Bird of Paradise is pissed

17 years ago

hey everyone!

my grandmother raiased a bird of paradise from seed a few years ago. it's about 4 feet tall and has 7-10 leaves on it. she gave it to me last fall.

since i'm a dumbass, i decided this week (instead of in MAY or something reasonable) that the bird of pradise might like to be outside on the porch, in the warmth. it's been in our house since last fall. so i moved it out there on sunday for a little while, and then brought it back in that night. then did the same monday but left it out for the night. tuesday it was low 80's outside so i still left it out.

i noticed that its leaves curled inwards a little bit the first day. they don't seem to be any worse though.

i've been misting it once or twice a day, and if it's going to be hotter than mid-80's, i've been bringing it in because i was afraid the heat might be too much for it since he's used to being in our house (our thermostat is set on 80).

is it a good idea to keep it out there till maybe october, when it starts getting cooler? why would the leaves be curling like that?

thanks for any advice you can give me :)

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Comments (6)

xerophyte NYC
17 years ago
Sounds like the plant needs water! Plants in pots outdoors, exposed to sun and wind, dry out much more quickly than indoors.

I've been soaking my Strelitzias (Birds of Paradise) every morning since June, they are out in the sun outdoors.

There's a good chance the leaves may sunburn when you just bring the plants out without them used to it. You'll know in a few days if the leaves are starting to blanch. You should gradually acclimate a plant when it gets moved from indoors to outside, and vice-versa.
slinky
Original Author
17 years ago
thanks! I've actually been keeping it in a place that gets shade right now, from 11am until the end of the day- it's only getting sun from about 8am until then. i was hoping that wouldn't be too much, and the sun is also another reason i've been bringing it inside some.

i watered it lots, and read some about root-rot. but i'll give him some more and see if he cheers up!
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xerophyte NYC
17 years ago
Doubtful they will rot during active growth and warm weather - when it's cooler, that's a different story...
baci
17 years ago
Bring indoors in the fall when temps reach the 60Âs.
It sounds like it is just not used to the sun. None of mine curl with the heat although the leaves will blacken & burn with intense heat. Keeping it in the shade & adapting it to the sun is a good idea. It could probably stay outside until you are ready to bring it in for the winter.
Heathen1
17 years ago
around here parts, the worse it looks, from sun, the better it will bloom... but there is a limit. Any drastic changes for any plant will usually cause some shock.
baggz
14 years ago
Yeah mine is doing the same thing and it is cold in that room upstairs and dry as it is winter after all. It is in a small pot cause if it gets a little root bound it will bloom quicker. They will not bloom till at least 4 years old, from a division and from seed up to 10 years. I have had Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia reginae)for years n years no bloom. Hoping with this one, heheh,that it will bloom soon. The plant likes it in the 70's day an 50's night and hardy down to 20's. Mist it and water it more when it gets growing.

Here is a link that might be useful: igotalk