Why are my Bird of Paradise’s Leaves Discolored?

We adore the The Bird of Paradise. Easy-care, verdantly green and gorgeous, this plant variety is a stunner for rooms that receive plenty of bright, direct light, and it requires water only sparingly. The foliage on this plant is naturally frayed and wild, but signs of discoloration like yellowing and browning are less standard. We know that seeing any discoloration on your plant friend’s leaves can be disconcerting, so read on to get to the bottom of the most common causes-- and their solutions!

Yellowing, Wilted Leaves

Usually, when the Bird of Paradise exhibits yellowing, wilted leaves (think floppy, not firm) it’s a sign that the plant is being overwatered. This is easily resolved! Just remove the plant from its ceramic pot, while keeping it secure in its plastic nursery pot. Check out the soil base. If it’s sopping wet, you may want to check the Bird of Paradise’s roots for root rot, which may require repotting (check out how to repot your Bird of Paradise here). But if the soil is simply wet or moistened through, you can simply allow the plant to dry out for a few days before returning it to its ceramic pot. If necessary, you can trim off any badly affected leaves and stems at their base with clean, sharp shears or scissors.

Browning Edges on Leaves

Crispy, dry brown edges are a common sign of dryness and/or underwatering. The Bird of Paradise does not like to be overwatered, but it does appreciated humidity, and if it is located close to an air vent, heater, A.C. unit or similar, this may be why it’s experiencing dryness. If it is close to an appliance, you should consider moving it. Make sure that you are watering the Bird of Paradise sufficiently, and mist it liberally, either with plain water, or with a mix of water and a gentle Foliar Feed, like Potion Magique. When using Potion Magique, it should be diluted to approximately three drops per every eight ounces of water.

Still Concerned? We’re Here to Help!

You never have to go it alone if you’re concerned with the health of your plant. If you follow the steps above and notice that your Bird of Paradise is not improving, our Plant Doctor service is here to help guide you with custom advice and solutions. Simply reach out to the via your Leon and George account, including illustrative photos and a description of any issues you’re seeing.

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Bird of Paradise

Verdant, playful and charmingly low-maintenance, the Bird of Paradise is ideal for bright, sunny spaces.

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The Bird of Paradise is a natural star: the ideal plant for bright, sunny spaces, they grow big and beautiful with little care and require little water. You’ve probably seen Birds of Paradise thriving outdoors all over town, but they are also a showstopper indoor plant variety, effortlessly achieving great height and pushing out bountiful leaves. This plant variety has a naturally wild aesthetic, which includes frayed, feathery-split leaves.

Naturally Split Leaves

If you notice that your Bird of Paradise is exhibiting lots of splits and frays in its leaves, you can relax: this is completely normal. The split foliage does not mean you’re doing anything wrong! It’s a trait of the plant that evolved in nature. In the wild, the splits ensure that wind can pass through the plant’s foliage without breaking the plant or disturbing its roots.

Prefer Fewer Splits?

The Bird of Paradise is always likely to exhibit splits and frays to its feathers, so this trait will occur to varying degrees regardless of where your plant is situated. However, an indoor Bird of Paradise may exhibit less splitting if it is kept in an environment away from moving air (drafts from doors or windows, air conditioning units, heaters or fans.) The best thing that you can do for your plant is to give it consistent care according to its own specific needs. For Birds of Paradise, this means watering it only when its topsoil (the top two inches of soil below its decorative moss) are entirely dry, ensuring that it receives bountiful, bright indirect light, and misting it regularly. You can mist your Bird of Paradise with plain water, or give it an additional boost by misting it with a combination of water and a gentle Foliar Feed, like Potion Magique. When using Potion Magique, be sure to dilute the product, using approximately three drops for every eight ounces of water and shaking lightly to mix.

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Bird of Paradise

A wild and bountiful indoor plant variety, the Bird of Paradise is the perfect low-maintenance plant for spaces that bask in plenty of bright, indirect light.

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