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Bird of Paradise Care

The Bird of Paradise is considered the queen of the indoor plant world. This large, upright plant adds a rich, tropical flair to your space as its glossy, banana-shaped leaves fan out. It is relatively hardy and adapts to a wide spectrum of light conditions from direct sun to low, indirect light, but will flourish in a sunny spot.

How to care for your Bird of Paradise

Use these instructions to care for a Bird of Paradise. This guide will tell you how to water a Bird of Paradise; its light, temperature, humidity preferences and any additional care it might need to help it grow.

Bird of Paradise
LIGHT

Your Bird of Paradise prefers bright direct light. It can adapt to medium light, but growth may slow.

WATER

Water your Bird of Paradise when the top 50% of the soil is dry. Water until liquid flows through the drainage hole at the bottom of the pot and discard any water that has accumulated in the saucer.

HUMIDITY

Your Bird of Paradise appreciates the occasional misting, which also helps remove the dust from its glossy dark leaves.

TEMPERATURE

Your Bird of Paradise prefers average indoor temperatures of 65-80 degrees. 

FOOD

Feed once a month during the spring and summer with a liquid fertilizer for indoor plants.

TOXICITY

Mildly toxic to humans and pets. Ingestion may cause mouth and stomach irritation.

ADDITIONAL CARE

If your plant’s leaves begin to turn brown along the edges, it may be caused by chemicals in your tap water. Use filtered water, or leave tap water in an open container overnight before watering to allow some of the chemicals to evaporate.

See also: Common Issues →

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What's a Bird of Paradise?

Botanical Classification: Strelitzia nicolai

About

The Bird of Paradise is considered the queen of the indoor plant world. This large, upright plant adds a rich, tropical flair to your space as its glossy, banana-shaped leaves fan out. It is relatively hardy and adapts to a wide spectrum of light conditions from direct sun to low, indirect light, but will flourish in a sunny spot.

Water and humidity are important to keep your Bird of Paradise healthy. It needs consistent watering to keep the soil moist, but never wet or soggy. In addition to careful watering, it will benefit from regular misting to boost its humidity. The Bird of Paradise is native to South Africa where it receives a lot of light and warmth.

When grown indoors, there will not be enough light to trigger the plant to produce a bloom. However, the majestic foliage and graceful stems make a statement on their own.

Fun Fact

The breaks and slits in your Bird of Paradise’s leaves aren’t necessarily a cause for concern. These slits occur naturally in the wild to help the plant become more aerodynamic in wind and rain. 

Pictured Left: Bird of Paradise
plant mom
Let the top few inches of soil dry out before watering and never let water accumulate in the saucer. Yellowing leaves could indicate your Bird of Paradise is getting too much water.
- Plant Mom

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