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Paradise Bird (Strelitzia reginae), also called ‘crane flower’, is a beautiful ornamental plant.
It is an indoor plant that is kept outside to give your porch an exotic look.
The blooming flowers are an amalgamation of three bright orange petals and three blue petals. These flowers usually show their beauty when they bloom from March to October.
This plant is a perfect gift for its exotic flowers. It also symbolizes joy and pleasure.
It has South African origins and is generally grown in warm climates due to its preference for humidity.
This is why we also see it in greenhouses and terraces. High temperatures tend to keep the roots dry and this prevents root rot.
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How do you know if a bird of paradise has root rot?
When your bird of paradise appears sick, lifeless, or depressed, it’s likely due to root rot.
If the plant is rotten, it cannot absorb nutrients. The following signs may appear on the parts in case of root rot:
1) withered leaves
When root rot appears, the leaves are the first to show symptoms. The leaves begin to turn yellow, accompanied by wilting, wrinkling and eventually shedding.
2) discolored leaves
Once root rot sets in, the leaves often begin to turn yellow. About sixty percent of the leaf may be affected.
3) brown leaf tips
The leaves will begin to turn brown at the tips, which is the most obvious sign that your plant is unable to thrive due to root rot. The edge may also brown a little.
4) blackened carrots
The roots of Bird of Paradise are quite long. When healthy, they are white or brown.
These succulent roots turn pale or black when they rot. Roots should be checked to confirm root rot.
5) Swollen stem
A normal stem of the plant is hard and strict. In contrast, when the root of the plant rots, the stem swells and becomes limp. The swelling goes from the roots upwards.
6) death blows
If there is root rot, the shoots die. This makes it difficult for plants to absorb nutrients.
7) Growth retardation
Stunted growth can also be a sign of root rot. The plant has smaller than normal leaves.
It would not produce new flowers despite proper fertilizer and good habitat.
You may also be interested in: Why Are My Bird of Paradise Leaves Curling?
How is root rot treated in Bird of Paradise?
Once you spot root rot on your bird of paradise, there are a few key steps you can take to treat it early before the rot takes over the entire leaf.
1) Remove damaged roots
Dig up your plant immediately. This is to check whether the roots are damaged or healthy.
Damaged roots can be recognized by their pale black or brown color.
After identifying the damaged roots, you need to remove them. Remove excess plant material as well as damaged roots to ensure a clean pot.
Prune about a third of the foliage after cutting off the damaged roots.
2) Use a copper fungicide
Dip damaged roots in a copper-based fungicide to kill the fungus afflicting your precious bird of paradise.
Let your roots dry out for a while. You can always add more perlite, mulch, vermiculite to improve the drainage capacity of the soil.
3) Transplant your plant
When your plant is sufficiently tidy, it is ready to be placed in the pot. Provide plenty of drainage holes in your pot to prevent further root rot.
The holes keep the ground dry. You can always wait for the soil to dry out before planting. Transplanting your plant with new soil reduces the risk of root rot.
How to prevent root rot in birds of paradise?
Root rot can be dangerous for your bird of paradise, but following these preventive measures would be good for him:
1) Avoid excess water
Your bird of paradise can cause root rot. Excess water makes the soil soggy.
This can smother the plant because there isn’t enough oxygen. So avoid overwatering if you want to protect your bird of paradise from root rot.
If you need help watering your plant, try this Automatic drip irrigation kit.
2) Use organic soil with good drainage
Always use rich, well-drained organic soil for your plant. It takes care of the plant and is a perfect recipe to prevent root rot.
If the roots have all the nutrients they need, they will stay healthy and vibrant. Rich organic soil is a mixture of all essential nutrients.
3) Maintain the right temperature
The plant prefers warm conditions to grow. Does not tolerate low temperatures.
When the temperature drops, the roots are surrounded by fairly moist soil.
This soil robs the plant of its nutrition and makes it prone to rot.
Another reason for the lower temperature for rot is the fact that the lower degrees allow many fungi to thrive.
4) Avoid big pots
You might think you’re doing your plant a favor by giving it more space. While this extra large pot makes the ground muddy and wet.
5) Use copper-based fungicides
Copper-based molds in routine care are also helpful in preventing mold attacks.
Fungal attacks usually lead to root rot. Dip the roots in fungicides to get rid of the troublesome fungus.
6) Avoid watering during the rest period
Overwatering is already a risk for your plant. This makes the soil too wet. If it irritates your plant during dormancy, you are definitely asking for root rot.
final thoughts
When your plant loses more leaves than normal or shows signs of yellowing, root rot is likely.
Always check that the roots are intact. Changing the pot from time to time, avoiding low temperatures and extremely intense sunlight are the main requirements to avoid it.
Although root rot is a serious problem for gardeners, treating symptoms as soon as they appear can prevent it from spreading.
Scheduled watering and cleaning of the pots will keep your bird of paradise fresh and healthy.
Before you go, here are some more related articles that I encourage you to read below to help you solve more of your gardening problems:
Why are your Bird of Paradise’s leaves hanging down?
How to save your snake plant from root rot?
How to save the spider plant from root rot?
Top 5 small trees with non-invasive roots
About the Author:
Saad Anzar
Saad is an avid gardener and a great lover of plants, animals, photography and people. He currently focuses on indoor plant photography and captioning beautiful landscapes. Write and rewrite feature articles on nature and science.