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SOS for my Bird of Paradise

6 years ago

I got my BoP about a year ago and it was doing pretty well. I did get it in the cold so it was exposed to some freezing Chicago temps. After that I put it in a pot that has a drainage hole and watered it about every two weeks (when the soil felt dry) with water that sat out for at least 24 hours. Over the summer I fertilized about once a month with Miracle-Gro all purpose dry plant food. It put out new leaves this summer so I know it's not totally lost or dead. It's not root bound and it still has white, healthy roots yet it has dry spots and strange black marks all over it. Any insight as to how to save it would be appreciated! I thought perhaps a fungus but I'm not as well versed in those.

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Comments (3)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
6 years ago
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
lct73092
Original Author
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
I know what this forum is for, Ken. This BoP was outside for about 15ish minutes last winter when I brought it home. It's not wind damage as they dry and dark spots started a few months after that. Not all of those leaves are old enough to be lost. The black spots are happening on only months-old leaves like in the last two pictures. Dry food is the powdered form that you put in water as opposed to the already liquid form. Speak for yourself about plants not being a child, I happen to love mine and want it to thrive! It does get light, there's a set of bay windows that faces north/west (only direction available in apartment) right next to it. It was just night time when I took this.
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Hi, I also have the exact same problem. Would love to know if either of you figured this out! I did find some spider mites on my plant and have been treating it for them, but I'm not sure if that's just another problem or the reason why. I also did worry that mine was getting burned in the sun, but from everything I read, they are supposed to be very tolerant of direct sunlight. Thank you!
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HU-2486183245068053
5 years ago
Hello,

My White Bird of Paradise has been having similar problems. I've had it for almost one year. It used to have a lot of brown edges. Then I moved, and figured out how to better care for it. It seems to love this sunny spot. It's bloomed a good 6 leaves since I moved here ~2 mos ago. (It never bloomed in the old apt bc it didn't have enough light.)

When I moved here, I cut off a lot of the leaves that had many brown edges, and it seemed to flourish. But recently I've discovered all of these dark brown spots/patches covering some of the leaves. I've included pics of healthy leaves, as well as the bottom of the plant, and various angles.

I am wondering if you ever found out the cause and solution. I also think it might be fungal related. I live in Texas.

Also, my plant has never bloomed a flower - is this unusual?

I am a novice to caring for plants, and desire for this one to be happy and healthy.

Thanks. Jaime

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