How To Prune Birds Of Paradise

When it comes to maintaining your garden, pruning is one of the most important factors. However, you should keep in mind that every plant requires different methods. 

For instance, one example is the bird of paradise. You can trim your bird of paradise at any time throughout the year, however, you should wait until early spring for any serious pruning. 

When it comes to pruning the bird of paradise, the goal is to remove as much old plant matter as possible, as well as damaged stems and thin leaves. 

Bird of Paradise (otherwise known as Strelitzia Reginae) is an unforgettable plant. This is not only because of their impressive size but their vast foliage and beautiful foliage. 

The focal point of these extraordinary tropical plants is their bright and exotic plumage. These flowers live for around 2 to 3 weeks before dropping off and dying. 

This makes for an ideal opportunity to start pruning your bird of paradise. With this in mind, this article will explore everything you need to know about pruning your bird of paradise. 

Let’s get started. 

Why Should You Prune Your Bird Of Paradise?

Before you begin slicing and dicing your beautiful bird of paradise plant, you may be wondering why you need to do so – this is a valid question, too. 

Below, we have outlined some important reasons why you should prune your bird of paradise. 

Disease Prevention

Pruning your bird of paradise also ensures that you’re keeping it healthy, too. 

Foliage that is packed with chlorosis or damage is a prime subject for pathogens. Therefore, you’ll want to remove these vulnerable plant tissues to maintain the plant’s defenses. 

Plus, if the stems are too tightly packed, it can reduce airflow which leads to disease development. 

Improved Aesthetics 

Since the bird of paradise is such a beautiful plant, you’ll want to make sure you’re keeping it looking sharp. 

You don’t want any damaged, yellow, dead, or diseased shoots to ruin the plants’ beauty!

Here, all you have to do is snip off these eyesores to keep your bird of paradise in optimal condition. 

Plus, keeping your bird of paradise pruned will keep the greenery from becoming too crowded while also preventing your plant from getting bigger than expected, too. 

Renewed Vigor

All plants have belowground roots and aboveground shoots – these keep one another balanced. 

By pruning your stems and leaves, the roots become enhanced, allowing them to restore the plant’s equilibrium by producing more shoots. 

Not only does it rid the plant of undesirable greenery but encourages desirable plant growth and rejuvenation. 

How To Trim A Bird Of Paradise?

When it comes to trimming and pruning your bird of paradise, it is important to know the difference. 

For instance, trimming simply involves the removal of the parts of the plant that are diseased, damaged, or dead. 

You can trim your bird of paradise at any point of the year as you’re only removing a small amount of the plant. Therefore, the damage is extremely minimal. 

Before trimming your plant you should make sure that you have sharp implements, sanitized equipment, and safety garb to prevent diseases from being introduced and spread. 

Here, you’ll want to simply remove damaged matter from where it connects directly to the main body of the plant – this helps to cleanly remove the dead parts. 

Therefore, you won’t have any dead stems that hold back the beauty of this plant. If the leaves have more than 50% live tissue, then these should be retained. 

How To Prune A Bird Of Paradise?

When it comes to pruning a bird of paradise, this is a more serious affair. However, pruning is done with the same intentions as trimming. However, the goal is more combined and intensive. 

For instance, you may be looking to reduce the size of an old plant or remove some stems and leaves that block a window or pathway. 

Since this type of trimming is much more aggressive, it should be performed in the early spring to help your plant grow to its full potential. 

Here, you’ll want to take a pruning saw, loppers, or hand pruners to perform your desired cuts. You should never use a hedge trimmer as this will provide rough and ragged cuts which could damage the other surrounding leaves. 

When pruning, you’ll want to take the stems and leaves back to just above the ground. Plus, you can remove dead flowers from the base of the plant and clean up any dead vegetation which may be found in the plant’s pot. 

Pruning Other Types Of Birds Of Paradise

There are some other types of birds of paradise that you may want to consider pruning, these include those that thrive in desert environments, such as the red bird of paradise, the Latin American bird of paradise, and the yellow bird of paradise. 

• Red Bird of Paradise – It is best to prune this variety in late winter and early spring (once the threat of winter has passed). Here, you’ll want to remove 6 to 12 inches from the ground. It may need some trimming in the summer, too, depending on its growth. 
• Yellow Bird of Paradise – This should be pruned sparingly in the late winter and early spring, too. Remove faded blooms and prune them back to half their size. 
• Latin American Bird of Paradise – Prune in the late winter and early spring – removing dried blooms and flower stalks. 

Final Thoughts

If you have a plant as beautiful as the bird of paradise, then it is important you’re maintaining it properly to ensure it remains beautiful throughout the years. 

Luckily, this guide is here to help you. Here, we have outlined everything you need to know about pruning your plant. 

Hopefully, this guide has helped you understand the importance of pruning your bird of paradise and how to do this effectively.