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White Bird of Paradise Root Threat to Pool & Spa

15-year-old bird of paradise may break through pool wall. Shares space with adjoining spa. Pool resurfacer says remove or it will cause damage.

Expert Advice

BOP root system resembles banana—forms a large "potato" rhizome from which stalks grow. As it ages, rhizome swells and could press on/crack spa. Dig down next to spa: if you hit rhizome, consider removal; if only dirt, you have a few more years. If removing, break rhizome into pieces with stalks attached and replant—they'll swell and grow new plants. Use rectangular shovel to section rhizome.

Nick

Tropical Plants: Can a Broken Bird of Paradise Be Re-Rooted in Water?; Fixing Brown Spots on White Bird of Paradise; White Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia nicolai) Drooping Fronds: Overwatering, Underwatering, or Insects—Check Roots, Water, and Spray Alcohol for Pests; Reviving a Freeze-Damaged White Bird of Paradise; Pruning a Tall White Bird of Paradise Indoors: Cut at Soil Level, Not Mid-Trunk; Repotting Root-Bound White Bird of Paradise in Same Pot? Trim Roots, Go Deeper, But It's a Temporary Fix; Giant Bird of Paradise Split Planting: Root Damage Recovery; Pruning White Bird of Paradise: Controlling Height Near Structures; Indoor White Bird of Paradise: Humidity and Light Fixes; Growing White Bird of Paradise in San Jose: Winter Protection and Drainage

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