Question
my white bird of parad
Hi Darlene,
I have purchased a white bird of paradise yesterday from Ikea. I live in New York with a balcony facing west which means during the summer months I get about three hours of sun at the end of the day. However, there is a plenty of light on the balcony throughout the day. My plant is about 45" tall and 23" wide, it has 12 leaves.
My first question is I'd like to know approximately how old the plant is. There is no information regarding its age on the label.
My second question is whether I need to repot the plant right away. It came in a cheap container from the store but the size seems adequate for the plant. Also, the leaves seem to be curling inward after a day. I'd like to know whether it means the plant needs more water.
I appreciate your time and help. Thank you so very much!
Sincerely,
Juliet
AnswerJuliet,
There is no way to tell how old it is by the number of leaves or the size of the plant.
White Bird-of-Paradise is most often planted for its large, banana-like leaves and upright, clumping stalks which give an exotic feel to the landscape. Plants can reach 20 to 30 feet in height with a spread of 10 feet though they are often seen much smaller. The five to eight-foot-long, cold-tender leaves are arranged in a fanlike display from the erect trunks and appear much like Traveler's-Tree. The lower trunk becomes clear of leaves and exposed as the older leaves drop off. Leaves rip along the veins as they are blown by strong winds.
No your plant does not need repotted at this time. That nursery pot is adquate for another 1-2 years. Curling leaves does not indicate that it needs more water. It is the nature of the Pird of Paridise to curl. When they are flat it is a worse problem, it indicates it is getting too much water. It does need to dry out well between waterings.
You can leave the plant in the current pot and set it inside a decorative basket with a plastic liner in the bottom. Make sure that you do not leave it sitting with water in the drain tray for long periods of time. It will cause rotted roots. Good luck with your plant.
Darlene
