How to Transplant a Root-Bound Bird of Paradise

The bird of paradise resembles a bird in flight.

The flower of the bird of paradise plant, a native of South Africa, resembles a colorful bird in flight. Sometimes called the crane flower, the plant has leaves about 6 inches wide and 18 inches long. When grown outdoors, bird of paradise grows to 3 to 5 feet tall. Depending on the size of the containers, plants grown indoors, beside a swimming pool or on a sunny porch typically don't grow that tall. Transplanting or dividing a root-bound plant is a relatively easy, but messy, process.

Things You'll Need

• Flowerpot
• Pebbles or potsherds
• Potting soil
• Loam
• Peat moss
• Vermiculite
• Knife

Instructions

1. Prepare the new container. Scatter pebbles or potsherds from a broken ceramic or clay pot inside a pot to aid drainage. Choose a pot that's one size larger than the pot the bird of paradise is in. Fill the pot half-full with potting soil, or make your own growing medium with 1 part loam, 1 part peat moss and 1 part vermiculite. Add a slow-release, balanced fertilizer like 14-14-14.

2. Remove the bird of paradise from the pot. If the plant is small, spread your palm out over the dirt in the pot and slip your fingers around the stem of the plant. Turn the pot over and gently tug on the stem with your fingers until the plant slides out. If the plant doesn't slide out easily, run a knife around the edge of the dirt and try again. For a larger plant, run the knife around the edge of the dirt and set the pot on its side. Gently pull the plant out of the pot.

3. Divide the plant if it has more than one stem. This step is optional, but it will create two plants from one and the new plants will be slower to outgrow their pots. Work your fingers into the root ball and gently tug the two stems apart. This is best done in the late spring or early summer.

4. Set the bird of paradise in the new container. Make sure the remaining root ball sits at least an inch below the lip of the container. Use your palms or knuckles to press the plant into place and then fill the pot with potting soil or the medium you mixed. Press the new potting soil down and water the plant.

Tips & Warnings

• Plants grown in the garden typically don't become root bound, but if the plants start to crowd each other, divide them as in Step 3 and replant at the same depth.

• Water bird of paradise regularly, but don't allow the soil to remain soggy. Underwatered or soggy plants develop yellow leaves.

• Make sure the new pot has holes in the bottom for drainage.

References

• University of Florida Extension: Bird-of-Paradise; Sydney Park Brown et al.; 2009
• West Virginia University: Container Gardening; John W. Jett