How Often to Water Bird of Paradise?

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Bird of Paradise is an evergreen plant from South Africa.

You can see two types of this tropical plant. One is called Strelitzia Reginae, which has an orange flower with blue details. Another one is called Strelitzia Nicolai, which has white flowers.

Taking care of the bird of paradise requires a lot of attention.

This plant is gorgeous and will be a great addition to your interior, but you have to make sure it is well taken care of. The most common challenge of growing a bird of paradise is watering. That’s why in this article we will discuss in detail how often to waterbird of paradise and why.

Bird of Paradise plants should be watered once a week or more often in hot, dry climates and every 10 to 14 days in moderate climates. To ensure proper hydration, the soil should remain evenly moist but not waterlogged.

Check the soil by sticking your finger 2 inches deep, if it feels dry it’s time to water. Regular misting during dry weather also benefits the plant by keeping the leaves hydrated.

Generally, you are supposed to waterbird of paradise once the top 1-2 inched of the soil gets dry, but even this rule has its own conditions.So, let’s dive into more details about watering a bird of paradise.

Which factors to consider when watering birds of paradise?

As we mentioned, the general rule is to water a bird of paradise from 7 to 14 days.

However, this rule has many exceptions and variables. So, let’s discuss each factor individually.

Season

Bird of paradise is a tropical plant, therefore; the plant thrives when being watered properly.

The season is one of the most important factors when deciding how frequently you should water the plant. During the growing seasons, it is highly recommended to waterbird of paradise frequently. You can even keep the soil a little bit moist at all times.

You might be familiar with the rule of dry soil, according to which you can only water the plant if the top of the soil is completely dry. This rule doesn’t apply to birds of paradise during spring and summer.

Of course, you can water the plant once the top of the soil gets completely dry, but birds of paradise will appreciate moist soil at all times. During the growing season, water the plant once every 4-5 days.

During colder seasons you should change your watering habits and move to a new schedule. Make sure that you change the watering frequency step by step.

Bird of paradise adapts well, but if you want your plant to be healthy and happy, always make sure you give it time for adaptation.

During winter, water it once every 10-14 days. Make sure the top of the soil is completely dry. To find out if your plant is ready for watering, just stick your finger in the soil and check.

Lighting

Bird of paradise comes from South Africa; so, the plant loves bright spaces.

Lighting actually highly affects the mood of the plant. Bird of paradise cannot live in dark places; it cannot adapt to lower lights.

For this reason, many people cannot add this beautiful plant to their collection. If you decide to grow a bird of paradise, you have to make sure it gets bright and indirect light most of the day.

Bird of paradise enjoys direct sunlight for a couple of hours daily. The best location for the plant is by the window. If the plant gets a lot of sunlight, then you need to water it frequently.

The key is to closely watch the plant and get its rhythm.

Temperature

Bird of paradise as a tropical plant enjoys warmth.

The perfect temperature for the plant is between 60 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit, which is 15 to 27 degrees Celsius. During warm temperatures evaporation level is high, so it’s better to water plants more often.

One thing you should remember is that birds of paradise cannot survive temperatures below 60 degrees (15 C). The plant will be able to live several days, but after that, the negative effects of cold will overcome the bird of paradise.

How do I know if my Bird of Paradise needs water?

If the top of the soil is completely dry, you should water your bird of paradise.

Check the top 1-2 inches (3-5 cm) of soil by sticking your finger.

During summer if the soil is partially moist, you can still water your plant. In the winter, make sure that the top is completely dry. As long as you observe your plant and learn its habits, you are going to understand its watering needs.

Since bird of paradise needs careful watering, there are common issues with over and underwatering. Here’s how you can tell if your plant gets too much or too little water.

How can I tell if a bird of Paradise is underwatered?

Bird of paradise has large and beautiful leaves that not only look radiant but can tell you a lot about the plant’s health.

If the edges of your bird of paradise are splitting and they are dry to touch, that means your plant is not getting enough water.

Other symptoms of underwatering are crispy tips of leaves, brownish color, and shriveled leaves. If you see any of these on your plant, immediately increase the frequency of watering.

How can I tell if a bird of Paradise is overwatered?

Since the bird of paradise is a tropical plant that enjoys water, many plant owners take watering too far. There’s a narrow gap between good watering and overwatering.

If you are worried your bird of paradise is getting too much water, look for symptoms like droopy leaves, splitting leaves, yellow-brownish color, and soft texture to the touch.

You risk overwatering your plant if it does not get enough lighting during the day. Overwatering can not only damage the leaves but cause root rot which is hard to cure. To avoid overwatering, make sure your plant has a pot with good drainage and the soil is suitable for birds of paradise.

Should I mist the leaves of birds of paradise?

It’s not a requirement, but it’s highly recommended to mist the leaves of birds of paradise.Trust us, your plant will appreciate this treatment.

You can mist it with a mister or use a wet towel. Misting will keep your plant clean and shiny.

Why should I clean the leaves of the bird of paradise?

Cleaning the leaves of paradise is very hydrating for the plant.

In addition to that, by cleaning the leaves you are giving the plant a chance to get more energy through the rays of the sun.

The plant gets energy from the leaves and if there’s dirt, there’s a barrier for the sun. By cleaning the leaves, you are helping the process of photosynthesis, which is so crucial for the plants.

One more very important benefit of cleaning leaves is protecting the plant from different pests, that put eggs on the leaves.

Is splitting normal for birds of paradise?

We mentioned that split leaves can be a sign of overwatering as well as a lack of water.

However, you have to remember, splitting is natural for birds of paradise.

When we talk about splitting due to watering problems, we have in mind excessive splitting which is unnatural for your plant. But generally, if your bird of prey gets splits, that does not mean that plant is in a bad shape.

Splitting leaves is natural and you shouldn’t worry about little splits. If you have planted a bird of paradise in the garden, or have it on your balcony, then your plant will get bigger splits, but that doesn’t mean the plant is damaged.

Mike Smith

I love Gardening and this is my site. Here you will find some really useful plant-related tips and tricks.