Step by step instructions for removing large bird of paradise. Tools needed: pic-axe, chain saw, recipical saw (with longest blades you can get), spade shovel with strong handle, 4' 4x4 pressure treated post, come-along, 1' of heavy duty metal chain with stong "S" link for connecting chain ends together. Instructions: Step#1. Use chain saw to cut plant stems down to about a foot above the ground. Step#2. Dig around and under root ball of plant as much as possible. Step#3. Starting on an outer side of the plant that has at least a 5 feet of clearance; cut down and around a section of the plant / root ball (not too big about 1') with reciprocal saw. Step#4. Put the 4x4 post down in the ground about 4' from plant section in step#3 with a slight angle away from the plant leave about 1' above ground and pack dirt tightly. Step#5. Put chain around exposed 4x4 post, wrap section of plant to be removed with cable end of come-along, connect other end of come-along to chain and ratchet come-along to put pressure on plant section to be removed. Step#6, pic-axe to seperate root ball section or maybe use shovel; add come-along pressure as needed. Use care when working with come-along cable under tension. I used this method yestetday and its working good for me, I'm about a fouth of the way done. My back is sore, for these plants are hard a heck to remove; just know your limitations and be safe. Also try not to cut into the dirt with chain saw, it will dull the chain, but for the cost of a chain verses a chiropractor and pain, I'm using chain saw down deep. Hope this helps Eddie K. Palm Bay, Fl.

First of all, the snarky comment from Arunski about shoulda coulda was unnecessary --who says something like that? I love plants and I'm pretty good at growing them, but sometimes we plant lovers see a plant and buy it, not really knowing that much about it. I bought a white bird of paradise summer 2019 from Home Depot because I loved the look of it. It was about 2 feet tall. Planted on my covered porch in a beautiful pot and it grew unbelievably over the summer. I had to bring it inside for the winter and it has continued to grow in a corner that has a window, but it is extremely filtered light from plants outside. I purchased a cheap LED floor lamp from Amazon that I can bend to whatever position and the plant seems to love it, even though 2 feet of it are above the lamp. Watering has been limited due to spillage issues, and still it grows. It's about 6 feet tall now with new growth all the time. I had no idea it would get this big, but I have 4 more feet to go before I have to move it so we will see what happens. I could move it back on the porch, but it has grown too big to move I think and everyone who walks in the door has a fit over it. I think I will buy a nice self watering planter and see if that helps. I've only fertilized it twice. Who knows? Maybe it knows it's loved and likes the home it lives in. We have a good vibe.

all plants lose old leaves ... i cant tell from these pix if these are the older ones ... it was outdoors... some of the tearing may be related to wind damage ... storm ... ???? i dont understand the freeze history ... new leaves are always a good sign.. that its doing what need be done underground ... i wouldnt be jumping to fungus very fast ... there is a houseplant forum.. should you wish to learn more about such ... its a plant.. not a child.. i would not be feeding it in winter.. indoors .. sounds like you probably gave it enough for a while .. and i dont know what you mean by dry food ... i would probably tend to a water soluable ... and though you have drain holes.. it doesnt sound like you water so heavily that it runs out the bottom ... so there shouldnt be all that much nutrients that you need to be replacing ... how about a pic of the plant as a whole ... how will it get light during winter .... is that interior wall just for pix ??? ken

I am going to keep it outdoors in the small container this season, fertilize with high potassium fertilizer and give it a sunny window for winter. Just in case.... If no flower stalk appears, I will repot in a 15 inch container and treat it as foliage houseplant.