The appearance of many indoor plants varies, but Birds of Paradise is one plant that will enchant you with its blossoms that mimic a bird. The bird of paradise can quickly change your home when it blooms with its attractive broad, glossy leaves, even when the ornamental, colorful flowers aren’t in bloom.
The plant is raised indoors and outdoors in warm areas for its distinctive flowers and lovely leaves. Its likeness to the flamboyant jungle birds known as birds-of-paradise is the reason for its name.
Here is everything you need to know about Birds of Paradise.
The bird of paradise is regarded as the supreme indoor plant. With its glossy, banana-shaped leaves that fan out, this large, upright plant gives your room a rich, tropical feel. The best type to plant indoors is the Orange Bird of Paradise and White Bird of Paradise.
Although they can tolerate a broad range of lighting conditions, including direct sunlight and indirect light, most importantly, they do best in full sun.
Causes of Bird of Paradise Leaves Curling
It stands out in any garden in full bloom and is instantly noticeable due to its beauty and colors. However, when there are issues, the plant’s leaves may curl.
Here some factors that might cause bird of paradise leaves to curl:
- Pest
Bird of Paradise plants has curled leaves when sap-sucking animals like spider mites, and mealybugs, attack the plant. The plant is deprived of enough moisture by these pests, which causes the leaves to curl.
2. Over Watering
Your plant needs water, but avoid over-watering it, as this causes the plant root to rot and invites fungus and bacteria infestation.
3. Under Watering
Underwatering is another cause of curled leaves in Birds of Paradise, and watering the plant often will help it recover from summertime temperature stress. Despite their high evaporation rate, plants benefit from routine irrigation because it keeps their moisture levels adequate.
4. Sudden Change
The plant is shocked when it is potted, transplanted, or moved to a new area, which is why its leaves curl. The plant responds by folding its leaves in response to sudden changes in the soil, sunlight exposure, and location before adjusting to the new environment.
5. Re-potting
A bird of paradise with a minor root system and a more significant top portion will curl due to dryness. The limited root system cannot meet the plant’s needs for nutrients and water. As a result, the leaves begin to curl.
6. Sunlight Burnt
When a plant is positioned in direct sunlight, it can get burned due to overexposure to sunlight; its leaves curl and turn brown.
7. Over Heat
The bird of paradise plant can turn brown when placed in a hot area.
8. Poor quality soil
It is challenging for plants to obtain all the essential microelements in poor soil. Planting your bird of paradise in infertile soil causes the leaves to curl inward and fade.
9. Disease
Anything can cause disease in a plant, such as an insect invasion or rot root, and this can be treated immediately.
Solutions to Bird of Paradise Leaves
Correctly determining the source makes it simpler to resolve the curling issue. The various techniques to rectify the curled leaves of the bird of paradise
They include;
- Pesticides for pests
When using pesticides, the plant will spread a systemic pesticide from the roots to the leaves and blooms if you use it.
Neem oil can also be used on the plant monthly to prevent pests from returning.
2. Stop Over watering the Plant
The optimum soil for your tropical Bird of Paradise is damp but not soaked. To carry out its biological tasks, your plant requires water, and species with broad leaves lose much of it through transpiration.
3. Water Plant More
By adding more water and ensuring that the water flows freely from the bottom of the pot to the leaves, you can avoid the issue of under-watering. With this process, all the roots will have access to water; make sure the plant doesn’t sit in the water.
The plant’s need for moisture to maintain physiological activities is diminished by infrequent watering. As a result, the plant creates curled leaves to defend against water loss by decreasing its surface area.
4. Treat Bird of Paradise With Care
Another common reason for twisted leaves in Bird of Paradise is transplant shock, which can occur after the plant has been moved. Put the plant in the shade and give it a few more frequent waterings to prevent this.
5. Transplant To A Bigger Pot
Moving Bird of Paradise into a bigger pot should be large enough to prevent root entanglement for one to two years. After two years, the subsequent transplant should be performed.
6. Remedy For Too Much Sunlight
To prevent curled leaves from excessive direct sunlight, provide shade. The harsh light is less detrimental to the plant thanks to a shade’s ability to diffuse it.
After the plant has been affected by sunlight, you can still place it in a location with indirect sunlight if it is next to a window that receives direct sunlight.
7. Over Heat
Move your bird of paradise plant to a location with moderate heat if it is close to a furnace or fireplace.
8. Change Soil
You must plant your bird of paradise in a loose substrate with lots of compost if you want it to avoid nutrient deficiency. So once you notice the soil is poor, use fertiliser or get fertile soil and transplant.
9. Revive Plant
Twisted leaves can also result from disease . Additionally, the leaves may develop tiny brown patches, and spraying the plant with fungicide will cure it.
It takes a bird of paradise 3–4 years to bloom with its flower-like leaves, and many conditions can stop it from flowering and cause its leaves to curl. Even though your bird of paradise plant seems to be doing well, curled leaves suggest a problem. Determine the issue and resolve it immediately.