A well - tended Bird of Paradise ( Strelitzia nicolai)is a salient treat in any indoor gardener ’s assemblage , but it may surprise you to see just how fragile this elegant tropical sincerely is .
Their dramatic foliation is vulnerable to damage , surprisingly tenuous , and prone to split
split up in your Bird of Paradise plant leaves are a natural response to physical stress and can be avoided by merely care for your plant with care . To help your Bird of Paradise plant resist damage , be certain to plunk for the growth of strong leaf by providing expert nourishment , undimmed but collateral lightness , and just the right amount of water .
Thankfully while it may get as a shock to obtain your Bird of Paradise covered in stock split leaves , it ’s in reality not that big a peck . Split leaves are a instinctive part of the plant ’s growth , and can be easily avoided .
countenance ’s take a expression at what can cause your Bird of Paradise leaves to split , and what you could do to forestall and treat a plant life with damage leaves .
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What Causes Split Bird of Paradise Leaves?
I ca n’t stress enough that the leaves of the Bird of Paradise have germinate specifically to split . The stellate seams on the plant ’s leaves have evolved fallible points that split when subject to physical stress .
It ’s a trait that foreclose this broad - leafed and top - heavy plant from exterminate during strong wind in its tropical domicile . When the wind blow , the leaf gives agency , and the storm can pass harmlessly by .
In an indoor setting , this mean most splits will be the resultant role of poor handling of your plant . They do n’t do well being manhandled , find , or even knocked over .
Its leaves are delicate , and should not be handled approximately . Of course , this also mean it ’s one of the easier problem to forfend . Just treat your flora gently , and you ’ll see fewer Split .
That say , a well - supported and well - sustain plant will defy damage well than one that is neglected and ill maintained .
All plants must be handled to some degree during their fear . Keeping your works in top condition is critical to preventing leafage split during everyday maintenance like foliage dusting or deep watering .
Here are some factors I ’ve noticed lead to more slight Bird of Paradise plant life .
Irregular Watering
Bird of Paradise likes its soil to be systematically moist . get the equalizer right can be tricky , but it ’s worth the effort .
hungry plants produce juiceless , brittle leaves that are more vulnerable to damage , and an over - water Bird of Paradise is vulnerable to dampen stem and molder roots that make damage all the more potential .
Water also helps support the body structure of the plant by filling out cells .
An under - watered plant is unable to bear the free weight of its prospicient adorable leaves , leading to floppy plant that are easily blown about and damage .
Generally , you should irrigate your Bird of Paradise no more than once a week during the warmer contribution of the year . In the winter your plant will fall dormant , and may only call for a drink once a month , or even less !
When watering , I always check the grease before I decant out my watering can . The grease should be take into account to dry out out between drinks .
Insert a finger into the soil . If the top two column inch are dry and wanton , it ’s clock time to piddle . If they are sluggish or moist , it ’s a honest idea to hold off entirely .
This will forestall decompose and allow your works the idealistic amount of water to corroborate its growth .
If you ’re unsure , the easy path is to a watering alarm design to be impart in the commode .
Often shaped like songbirds , these tiny devices sound a chime when wet levels in the soil drop . It ’s quite a life buoy for the fussy gardener !
Lack of Humidity
The Bird of Paradise is a tropic industrial plant , native to the jungles of southern Africa . They jazz a lumbering atmosphere dripping with moisture .
If your surround is too dry , the leaves will become dry and thin , more prone to splitting .
Of course , very few homes are keep at tropical levels of humidness ! It ’s authoritative to watch your plant ’s status , as melodic line conditioning and central heating can dry your poor flora out .
To improve humidness around your Bird of Paradise , here are some choice you should think .
Excessive Direct Sunlight
Like all houseplant , set out your twinkle balanced just so is critical to caring for your Bird of Paradise .
While the Bird ofParadise particularly enjoys hopeful light , a full day in an open windowpane will punctuate the plant and result in fewer , more fragile leaves .
It will also leave in dryer circumstance for your plant overall , which as I have mentioned will prevent yourBird of Paradise from producing warm leaves .
Nutrient Deficiency
Your Bird of Paradise is a hungry plant ! This species is a laborious confluent , as those gorgeous leaves do not amount cheaply .
It require careful fertilisation through the spring and summertime maturate seasons to ensure it grows well .
Without that extra boost of food , it will be unable to create leaves up to of keeping it together !
A back breaker of balanced liquid fertilizer every two weeks during the strong parts of the year will get the chore done .
For large Bird of Paradise plants , it ’s deserving keeping an middle out for B inadequacy . scrubby andyellowed foliage peak , especially in emerging parting , may indicate a lack of this vital mineral .
It can also cause the leaves to become brittle and more prostrate to splitting .
In general , a balanced fertilizer will provide enough B , but for larger specimens , you may apply a strongly diluted resolution of boracic acid sprayed lightly over the foliage .
A one-half teaspoon of powdered boric acid in a gallon of pee will provide more than enough . Be careful , however – too much atomic number 5 is toxic .
It ’s also a unspoilt idea to repot your Bird of Paradise every two or three years . When repotting :
Repotting is also an excellent clip to check for root legal injury . Over - watering can damage the roots of your flora and make it harder for it to draw nutrient from the soil .
black or soft roots indicate rootage rot and should be finely murder with uninfected shears during repotting . I explain more about root rot here .
Curious Children or Pets
Of course , no amount of careful watering or fertilization will store your plant from peculiar fingers or the indecorous tending of house pet .
There ’s something very satisfying in the way aBird of Paradise leafsplits so neatly with so short force out that even the well - behaved child may discover it impossible to resist .
Likewise , a Caterpillar or weenie digging or snuffling about will damage your plant , particularly if it ’s knock over entirely .
Heavens help you if a veridical raspberry -like a parrot – decide to doss into your Bird . Beaks , claw , and wing are a definite recipe for disaster .
Not only is it best to keep your Bird of Paradise away from children and animals , but it ’s also good for them , too .
Bird of Paradise plant carry irritating compounds in their leaves that can stimulate eye and skin trouble , and are vicious to consume .
Just keep your plant forth from tike and animals and everyone involved will be far well off .
Dropped Plants
This break without saying – a drop plant is move to get hurt ! treat your plant with charge , peculiarly larger specimens that may be in heavier pots .
It ’s also a good theme to keep larger , top - heavy specimen close to the ground . A topple from a abject table is one affair , but a dusk from the top of a high shelf is another topic entirely .
General Roughhousing
Bird of Paradise leave-taking are a joy to behold , lavishly colored and inviting to the touching , but it ’s best to leave them alone . It does n’t take much roughhouse at all to split them .
It ’s a safe idea to restrict your contact with the leaves . forfend locate your plant anywhere it may experience casual contact , like hallways or near door , and away from strong breezes .
It ’s also a good idea to be gentle when dusting or cleaning leaf . I ’ve had great success with placing my Bird of Paradise plants under a showerhead for a gentle rain every month or so during the red-hot parts of the year .
It mimic the rainfall of their aboriginal habitat and gives them beneficial inscrutable water while clear dust or rubble from the leaves .
How to Fix Split Bird of Paradise Leaves.
unluckily , once a folio is cleave there ’s no live back . The split is lasting . Thankfully this does not hurt the plant , and a rent here and there only add together to the character of your plant life .
The harm is largely enhancive , and the leaf is still capable of photosynthesizing . If the appearance of the split bothers you , older leaves can be trim away , but younger leaves should be left to do their job .
Tips on Preventing Further Leaf Splitting
The key to preventing split is to plow your Bird of Paradise gently . verify it ’s positioned in your home away from unassailable winds or pass traffic .
Keeping curious children and pet away from your plant is a great theme all pear-shaped , too – Birds of Paradise are mildly toxic and can get cutis and optic vexation if not treated respectfully .
in conclusion , keep an optic on water levels , and make certain you provide your Bird of Paradise with plenteous fertilization during the grow time of year so it can grow inviolable leaves from the outset .
Other Leaf Problems for Bird of Paradise Plants
Sunburn
Despite being a rooter of bright sparkle , even a Bird of Paradise can have too much of a near thing . Blotchy , irregularbrowning distribute on the Earth’s surface of the leaf is a mansion of suntan . Be certain to never leave your Bird of Paradise in full sunlight for extended periods of time .
Brown Leaf Spots
distinguish leaves can be cause by a number of things , ranging from nutritional deficiencies to pest plague .
mostly , they are easy to regale , and your mediocre Bird of Paradise is unfearing enough to respond well and recover quickly .
I covered the most common drive of leaf spots and how to treat them in this post here , so pop over and have a read if your snag leaf are also showingsigns of brown spots .
Black Rot
Rot is a pervasive problem with all house flora , and Bird of Paradise is no different . gentle , mushy stems festoon with dark marks blighting the leaves show that your poor plant has a case of shameful rotting .
It usually starts at the root and move up the plant , devouring it from the ground up . cause by one of a few different fungal infection , thebiggest contributing cistron is over - tearing .
No tropic industrial plant wants wet feet , so avoid the hassles and watch your H2O levels carefully .
Always ensure your pot is grant to dry out somewhat between watering . For more information , I go into a great deal of item about rot here .
Final Words
Your Bird of Paradise is a rattling plus to your home . With a bit of care , its showy but amazingly delicate leafage can be preserved .
proficient tearing habits , the good fertilization , and a gentle manus will all help you get the effective out of your Bird of Paradise .
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