How To Propagate Bird Of Paradise

Bird of Paradise is a beautiful and brightly colored plant that is native to South Africa. The flower of this plant resembles a colorful bird in flight, which is where it gets its name! 

At some point in the bird of paradise’s lifetime, you’re bound to want to propagate your plant.

This might be because you are hoping to keep these plants healthy and thriving, or because you are hoping to have a few more birds of paradise plants dotted around your home. 

It is fairly easy to propagate this plant, and it doesn’t require any special skills or tools.

If you’re hoping to find out how to propagate this plant, you’ve come to the right place! This article will give you all the information you need to propagate the bird of paradise plant.

How To Propagate Bird Of Paradise By Plant Division 

Propagating bird of paradise plants is straightforward and the easiest way to carry out the process is through plant division! 

You should carry out the propagation process in early Spring. It involves taking a component of the plant’s rhizome. Follow the steps below to perform the propagation! 

Choose A Healthy Bird Of Paradise Plant 

The first step to propagating a bird of paradise plant is by choosing a plant that is free from pests and diseases. You will want to choose a healthy and robust adult plant. 

You will also want to choose a plant that has more than four buds and a large number of leaves, preferably more than 16.

Divide The Plant 

The best time for this plant to be planted in greenhouses is between May and June. For this reason, you will want to divide the cuttings in early Spring, just before the plant has another burst of growth.

To divide the plant, you will first need to remove the old soil surrounding the plant and peel off the old leaves. After you have done this, the root systems and the buds should be easy to distinguish. 

You should then select the cutting point on the plant. Choose the cutting point carefully, ensuring that there are between 2 and 3 shoots in each cluster.

Using a sharp knife, cut the plant into 2-3 clusters. The incision should then be dried out for between 3 and 5 hours. 

When you have your clusters, you should ensure that each one has no less than 3 roots, and no less than 8-10 leaves. 

If your clusters are smaller than this, you can put a few plants together in the same pot. 

Pot The Plant 

The next stage is to pot the plant that you have just separated. To do this: 

• Find a large pot that is 12 inches wide and deep
• Add your soil to the pot 
• Soak the root system with a running hose for around 15 minutes 
• Wait around 20 minutes so that the water has time to soften the roots
• Dig approximately 18 inches deep at a 10-inch radius to make room for the plant 
• Lift the root ball and the plant into the pot
• Fill the pot with soil and water, allowing the liquid to drain out of the bottom

How To Propagate Bird Of Paradise From Seed

It is possible to grow this tropical plant from seed. This process is not difficult, but it may take some time. The bird of paradise seeds must be dry and fresh for them to take to the soil. 

It is important to plant these seeds directly after harvest where possible. 

You will need to soak the seeds in room temperature water for around three days to aid in germination. During this time, ensure that you change the water every day. 

Plant the seeds 1 inch (2.5 cm) deep in a moistened potting mix. Then, place the seeds somewhere warm with indirect light.

The seeds will need to be at a temperature of at least 85 degrees Fahrenheit, or 29 degrees Celsius.

You should lay some plastic over the pot to make sure that the seeds have a large amount of humidity, and to keep the soil moist.

The germination of these seeds is very slow, so you will need to be patient! It can take between 1 month and 1 year to see a sprout! 

Caring For Bird Of Paradise 

This plant is often said to be tolerant to drought or dry weather. While these plants are hardy, the younger plants will suffer if they are not watered enough.

During hot and dry weather, you should ensure that your propagated plants are well watered. 

Annual applications of fertilizer will improve the growth of the plant. You should also consider adding some well-composted cow manure to the soil each year. 

To prolong the life of a flower, there are some things you can do. As the petals begin to wither, pull the cluster towards the stalk end of the flower.

This will then come free and a new set of flowers will arise from the head. You can do this a few times throughout the life of a flower.

Appearance And Characteristics Of Bird Of Paradise 

Older plants will often form a large clump and the central leaves of the plant will be held very upright.

The outer leaves of the plant gently bow down. The foliage on the plant is tropical-looking and it has a large banana leaf with paddle-like blades. 

The flowers are stunning, with beautiful tropical hues of blues and oranges.

The structure of these flowers looks like a colorful bird’s head. The blooms point in random directions, making the plant even more unique.

Final Thoughts 

Now you should have all the information you need to propagate a Bird of Paradise!

There are two ways to propagate this plant and this article has given you all the information you need to carry this out yourself.