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PLANT CARE | OCTOBER 17, 2019

BIRD OF PARADISE CARE

Contents:

1. Placement
2. Routine Maintenance
3. Recommended Accessories
4. Frequently Asked Questions
5. Pot Information

Placement

The Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia nicolai) boasts a stunning display of

! PRO TIP: Trim away older leaves
large tropical leaves that in the wilds of southern Africa can reach
on the Bird of Paradise, as they
up to 20' tall! In human spaces, they're more likely to stand
droop over time and develop more
anywhere from 3’- 8’ tall, but still rank among most houseplant fans'
splits. New leaves always emerge
favorites due to the remarkable size of their rich foliage.
from the center and keep the plant
Choose a location for your Bird of Paradise away from air vents and full and balanced.
drafts where the plant will get at least four hours of southern,
western, or eastern exposure. Though they can tolerate medium light conditions, the Bird of Paradise will not
thrive long-term without adequate sunlight, so we always recommend placing them in bright light.

If you are unsure about lighting conditions in your home or office, we have a guide for how to measure light in
your space.

Bird of Paradise plants are often

confused with banana plants, but while
bananas have a spiral leaf growth
pattern, Bird of Paradise plants have an
alternate leaf growth pattern.

Routine Maintenance

Always be sure to assess your plant’s watering needs upon

! PRO TIP: In the winter
receiving it. Before giving your plant a drink, it is best to check the
months when less sunlight is
moisture level in the soil first to ensure it isn’t moist right beneath
available due to the elliptical orbit of
the surface. A soil probe is a very handy tool for both checking the
the sun, Birds of Paradise go
soil moisture deep within a planter and can also be used to aerate
through a “resting” period and
overly wet soil.
require less water. October –
Birds of Paradise enjoy moist (but not soggy) soil, and being February you can dial back the
allowed to dry out slightly between waterings. Try not to let the soil amount of water given provided you
dry completely through the pot, but also avoid overwatering. Allow don’t have the plant near a dry heat
the top 2" - 3" of the soil to become dry between waterings, but source. In general it is better to
below that should remain moist. These plants do particularly well in adjust the amount of water given
our self watering containers. rather than the frequency of
watering.
The splits in the leaves of the Bird of Paradise are natural, and allow
light to access the lower portion of the plant. Keep your plant away from drafts, and apply extra humidity with a
humidifier, pebble tray, or mister to keep the splitting to a minimum.

Rotate your plant periodically to ensure even growth on all sides and don't be afraid to prune discolored or
broken leaves. It is important to dust the leaves of Bird of Paradise plants often so the plant can
photosynthesize efficiently. To dust, use a mister and microfiber cloth to throughly wipe down each leaf and
take the opportunity to inspect the undersides of the foliage to keep an eye out for pests.

Note if you are using a container made from organic materials to pot your Bird of Paradise in, we highly
recommend using a waterproof saucer underneath to protect your floors, as humidity may accumulate
beneath the pot and can damage wood floors and carpeting.

Remember each plant is a unique living thing and may have varying needs, especially in their individual
locations. Pay attention to the condition of your Bird of Paradise and its watering needs and you will have a long
and happy relationship.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are the leaves of my Bird of Paradise splitting?

Splitting leaves on the Bird of Paradise is totally

normal and natural. The splits are an
evolutionary adaptation of the plant that allow
wind to pass through the leaves, meaning the
leaves themselves don't function as giant sails.
Over time, older leaves develop more splits and
can be pruned as new leaves emerge and fill out
the plant. If you notice the plant is developing
splits rapidly, check that it is removed from air
vents and drafts, and that it is receiving
adequate light and water. Increasing the
humidity around your plant with a humidifier or
frequent misting can help prevent and slow leaf
splitting.

Will my Bird of Paradise flower?

Most often, Bird of Paradise will not produce

flowers indoors. Only in their natural habitat of
A Bird of Paradise living free and in the wild in front of an
high humidity and high light conditions will the
apartment complex in Florida.
circumstances be right for them to flower. The
variety Greenery Unlimited offers is the white
flowering giant Bird of Paradise, as the leaves are much larger and more impressive than those of the
orange flowering variety, which flower more commonly.

What is this spear emerging from the middle of my plant?

A new leaf! New leaves always come from the center of the plant and shoot out in a tightly wound spear.
Over the course of a few weeks the leaf will slowly uncurl and reveal a brilliant, shiny, bright green new leaf.
Although tempting, do not assist the leaf to open as this can damage the leaf. If the leaf seems stuck in
spots and is splitting, you may want to try to increase the humidity around the plant and mist the emerging
leaf.

How can I tell if my Bird of Paradise is getting enough light?

Bird of Paradise love lots of bright indirect light, and some direct light too. Some symptoms of the plant
suffering from lack of light are extreme leaf splitting, drooping leaves, new leaves that won't open, and leaf
browning. You may also find the plant has difficulty with water absorption through the roots and therefore
will suffer from overwatering more easily if it is not receiving enough light.

LEFT: An example of a Bird of Paradise drooping, browning, and splitting due to lack of light. RIGHT: A brown curled leaf the Bird of
Paradise plant. This kind of browning is similar to severely under-watered plants, but in this case it is from lack of light.

How often should I fertilize my plant?

In general, houseplants will thrive when they are fertilized spring through fall. Fertilize once a month with an
organic houseplant fertilizer, following the package instructions for dilution and administration.
Greenery Unlimited uses an organic potting mix with a slow release fertilizer in the soil, so should you
purchase your plant from us you will not need fertilizer within the first 6 months of receiving it.

How can I tell if my Bird of Paradise is being overwatered?

In proper lighting conditions, the Bird of Paradise drinks plenty of water. Although it does require a drying
out period and is susceptible to root rot if the soil remains overly moist. If your plant is not receiving enough
light, it is more susceptible to overwatering. Some indications that your plant could be overwatered are
droopy leaves, excessive splitting, and browning edged leaves with a yellow line. If you think you may have
overwatered, a soil probe can help you assess how we the soil is at the root level and aerate the soil to
release excess moisture. One great way to help prevent overwatering is to plant your Bird of Paradise with
aeration stones at the bottom of the planter. Proper drainage is essential for long-term root health and
aeration stones can absorb excess water at the base of the planter helping to ensure your roots are never
in standing water.

LEFT: An example of a Bird of Paradise drooping, browning, and splitting due to overly wet soil. RIGHT: A new leaf with
yellow and brown margins from overwatering. The leaf began to brown and yellow while it was still curled up, and upon
unfurling presented discoloration and damage

ABOVE: Curling edges and brown and yellow leaf margins from root damage due to overly wet soil. Note the browning is on the outer
most edge preceded by a thin line of yellowing on the interior of the leaf.

How can I tell if my Bird of Paradise is not getting enough water?

Underwatering most commonly presents as dry crispy tips or edges on the leaves, leaf splitting or breaking
with brittle edges, and brown shriveled basal leaves. Underwatering is easy to bounce back from, so
determine if the quantity or frequency should be increased to help nurse your plant back to health.

LEFT: An example of a Bird of Paradise leaf tips curling and browning due to lack of water. RIGHT: Shriveled, curled, and browning crispy
basal leaves as seen in this photo are a clear indication that the plant is thirsty. .

How often should I repot my plant?

For larger floor plants, we suggest repotting every 18-24 months — although the Bird of Paradise prefers to
be slightly pot bound, so you can hold off on repotting for 28 months if the plant is in healthy condition.
Typically you want to choose a potting vessel 2”- 4” larger in diameter to allow for growth. If you prefer to
maintain the current size of your plant, repot it into the same vessel, providing new soil and trimming away
some roots and foliage. Spring or summer is the ideal time for repotting as the plant is at its strongest.

Recommended Pots

The Bird of Paradise plant develops thick, tuberous roots that can fill up the empty space in a pot relatively quickly.
Plants grown in their nursery pots will generally take up the entire pot, so it's always important to buy a container
with a larger interior diameter than the size of the grow pot. We find the Bird of Paradise looks best in either low
planters that show off its foliage, or higher tapered planters that show off its height. Almost all of our large
planters feature removable drain plugs with optional matching plant saucers as well.

Calyer 34 Wythe 30 Wythe 40 Newel 30

Standard Planter Instructions

All of our Standard Planters include a removable drainage plug to give

our customers the option of drainage. While no drainage is sometimes
preferred for its aesthetic simplicity, we don't recommend this option for
beginners as watering mistakes can be hard to rectify.

Whether you choose to use drainage or not, we always recommend

using a layer of drainage (such as our Aeration Stones) at the base of the
planter. A drainage layer allows the plant's roots access to oxygen in the
pockets between the drainage medium, and a lack of drainage can
cause anaerobic damage to your plant.

If you decide to utilize the drainage hole for your pot, make sure to include a Plant Saucer beneath your pot to
collect excess water. For most plants in standard planters, we recommend watering about once a week. Water
the soil mass until water begins pooling in your Plant Saucer.

With no drainage hole, you will need to be more precise in your watering. While we would love to give you a
specific measurement of water to provide for your plant, the reality is that a plant's water requirements vary
wildly depending on factors such as light exposure and the overall health of the plant. You will need to learn to
tell when the plant is thirsty based on how its foliage looks. Droopy foliage is usually the first sign: when your
plant looks a little slumped over that's usually a visual indicator that it's thirsty.

The best solution for checking your plant's moisture level, drainage hole of not, is to use a Soil Probe to
determine the moisture content of the soil at the bottom of the planter.

Self Watering Planter Instructions

The Self-Watering Planters require a deep and thorough watering of

the topsoil after they are first planted. This is important because the
roots of the plants first need to grow into the reservoir in order to drink
from it. Water your plant from the top for two to four weeks before using
the reservoir. During the dormant seasons, or for plants that have slower
growing habits, consider top watering for longer.

TEST: After the initial top water period, fill the bottom water reservoir. If
the water in the reservoir is absorbed into the planter, it means the plant
is ready for regular reservoir servicing. If not, be sure to continue top
watering for a few more weeks until the plant has started drinking from
the reservoir.

RESERVOIR SERVICING: Once the reservoir empties on its own, do not refill the reservoir right away. Similar to
how humans need a breath of air between gulps of water, most plants require a drying out period. Allow for the
reservoir to empty all the way between watering. All plants are different in their needs so the amount of time
the reservoir sits empty will need to be determined, but know that for most plants this period is between 1-3
days.

From here on out, you should rarely topwater the plant while using the reservoir system. Watering from below
allows the plant to drink at its own pace, and can help combat certain issues like fungus gnats by allowing the
top layer of soil to dry out more. Please note that if your plant's soil dries out too much, it can impair the wicking
ability of the Aeration Stones in your planter. If your soil becomes too dry, we recommend giving it a thorough
watering.

For more information on our Self Watering Planters include planting instructions, visit our blog post on How to
Use Our Self-Watering Pots.

Recommended Accessories

Aeration Stones Stainless Steel Pruners Neem Oil Soil Probe

Aeration Stones promote
healthy root growth by
creating air pockets in the
soil and absorbing excess
water in the basin of your
planter. These porous clay
stones are a natural,
efficient and invaluable
material to set your plant
up for success. We always
suggest using these when
working with a planter
without drainage holes.
Salts and moisture from
potting soil wreaks havoc
on cheaper metals.
Stainless steel is one of
the most durable metals
available on a consumer
scale, and these heavy
duty pruners are built to
take a beating. Great for
pruning jobs large and
small.
Neem Oil is an all purpose
insecticide, miticide, and
fungicide used for organic
gardening. It's systemic,
which means the plant will
absorb the neem oil into its
circulatory system and
poison pests from within.
Be careful not to
overuse, as this can
weaken plants and cause
discoloration.
Plants do poorly without air
to the roots. Overwatering
causes the air to be
pushed out of the soil,
compacting the soil around
the waterlogged roots of
the plant. Using the Soil
Probe aerates the soil as it
checks for moisture.

Watering Can Soil Fertilizer Cork Mats

Watering cans come in all
shapes and sizes, and the
perfect one for your home
is the one you're happiest
living with. Look for long
spouts and a container
volume that's appropriate
for your plant collection.
Fox Farm Ocean Forest 10-4-3 fertilizer is a great, Protects furniture and
contains all the features gentle choice for indoor floors from scratches and
we look for when aiming to foliage. Simply mix this in moisture. HIGHLY
ensure the long term to your watering can using RECOMMENDED for use
health of a plant: excellent the supplied directions with planters made from
water retention, every other week. Ensure organic materials such as
breathability, texture, and is that your plant is receiving ceramic.
made from organic a good amount of light,
materials. otherwise it won't have the
energy to process the
nutrients and burnt tips
may occur on the foliage.

Additional Care Guides

AGLAONEMA ALOCASIA BIRD'S NEST FERN BIRD OF PARADISE CACTUS

CALATHEA DIEFFENBACHIA DRACAENA COMPACTA DRACAENA LEMON LIME DRACAENA LISA CANE
CARE

DRACAENA TARZAN FICUS ALLI FICUS AUDREY FICUS ELASTICA FICUS ELASTICA RUBY

FICUS LYRATA / FIDDLE FICUS MOCLAME NATAL MAHOGANY NEANTHE BELLA PALM MONSTERA DELICIOSA
LEAF FIG
 PENCIL CACTUS PEPEROMIA PHILODENDRON PHILODENDRON HOPE PHILODENDRON PRINCE OF
CORDATUM SELLOUM ORANGE

PILEA PEPEROMEOIDES PONYTAIL PALM POTHOS RHIPSALIS SANSEVIERIA

SANSEVIERIA BANTEL'S SCHEFFLERA AMATE SENECIO STRING OF HEARTS VARIEGATED MONSTERA

SENSATION

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