How to Save Your Dying Bird of Paradise Plant

If you’ve noticed your beautiful bird of paradise plant declining, don’t panic! There are several techniques you can try to bring it back to life. A bird of paradise that is dying is often suffering from improper care. With some TLC and troubleshooting, you can nurse it back to health.

Signs Your Bird of Paradise is in Trouble

Here are some common signs that your bird of paradise plant is struggling

• Leaves are yellowing or browning
• Wilting or drooping leaves
• Sparse foliage and leaf loss
• Smaller or stunted new growth
• Plant leans or droops heavily to one side
• Damaged roots that are brown or mushy
• Presence of pests like spider mites or mealybugs

If you notice any of these warning signs, it’s time to intervene and help your plant recover

Diagnosing the Cause

There are several potential causes of a dying bird of paradise plant. Properly diagnosing the issue is key so you can take the appropriate action to fix it.

The most common causes include:

• Overwatering: Too much moisture leads to root rot. This is the number one killer of indoor plants.
• Underwatering: Lack of water causes leaves to dry out and wilt.
• Light problems: Too much or too little light leads to leaf scorch or small growth.
• Low humidity: Bird of paradise prefers 40-50% humidity. Low moisture causes leaf tip burn.
• Temperature stress: Temps below 60°F or above 80°F harm the plant.
• Soil issues: Poor drainage or depleted nutrients cause yellowing leaves.
• Pest infestation: Spider mites, mealybugs and other pests cause damage.
• Diseases: Fungal or bacterial diseases create leaf spots.
• Repotting stress: Disturbing the roots during repotting shocks the plant.

By recognizing the signs of each condition, you can pinpoint what is ailing your plant.

How to Revive an Overwatered Bird of Paradise

Overwatering accounts for many struggling bird of paradise plants. too much moisture suffocates the roots, leading to rot. Here are some tips for reviving an overwatered plant:

• Allow the soil to dry out completely before watering again.
• Remove the plant from its pot and inspect the roots. Trim off any that are black, mushy or foul-smelling.
• Repot the plant in fresh, well-draining soil. Add extra perlite or gravel to improve drainage.
• Apply a fungicide drench to kill off root rot pathogens.
• Remove any leaves that have yellowed or browned to reduce moisture loss.
• Place the plant in bright, indirect light while it recovers.
• Keep the soil evenly moist but not soggy while new roots develop.

With diligent care, you can often nurse an overwatered plant back to full health. Just be sure to rehabilitate its root system and correct your watering practices.

How to Fix an Underwatered Bird of Paradise

Lack of water is easier to remedy than overwatering. To revive an underwatered plant:

• Move the plant out of direct sun to reduce moisture loss from the leaves.
• Water the plant thoroughly until water drains from the bottom drainage holes.
• Add water-retaining pebbles or polymers to the potting mix to increase moisture retention.
• Mist the plant’s leaves daily to boost humidity around the foliage.
• Ensure the plant has adequate drainage holes at the bottom of the container.
• Check the soil moisture daily and water again when the top inch becomes dry.

Getting your watering regimen right is key to keeping your bird of paradise hydrated and happy.

Adjusting Light Levels

Bird of paradise thrives in bright, direct light indoors. It should get 6-8 hours of sunlight daily. Too little light causes small, weak growth. Too much direct sun scorches the leaves.

If your plant is getting too much light:

• Move it back from the window to a spot with indirect or dappled sun.
• Add a sheer curtain to diffuse the sunlight streaming in.
• Rotate the plant frequently so all sides get even light exposure.

If it’s not getting enough light:

• Place it right next to a sunny southern or western window.
• Add a grow light to supplement natural sunlight.
• Turn the plant periodically for even growth all around.

Get a light meter to check the exact light levels in different areas of your home. Then you can choose the best spot for your bird of paradise.

Managing Humidity

Indoor air is often too dry for bird of paradise plants. Their large leaves lose moisture easily. Low humidity causes the leaf tips to turn brown.

To boost the humidity around your plant:

• Place the pot on a pebble tray filled with water.
• Mist the plant’s leaves every few days.
• Run a humidifier nearby.
• Grow bird of paradise in a bathroom or kitchen where humidity is routinely higher.

Keeping the humidity above 50% will prevent moisture stress.

Dealing With Pests

Spider mites, mealybugs, scale and aphids are common bird of paradise pests. Left unchecked, they can infest and kill the plant.

If you spot pests:

• Isolate the affected plant away from others immediately.
• Hose or wipe down the leaves and stems to dislodge bugs.
• Apply insecticidal soap or neem oil as a natural pest treatment.
• Remove badly infested leaves or stems to eliminate pest hiding spots.
• Apply sticky traps near the plant to catch adult insects.

Catching an infestation early makes it easier to eradicate. Be vigilant about checking for pests.

Preventing Transplant Shock

Repotting is traumatic for plant roots. It often causes transplant shock, leading to dying leaves. To avoid shock when repotting:

• Wait to repot until the plant is rootbound in spring after any blooms fade.
• Water the plant thoroughly a day before repotting.
• Keep as much old soil attached to the roots as possible.
• Place the root ball in the new pot at the same level it was growing at before.
• Use a container just one or two sizes larger than the previous pot.
• Water sparingly after repotting until the roots recover.

Gentle handling while repotting prevents excessive root damage. Give plants adequate time to adjust in their new containers.

Providing Proper Nutrients

Lack of nutrients causes yellowing or distorted bird of paradise leaves. These plants are light feeders but do require occasional fertilizer.

• In spring and summer, feed monthly with a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted by half.
• Stop fertilizing during fall and winter when growth slows.
• Add compost or worm castings to naturally enrich the soil.
• Repot in fresh potting mix yearly to refresh depleted nutrients.

If possible, test your soil to determine which nutrients are lacking before amending. Targeted applications work better than general fertilizer.

Be Patient During Recovery

Don’t expect overnight miracles when rehabbing a dying bird of paradise. It takes time for the plant to recover and generate new growth after being compromised.

• Remove any struggling leaves or stems to reduce demand on the plant.
• Keep supporting basic care while waiting for health to improve.
• Recovery can take a few weeks to a few months depending on the severity of the problem.
• Look for new shoots or leaves emerging as a positive sign.

With attentive care tailored to its needs, you can nurse even severely affected plants back to their former glory. Never give up too soon!

When to Discard an Unfixable Plant

Sometimes, despite your best efforts, a bird of paradise plant is too far gone to be revived. If the plant is rapidly declining with no new growth, it may be time to discard it and start fresh.

Clear signs that a plant is unsalvageable include:

• Majority of leaves are dead or falling off
• Plant is wilting severely with no recovery after watering
• Stems and crowns are mushy and rotten
• Plant droops over entirely
• Roots are nonexistent or totally blackened from rot
• No viable parts of the plant remain to propagate from

At this point, the plant is unlikely to recover. Don’t prolong the inevitable. Clean up the unusable plant and focus your care on new, healthy ones.

Enjoy Your Revived Bird of Paradise

With some attentive TLC, you can likely bring your ailing bird of paradise plant back from the brink. Proper diagnosis and targeted care does wonders. Monitor your plant closely for signs of distress and address them quickly. With the right growing conditions and your loving attention, you’ll be rewarded with vigorous new growth.

To save a dying Bird of Paradise plant, start by assessing its care routine. Overwatering, insufficient light, and poor soil drainage are common culprits. Adjust watering frequency, ensuring the soil dries out slightly between waterings. Provide bright, indirect sunlight and ensure the pot has good drainage.

Yes, it’s generally a good idea to remove brown leaves from a bird of paradise plant.