How to Grow Bird of Paradise Plant

About Bird of Paradise Plant

Bird of Paradise plants are an attractive tropical plant. They are grown for their attractive foliage and their bright, unusual flowers. The plant is closely related to banana plants. This plant is named after a bird of the same name. It is said that the flowers resemble the bird. These plants are easy to grow both outdoors and inside of your home. Place it in a large flowerpot, and you can grow it on your balcony or deck, too! Our “How to Grow Bird of Paradise Plants” guide will help you to grow this beautiful plant.

Regular varieties have no trunk and grow up to six feet tall. These varieties are the ones to select for growing indoors as a houseplant. Giant varieties have a trunk and grow up to 30 feet tall. So, you should grow the giant varieties outdoors. However, when growing Bird of Paradise plants indoors as a houseplant, they normally grow smaller.

Bird of Paradise Plant Specifications

Flower Colors: Gold, orange, white

Flowers Bloom: Late Spring to early summer.

Plant Height: Up to 30 feet tall depending upon variety.

Light Requirement: Full sunlight to partial sunlight.

Hardiness Zones: 10 – 12

Soil Type: Rich, soft loam, well-drained

Ideal Soil pH: 6.0 – 6.5

Deer Resistant? Yes. The leave’s fragrance keeps deer, rabbits, and other foraging animals away.

Toxicity: Yes

Native To: South Africa

Number of Species: 42

Plant Type: Perennial

Botanical Name: Strelitzia nicholai, Strelitzia, reginae

Are Bird of Paradise Plant Edible?

NO!!

All parts of the plant are mildly toxic, if ingested.

Keep this plant away from small children and pets.

Also, it is toxic to dogs, cats, and other animals.

Medicinal Applications

Despite being a mildly toxic plant, it has several medicinal applications. Among them are:

The plant has anti-tumor properties. It contains Cesalin, a tumor fighting compound.
Use it to treat coughs.
It is used to reduce fevers.
It is a treatment for sores.
Additionally, it is an air purifier, removing toxins from the air in your home. And, it increases oxygen levels.
It’s good for your skin. The plant releases moisture into the air, raising the humidity level of dry, indoor air.

Note: Use this toxic plant only under the care and treatment of a qualified medical professional. And do not use this in a home remedy unless you are trained on how to properly and safely prepare it.

Bird of Paradise Plant Requirements

Select a location inside of your home where Bird of Paradise plants will receive bright, direct sunlight. Also, they adapt well to bright, indirect light, too. The perfect location is at or near a sunny window.

Outdoors, these plants grow well in both bright, direct sunlight and partial shade.

Bird of Paradise Plant Propagation

Bird of Paradise plants are propagated from seed or plant division. Division of the rhizomes (roots) of the plant is the quickest and easiest method. And it is the most popular propagation method for this plant. However, while propagating new plants from seeds does not take a lot of effort, it takes a lot of elapsed time.

Rhizome Division:

Select a mature plant. It has the most developed rhizomes. First, find the offshoots. Next, dig down into the soil and cut the rhizome to remove the plant from the mother plant. Take a fair amount of roots for the new plant. Then, repot the baby plant into a new container. Use fresh, well-draining potting soil mix. Keep the soil moist, but not soggy.

Propagating Bird of Paradise Plants from Seeds:

First, nick the shell of the seeds. Next, soak the seeds in water for one to two days. Then, sow the seeds in a fresh potting soil mixture. Now, the wait begins. The seeds take up to two months to germinate. Finally, when the seedlings have two to three leaves, transplant the plant into a six-inch pot.

For more information, see:

Soaking seeds before planting – It speeds germination for many seeds.

Nicking seeds before planting – Should I nick seeds? How do I do this?

Bird of Paradise Water Requirements

Philodendron plants do no like extended periods of wet soil. Provide the plants with water evenly all season long. Allow the top of the soil to dry slightly between watering.

The plants grow best in higher humidity levels. Misting indoor plants in the winter will improve and maintain plant health.

How to Grow Bird of Paradise Plant Outdoors

Planting:

First, select a planting location where your Bird of Paradise plant can grow for many years. Also, select a location that receives full sunlight, or is mostly sunny.

Next, dig a hole twice the size and depth of the root ball. Mix in plenty of rich compost. You can add some decomposed manure, too. Plant it at the same level as the root ball. Then, lightly tamp down the soil.

Type of Soil:

Bird of Paradise plants are heavy feeders. The soil should be rich, light, and well-draining.

Water:

After planting, soak the planting site. This helps to settle the soil around the root system.

Then, keep the soil moist, but not wet or soggy during the entire growing season. It’s okay to allow the top of the soil lightly between watering.

Fertilizer Needs:

Bird of Paradise plants are heavy feeders. Apply a general-purpose fertilizer every two to three weeks. In the spring, apply a layer of compost around the plants.

Also, apply a thick layer of organic mulch. It feeds the plant as it breaks down. Also, it helps to keep the weeds down and provides a neat and tidy appearance.

Staking is usually not necessary.

How to Grow Bird of Paradise Plants Indoors

Shorter varieties of Bird of Paradise plants adapt well to the indoor environment of your home or office. They are easy to grow indoors. However, they will likely bloom less frequently indoors.

They like well-drained, potting soil which contains a lot of rich organic matter.

Apply liquid fertilizer once every two or three weeks, and they will grow well. Or, use indoor houseplant spikes.

The leaves of the plant should be given a cleaning once a month, with a damp sponge or cloth. This removes dust build-up, that is visible on the big, leaves. Mist the plants every few days, when humidity levels are low.

Staking is usually not necessary.

Repot the plants each spring, Plant them into a larger container each year until the plants are mature.

How to Prune Bird of Paradise Plants

These plants need little or no pruning. If a leaf is damaged, turns unsightly in any way, or is diseased, remove it and the leaf stem at the base of the plant.

Deadhead spent blooms to improve plant appearance. However, if you want to capture some of the seeds, leave a couple of spent flowers on the plant until the seeds develop and are ready to harvest.

More on deadheading spent flower blooms.

Plant Problems

Aphids, scale, and whiteflies are an occasional problem. Control these pests with an insecticidal soap.

The plants occasionally experience dark spots and a grey mold. Remove the affected leaves. Increasing air circulation helps to avoid this and other plant diseases.

Also see: Plant Problems – Identify the causes and find the cures.