enjoys being exposed to a warm, humid atmosphere. The minimum temperature level is between 65°F-80°F during the day and 55°F-60°F at night.

However, if the temperature of the room or the environment reaches more than 80°F (20C), it is advisable that you ventilate the room a little. That’s why the bird of paradise loves being in a dry location to avoid heat.

The perfect place to keep the plant is in the bathroom as long as it has an adequate light source. 

Furthermore, the best way to increase humidity for your bird of paradise is to place a water-filled gravel tray underneath your plant. 

You could even buy an indoor water feature at a place nearby or by increasing the humidity around the plant pebble tray, and humidifier, grouping with other plants.

5. Fertilizing Application

The best type of fertilizer for this plant which is considered a heavy feeder is the balanced general-purpose houseplant with a feed ratio of about 5-5-5, 15-0-15 or 10-10-10. It must be applied every 2-4 weeks depending on the brand and the manufacturer’s instructions or recommendations.

Feeding the plant must be done in the springtime with slow-release pellets or weekly during the growing season. This is one of the great rules of feeding your plant with fertilizer. At the end of the growing season, you must stop feeding to avoid damaging the plants or the level of productivity.

Furthermore, if you notice any sign of deficiency on the leaves of your plant, it is a clear sign that your plant’s environment is not suitable for them.

6. Propagation

The best way to propagate birds of paradise is through division and sowing seeds. The division is quite easier and quicker than growing from seed. Let’s look at how each of them: 

Propagates through by division:

A. Depending on the size of your plant (and its rhizome or underground root structure), you will need larger instruments like a shovel and saw for in-ground or large plants. 

For smaller plants, you can use a sharp knife. If potting the division, you will need a new pot and a well-draining potting mix.

B. You can also remove the new growth or offshoots at the base of the plant that has at least three leaves and divide the rhizome below ground with a shovel, saw, or knife.

C. Repot in a new container with a well-draining potting mix.

To propagate by sowing seeds:

This method will take two months for the seeds to germinate. To use this method, you must follow these steps:

A. Soak seeds in room-temperature water for 24 to 48 hours before planting. Remove any orange stringy material. 

B. Nick the seed with a knife or nail file. Plant the seed in a well-draining potting mix about 1/2 to 1 inch deep and at least 3 inches apart from other seeds. 

C. Place the container in a warm, indirect sun location and cover it with a cloche or plastic wrap, keeping the soil moist but not soggy. 

D. Once the seedling germinates and produces two to three leaves, transplant to a 6-inch pot. Once your plant reaches 6 inches, it is ready for a more permanent home.

7. Repotting 

Repotting is necessary to care for your bird of paradise as it gives the plant a boost of fresh nutrients that will see it through the growing process.

To repot your bird of paradise plant:

A. Gently remove it from its pot and shake off any loose, old compost.

B. Add a layer of new compost (a couple of inches deep) to the bottom of the pot, then replace the plant.

C. Add more compost around the sides of the root ball so that the pot is evenly filled.

D. Press gently to firm the plant into place and water thoroughly.

Read Also: Common Pests & Diseases Treatment For Succulents

8. Common Pests & Diseases

The common pests and diseases that affect your bird of paradise plant include scale insects, red spider mites and mealybugs. However, to get rid of these pests, you can use your hand to pick the pest off the leaves and stem if it is mild. But if it is severe, then you must spray Insecticides soap or systemic pesticides on the plant. 

You can also make use of neem oil or any other effective horticultural oil as they are also quite very effective in getting rid of stubborn pests.

Furthermore, it is also infested by grey mould. This disease grows on the leaves which makes it clear to be seen growing your leaves or flowers.

To get rid of this disease, you must remove or cut off the affected parts with a clean, sharp knife. Afterwards, keep the plant in a spot where it can get good airflow.

However, there are some other diseases which include wilting or browning of leaves caused by root rot as a result of overwatering of plants, curling of leaves caused by underwatering of plants, and yellowing of leaves. 

You can remedy these problems by regulating your watering schedules, using a well-drainage pot and cutting off the rotten root to avoid its reoccurrence. You can also apply fungicide on the affected spots.

Do well to apply all the necessary care that your bird of paradise plant requires and you will have a disease-free plant.

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FAQs

Conclusion

Bird of Paradise is one of the best colourful tropical houseplants that you can add to your indoor collections. It helps to lighten your home if maintained well.

To care for and maintain this plant, you must ensure that you grow it in a place where it can be exposed to bright indirect sunlight, water supply and many others.

You must also keep a close watch out for pests and diseases that affect the plant such as mealybugs, scales, red spider mites, curling of the leaves and many more. If seen in your plant, ensure to get rid of them immediately.

For further questions, do well to comment on them in the comment section below.