Why is My Bird of Paradise Leaves Curling: Explained

The leaves of my bird of paradise are curling for a variety of reasons. It may be because of the temperature, or it could be because of high humidity levels in your home.

However, if you notice that the leaves on your plant are severely curling and turning brown, then this is probably due to too much moisture in the soil.

This article will explore each of these causes and show you how to rectify the problem.

Why is My Bird of Paradise Leaves Curling: The Causes

The leaves of your bird of paradise may curl because of a variety of reasons. Brown, crispy edges on your plant’s leaves may be a sign that moisture is too high in the soil. We outline these top reasons in the following paragraphs why this may have happened.

Leaves are Too Close to The Lamp

The leaves around the lamp are curling because they are too close to the bulb. Make sure that there is at least six inches between the bulb and the leaves of your plant. This will prevent leaf burn, which can lead to leaf curling in bird of paradise plants.

The Temperature is Too High

If the temperature in your home has risen by a considerable degree, then this can cause your plant’s leaves to curl up and turn brown. Make sure that the temperature in your home does not exceed 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius).

The Bird of Paradise Plant is Under Stress

Making sure that they kept the bird of paradise plant in optimal conditions will prevent any unnecessary stress that may harm its health.

If you notice it is curling its leaves, then there might be too much moisture in the soil or too little light reaching the plant. Provide as much sunlight as possible and water regularly to keep it healthy and free from stress.

The Air Conditioner is Blowing Hot Air

If your air conditioner is blowing hot air, this can cause the leaves of the bird of paradise to curl up. Make sure that there is a significant difference between the temperatures inside and outside your home, as well as that the heat from lamps does not affect its environment too much.

High Humidity Levels in Your Home

Many factors, including plants, showers, central heating systems, etc., can cause high humidity levels. If you notice that your plant’s leaves are curling up and turning brown, then it could be because of high humidity levels in your home.

Too Much Fertilizer

Fertilizing your bird of paradise with too much fertilizer can cause leaf burn, which can lead to the leaves curling up and dying off. Make sure that you only use diluted fertilizer every few months to prevent this from occurring.

The Plant is Not Getting Enough Water

If your bird of paradise plant is not getting enough water, then its leaves may wilt and curl up due to lack of hydration. Make sure that you water your plant thoroughly but do not let it stand in water for too long since this causes root rot and leads to leaf curling and browning.

Nitrogen in Fertilizer can Curl Leaves

If the levels of nitrogen in the fertilizer you are using are too high, then they can cause leaf burn on your plant. Always make sure that you check the levels of nitrogen in fertilizer before using it to water your bird of paradise since they are known to be high.

The Soil is Too Moist

The bird of the paradise plant may curl its leaves if there is too much moisture in the soil. Make sure that you allow the top inch or two of the soil to dry out completely before watering it again (this can take up to seven days).

If this does not work, then try adding some coarse sand or gravel to the potting mix. This will ensure that air circulates better around the roots and prevents soil from retaining too much moisture, which leads to root rot ending of leaves.

The Plant is Underneath A Lamp

If your plant is underneath a lamp and it has curled up its leaves, then this means that the leaves closest to the lamp are curling due to too much heat from the bulb.

Make sure that you do not position the bird of paradise beneath any lamps as this can harm its health. If you need to use a lamp for extra light, make sure that there are at least six inches between the bulb and leaves on your bird of paradise.

Curly Bird of Paradise Leaves: Solutions

All the above can cause your bird of paradise plant to have curled-up leaves. If you have been using any of these solutions in your home, then it could be the reason for this problem. Make sure that you do not use them anymore and avoid them in the future or switch to a safer alternative that will not harm your plant’s health.

Here are a few tips on how to prevent curling bird of paradise leaves:

1. Always make sure that there is enough ventilation around your bird of paradise since high temperatures and humidity levels can cause leaf curl. In addition, keep an air conditioner or open window nearby when the temperature rises too high.
2. Make sure that there is sufficient sunlight reaching your plant by placing it near a window that gets plenty of daylight. In addition, to help it grow strong and healthy, use full-spectrum light bulbs, which will provide your plant with the right levels of light.
3. Water your bird of paradise regularly, but only when the top two inches of soil has completely dried out since this allows air to circulate easier around its roots and provides a good flow for water to reach them.
4. Only fertilize your plant every few months as over-fertilizing can cause leaf burn leading to curling or death in extreme cases.
5. Do not let the soil dry out too much between watering. If you notice its leaves are curling up and turning brown, this means that you should increase the frequency and strength of watering.

If you follow these tips and tricks, they will help prevent your plant from having curled-up leaves. If this does not work, and the problem persists long term despite your efforts, take it to a local garden center for help since your plant may suffer from a more severe illness that only they could diagnose and solve.

When to Take Cuttings from a Bird of Paradise Plant

Apart from getting new plants, cuttings are the only other option you have to reproduce a bird of paradise. This will create a replica of your original plant without harming it. To take cuttings, use sharp garden shears and remove them during the summer months after your plant has reached at least three feet tall.

How to Grow Bird of Paradise Plants in an Apartment

If you live in an apartment, then you may feel that growing a bird of paradise is not possible since it needs plenty of space to flourish. However, there are four steps that you can take to ensure your plant does well despite being inside.

Step 1: Prepare Your Pot

First, you will need a good-sized pot that is deep enough to fit the plant. Make sure that it has plenty of drainage holes at the bottom since bird of paradise plants dislike their roots sitting in water. In addition, fill the base with a lightweight commercial potting mix or cactus & succulent mix.

Step 2: Position Your Plant

After completing these steps, place your container in a south-facing window for six to eight hours a day. This will provide your plant with sufficient sunlight so that it can grow and thrive.

Step 3: Water Your Plant

Make sure that you monitor the soil carefully to see if it needs water. If it feels dry, add enough water until it overflows from the drainage holes. Do this regularly, and your bird of paradise will flourish in an apartment or any other room with limited space.

Winter Care Tips for Bird of Paradise Plants

During the winter months, your bird of paradise plant will need less care than in summer since the air is drier. However, there are still two tips which you should follow to ensure it stays healthy during this time.

Step 1: Reduce Watering

Start by reducing the frequency and amount of water that you give your plant until the leaves fall off. Once this happens, you can increase the frequency and amount slightly to help it regrow.

Step 2: Reduce Sunlight Exposure

Reduce the number of hours that your bird of paradise gets exposed to direct sunlight until the leaves fall off. Now, place it near a window that gets plenty of indirect sunlight for six to eight hours every day.

Conclusion

Bird of paradise plants are beautiful and require a lot less care than most other types. For this reason, they make lovely houseplants that bring natural beauty into your home besides being easy to maintain.

If you follow the tips we’ve provided here for winter care, then you should have no problem keeping it healthy all year long. Be sure to monitor when is the best time to take cuttings from your plant so that you can reproduce more quickly if needed. It never hurts to be prepared!