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Bird of paradise - curled leaves

josephhumphreysjosephhumphreys Posts: 15
in Problem solving
Hello,

We have a bird of paradise plant that's indoors in a sunny room but largely out of direct sunlight. As you can see from the pictures, the leaves on one of the main stem groups are very curled. The other side isn't too bad but perhaps on their way to curling over too.

Any ideas on what to do? Is it just a case of more water and if so, how often?

Thanks



Posts

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    It may need to be repotted. It's quite a big plant and it may be getting root-bound.
    The curling leaves is usually due to either too much water, too little water or it's in a draughty position.
    It will need feeding also during the growing season. Seaweed extract once every week or two would be good for that.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • Arthur1Arthur1 Posts: 542
    I grow a couple of Strelitzia and get some curling, but not like that. So difficult to tell from a photo but I suspect it's in too small a pot and is too dry. To saturate a pot bound plant  stand in a bucket of water for a couple of hours. That will drive out all the air and ensure that all the pores in the compost are full of water.
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    Because of the recent heat, your plant is showing signs of stress due to lack of water.  Like @Pete.8 and @Kate 7 have said, repotting and regular watering will aid recovery.  I'd also remove some of the lower leaves which are browning to reduce the strain on the root system.  If you repot, I'd recommend using a more substantial compost than the one sold in garden centres for houseplants - such as John Innes No 3 with added grit or perlite.
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    Just thought to add that when watering, place your pot in the sink or in a bowl or bucket, water the compost thoroughly so that it runs through the drainage holes, let it drain before replacing it in the outer pot and then water again only when the top two inches of compost feel dry.  Less watering will be needed over winter but they are very thirsty plants!  I had one which still produced new leaves during winter!
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    edited August 2022
    Looks like stress to me too.   Give the pot a good dunking in a bucket till no more air bubbles appear then give ita bigger pot and good quality John Innes no 3 type compost.

    Ours has roughly teh same amount of foliage but a much bigger rootball and pot than yours.  I put ours outisde in full sun once night time temps were regularly above 10C.  I fed it and watered it all the time it was in flower and then, once flowering was over, I removed those stems and took it round the back of the house where it gets early morning sun and then again from about 4pm. 

    I keep its compost moist but not sodden, watering every 2 to 4 days depending on heatwaves.   It coped with the July heatwave - 44C in the shade - and is doing fine now in 38C in the shade.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • josephhumphreysjosephhumphreys Posts: 15
    Thank you all very much for the responses, much appreciated.
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