How to Keep a Bird of Paradise Plant Alive

Plant your bird-of-paradise in fertile, free-draining soil, in light shade or direct sunshine. Plants grown in light shade tend to be bigger, with larger flowers, while those grown in full sun have more, smaller flowers. Leave 6 feet between plants to allow for growth. Construct a shallow rim around each plant with any excess soil, in order to trap water and make sure it reaches the roots before draining away. Never plant bird-of-paradise plants in waterlogged soil, as they will rot.

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Water your bird-of-paradise as soon as it is planted and aim to keep the soil evenly moist at all times. Do not water if the soil is already wet due to rain. Provide each plant with a 3-inch layer of organic mulch to trap moisture but keep it at least 3 inches from the stem to prevent rot. Yellow leaves on your bird of paradise are a sign that it is receiving too much or too little water.

Fertilize your bird of paradise plants every three months with a balanced, slow release fertilizer. The University of Hawaii at Manoa recommends 1 pound of fertilizer every three months per mature clump.

Bring container-grown bird of paradise plants indoors before minimum temperatures fall below 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep them in the brightest available location in the home and mist daily to keep up humidity levels. Water enough to keep the soil barely moist. Fertilize container grown plants every two weeks during the spring and summer with a liquid fertilizer diluted by 50 percent.

Cut back bird-of-paradise plants that are damaged by frost to within 1 inch of the ground. Cover the ground with a layer of organic mulch such as bark chips or well-rotted compost at least 3 inches thick. Provided the roots do not freeze, your bird of paradise will regrow during the spring.