Bird of paradise – an exotic and unique tropical plant that derives its name from bearing bright orange flowers shaped like the head of the bird of paradise. These ornamental plants have quite the reputation for being able to elevate the beauty of your home and garden effortlessly.

But then again, a bird of paradise broken stalk can steer quite a bit of tension in you. Your bird of paradise can suffer from broken stalks for several reasons and understanding them will help you maintain your plant better.

Do not fret, let’s take a deep breath and solve the broken stalk of your plant together!

Common Problems Causing Bird of Paradise Broken Stalk and What You Can Do

1. Root Rot

Perhaps one of the most common problems affecting your bird of paradise plant is root rot and this is more serious than you think. If not treated correctly and most importantly– in timely, root rots can be fatal.

When the roots begin to rot, stalks become soggy at the base and eventually become so soft that they break.

Among several causes of root rots, two common ones are fungi and overwatering. So, how do you know what caused your bird of paradise root to rot and caused your stems to break?

You need to look out for other symptoms. Say for instance; check your roots. If they appear brownish and soft or mushy and slightly curled up, chances are that your bird of paradise is actually suffering from overwatering. That apart, also yellow leaves (like the case of Asiatic lily) and slowed down growth are all signs of root rots.

On the other hand, discolored leaves and dying stalks and branches along with the occasional growth of mushrooms growing at the base of the plant are indicators that the plant has been affected by a fungus, known as the Armillaria root rot.

Unfortunately, the latter is irreversible and usually ends in the death of the plant. In cases such, prevention is definitely the only way out.

What Can You Do?

In case of overwatering, make sure the soil is dried a bit before your next watering. While birds of paradise plants typically like water, too much can lead to waterlogging.

You can consider improving drainage by ensuring that there are sufficient holes underneath the pot. You can also add a pot saucer to be able to collect all the excess water.

You can also improve the drainage capacity of the soil by incorporating more sand, mulch, compost (be it the slug mixed one), or aged manure into the soil which would help the soil soak in the extra moisture.

For fungus attacks, as mentioned earlier, you need to sort of depend on prevention techniques. Although you can attempt to remove the disease by cutting off (like out of control rose bush) all the affected parts – including roots, leaves, limbs, and stems, this method is not quite effective. You can also use copper-based fungicides although their safety is questionable.

Instead, to keep fungus away, you can use natural fungus repellants like cinnamon, charcoal, chamomile tea, etc. Just toss in the powder of any of these and mix it well with the soil and it will save your plant from fungal infections.

2. Lack of Water

While bird of paradise plants are more sensitive to overwatering, underwatering can also set them off since they need water to provide for their excessively long leaves.

Besides, bird of paradise is accustomed to heavy watering habits since they are tropical plants and are therefore exposed to a great deal of rainfall. Thus, if they run out of water, it could be problematic.

Observe your plants – especially the leaves. If the leaves are taking on a yellowish-brown hue and are shedding off, it indicates a lack of water

Also, observe the soil. If the soil is shrinking and subsequently coming off around the edge of the pot, your plant definitely needs watering. Typically, accustomed to rainfall since they are tropical plants, and water habits.

What Can You Do?

As soon as you notice that your plant is heavily dehydrated, soak the entire pot in a big bowl of water for about 30-45 minutes. This will help water to reach the nooks and corners of the soil and the plant can finally hydrate up. Take the pot off the bowl, let the extra water drip and you can place them under the sunlight.

Now, the watering habits of a bird of paradise can be a little troublesome because you can’t let the soil become too damp at any cost and also certainly not dehydrated.  Rather, you will need to strike the right balance and water only when the top layer is dry. 

Also, remember water needs varies across bird of paradise’s life cycle so while you might have to water them every 2-3 days in growth and blooming seasons, you will have to bring it down to once every 1-2 weeks during dormant seasons.

The bottom line is that if you stick your finger into the soil and if the top 2 inches appear dry, it is time to give your poor plant some water. 

3. Lack of Sunlight

A broken stalk accompanied by your plant struggling to bloom might mean that lack of sunlight can very well be the reason. Birds of paradise are native to South Africa and are used to some epic sunlight, therefore they typically require at least six hours of direct sunlight a day to thrive.

Lack of sunlight can come in the way of making just enough food to feed the entire plant and as we have already said, they have some really long leaves that do need some great feeding.

If the plant fails to get enough sunlight, the stems start to physically grow in the direction of the sunlight. As this happens, they become weak and might end up breaking themselves.

What Can You Do?

The solution is evident – place your plant in direct sunlight. If you are growing them indoors, place them near a window that gets enough sunlight for several hours straight.

Although some would suggest getting artificial sunlight like LED, the thing is yes that could work but not better than the light of nature. We will just say it again – your bird of paradise loves sunlight, your bird of paradise needs sunlight, so give them sunlight!

4. Nutrition Deficiency

Fellow gardeners must be well acquainted with the N-P-K requirement for plants. Like other plants, the bird of paradise requires a healthy amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in the soil to grow and produce flowers.

But what happens when they are not receiving enough of these nutrients? And some other micronutrients like iron for that matter?

The answer is that insufficient nutrients can make them weak over time and it is natural for weak plants to have their stalks broken.

What Can You Do?

Bird of paradise plants needs a high amount of nutrients to grow and yield flowers. You might have to apply fertilizer every month during the growing season and summer and for three-four months during other seasons. Although you can use liquid fertilizers, some experts do would disagree.

Rather, settle for organic slow-release fertilizers – such as aged cow manure or blood meal (rich in nitrogen).

5. Too Much Nutrition

Well, as confusing as it sounds, while you are trying to properly fertilize your plant i.e citrus so that it can get enough nutrients, too much of nutrients is also bad. In fact, some plants, just like a bird of paradise are sensitive to excess nitrogen and potassium in the soil.

When there is the presence of too many nutrients in the soil, this will cause the plant to grow unnaturally fast while losing its natural strength, causing stalks to be feeble and break.

What Can You Do?

Keeping in mind the nutrition requirements of bird of paradise plants as mentioned, you can add in more soil, mulch, and compose to balance out the excess nutrition in the soil.

6. Pests

Bird of paradise plants is vulnerable to some common tropical plant pests like spider mites, mealybugs, and scale. When these sap-sucking pests feed on the plant fluid, they can inevitably become weak and as a result – stalks might break.

What Can You Do?

While you can remove these pesky pests using organic insecticides (like neem oil solution, or dishwashing soap solution) or high-pressure water, you would instead use preventive measures. Once again, spraying neem oil can keep pests away from your plant.

7. Physical Contacts

Studies show that repeated physical touch can lessen plant growth by almost 30%. Also, if several birds of paradise grow closely, there are high chances of hindering their growth due to congested space.

What Can You Do?

Plant trees maintaining the appropriate tree density. Also, avoid unnecessary touching the trees.

8. Adaption with New Environment

When birds of paradise are displaced or relocated to a new location, there are susceptible to having broken stalks. Sometimes stems may bend first and then break eventually. This happens due to adaptation to the new environment.

What Can You Do?

Be patient, and give proper time to adjust the plant to the new environment.

9. Repotting and Handling

Birds of paradise, being the giant plant they are, are susceptible to having broken stalks or damaging the leaves, when they are being repotted or being carried.

What Can You Do?

Repot or handle the birds of paradise trees carefully when they are being carried out. Make sure not to use garden soil in pots.

In case you break the steps, you will need to prune the broken part neatly and the plant shall recover itself.

What Can You Do to Fix A Broken Stalk for Bird of Paradise?

While there are ways to avoid and deal with broken stalks, what do you do when you have a broken stalker? Well, you can follow two methods to fix a broken stalk and boost its recovery time.

1. Stem Method

The first one is to attach the broken stem with plant splints like bamboo sticks or toothpicks and wrap them lightly with a soft cloth or rope. Allow the stalk to remain in the condition for at least 2 weeks.

If you notice the stalks still holding shape while retaining their natural green color, it shows that it is healing. Although not completely effective, this is an easy and vastly used technique used to treat broken stalks of bird of paradise plants.

2. Tape Method

The second way is to tape the stalks from base to tip. You need to leave it that way for some 4-6 weeks and when they appear to be healing, gently remove the tape. Although more time-consuming, still this method is usually more effective.

Tips for Caring Bird of Paradise Broken Stalk

Repotting

It is normally discouraged to repot your bird of paradise plant frequently. This is because they typically prefer more compact roots for healthy growth. That is why it is not recommended to repotting them unless they have serious drainage problems or the roots begin to grow out of the pot.

In fact, repotting every 24 months can be sufficient for maintaining a healthy bird of paradise plant.

Pruning

Bird of paradise does not usually shed leaves by themselves (unless for any specialized disease) and that only means that the big leaves take up more energy. Occasionally trimming the leaves and other parts can be refreshing for your plant.

Conclusion

Bird of paradise, a magnificent yet sensitive plant can be vulnerable to a lot of diseases and problems as you can already see. But now you know, you can not only treat your bird of paradise broken stalk but also can ensure proper healing of the plant.

Just try to understand your plants’ watering and sunlight habits and look out for fungal or pest infestations and the nutrition level of your soil, and your bird of paradise should be good to go.