From our point of view, being a mature Bird of Paradise means we have spent years establishing a vast, intricate root system perfectly suited to our current pot or patch of earth. The thought of being dug up is terrifying. Our roots are our life; they are how we drink, eat, and feel secure. A transplant is the single most stressful event we will ever experience. It is a shock to our entire system, severing our roots, disrupting our access to water and nutrients, and exposing our sensitive parts to air and light. The goal of any transplant should be to minimize this shock as much as possible.
Please do not attempt this during our dormant period or when we are flowering. The best time for this procedure is in the spring or early summer. This is when our growth hormones are most active. The increasing sunlight and warmer temperatures provide us with the energy we desperately need to regenerate lost roots and establish ourselves in a new location. Attempting a transplant in the fall or winter is a grave risk; our growth is slow, and we may not have the strength to recover before colder weather sets in, leading to severe decline or death.
Our root ball is our home and our pantry. When you approach us with a shovel, please be exceedingly careful. Our roots are thick, fleshy, and store energy, but they are also brittle and easily damaged. You must dig a wide circle around our main stem—at least 12-16 inches out for a mature plant. Dig down deeply to get as much of the root system as possible. The goal is to keep the root ball intact and minimize breakage. Severing too many large roots is a catastrophic injury from which we may not recover.
Our new home must be prepared in advance. We demand excellent drainage; sitting in waterlogged soil will cause our roots to rot, especially when we are vulnerable after the move. The new hole should be twice as wide as our root ball but only as deep. This allows our roots to spread out horizontally into loose, welcoming soil without sinking and settling too deep. The soil mix should be rich, well-aerated, and similar in composition to our previous home to reduce further shock. A mix of native soil, compost, and some perlite or sand is ideal.
After being placed in the new hole at the same depth we were growing before, the soil must be firmed gently around us. Then, we require a deep, thorough watering. This settles the soil around our roots and eliminates large air pockets. However, do not drown us. The soil should be kept consistently moist but not soggy. We will need several months of careful attention. Provide us with dappled shade or protection from intense afternoon sun for the first few weeks, as our reduced root system cannot support full transpiration. Please withhold fertilizer for at least 6-8 weeks; our burnt roots cannot handle it and it will cause more harm than good. Be patient with us; it will take a full season, or even two, to fully recover and show new growth.
