Reasons for Bird of Paradise Leaves Splitting

Before, I used to think that leaves splitting was common in Bird of Paradise plants, but then I learned it’s primarily an issue when they are kept outdoors, not indoors. Despite keeping my Bird of Paradise indoors, I noticed the leaves were still tearing. I investigated the main reasons behind this and discovered several issues the plant was facing. Today, my plant is blooming perfectly.

To help fellow plant lovers prevent Bird of Paradise leaf splitting, I’ve explained the main reasons for this issue so you can adjust the plant’s surroundings accordingly.

Quick takeaways:

• The Bird of Paradise is native to South Africa and is typically found growing in rainforest conditions.
• The bird of paradise does have large leaves which make them absorb maximum sunlight when you compete with other plants in a densely populated ecosystem. 
• Provide Bird of Paradise with perfect sunlight which is important for its survival. 
• The Bird of Paradise is a tropical evergreen plant that produces few new leaves compared to many houseplants that produce up to one new leaf each month during the growing season. 
• There is need to know it’s important because damaged leaves will not be replaced quickly and substantial leaf damage will impair the plant to absorb the light. 
• The yellowing and leaf drop are the main cause for concern and torn leaves are not always a sign for sickly plants. 
• You need to have quality to differentiate between splitting leaves caused by illness and when it’s caused naturally.

Reasons of Bird of Paradise Leaves Splitting:

The bird of paradise loves to grow in rainforest environment that grows in high winds and heavy precipitation where the leaves are prone to splitting as a protective measure. When you keep a close eye on the bird of paradise you will notice its leaves are thin when compared to the overall hardiness of the plant in which each leaf has numerous, horizontal “veins.” using these veins the plant provides nutrition and structure to the leaf.

Having the holes in the leaves of Monstera will allow the wind to pass through without harming the plant and bird of paradise leaves split along these veins for accommodating conditions which further will cause greeted damage.

If leaves get winds and rain that will eliminate the causes of bird of paradise leaves splitting. Although the leaves are fragile by nature and anything that compromises the plant’s well-being results in torning leaves.  

Now you need to learn about the main causes of bird of paradise leaves splitting and ways to prevent them:

1. Aging Leaves:

• The bird of paradise can retain the leaves for years.
• If the cells of the leaves begin to age they will become thinner and more fragile and seem to droop or lack vibrancy when compared to younger leaves. 
• In the case of Bird of Paradise is several years old in which there are no more significant issues such as breaking stems or yellowing of leaves, whereas aging of the plant does cause leaf split. 
• There is no necessary need to remove the older leaves which are more prone to splitting. In which the older leaf begins to tear so choose the leaves to be removed or plant aging and drooping occurs naturally without causing any harm to the plant. 

2. Wind Damage:

• Wind damage does not happen when the plant is kept indoors but a Bird of Paradise which moved to an outdoor area gets exposed to wind and rain which have signs of leaf splitting.
•  In this case, a Bird of Paradise leaf splitting doesn’t cause harm to the plant but it’s important to move this delicate plant inside during the storms or bouts of high wind. 
• All these conditions result in torning leaves which result in broken stems and tipped planters which cause lasting damage to a Bird of Paradise.

3. Watering Issues:

• Yes, overwatering is the main mistake and common cause of plant health issues from getting limp to yellow plants further resulting in leaf splitting.
• The potted plant becomes an easy trap in muddy soil by depriving the plant of oxygen and nutrients. 
• Here the plant will lead to plant to get in shock and damage the Bird of Paradise roots that reflect the plant’s overall health including the foliage.
• The leaves are prone to develop splits and too much watering will make the conditions worse.
• The plant when overwatered will make the damp soil, yellowing, browning, a musty smell, wilting, leaf drop, mushy and blackening stems.
• If the leaves of the bird of paradise have any of these signs will indicate overwatering. 
• Underwatering birds of paradise do impact the health and beauty of the plant leaves and without water, the leaves get prone to dehydration and make them more prone to leaf damage.
• If you underwater plants it will have dry soil which is noticeable from the sides of the container. The leaves of dry plants will get yellow as well as wrinkling. 
• All these signs will help in determining the underwatering which causes a bird of paradise leaves drooping. 

4. Lack of Humidity:

• Humidity is important for tropical plants which means moisture in the air, not the hydration which is obtained from consuming water. 
• The dry air causes the skin and eyes to feel itchy in the same way dry air has a detrimental effect on the stem and leaves of the plant resulting in thinning of the dermal tissue and will increase more damage to the plant. 
• The bird of paradise loves to grow in humidity leaves around 60% to 70% which helps the plant’s tissue to keep them glossy and resilient. 
• You can get humidity level by relocating the plant to a bright humidity space such as keeping it in the bathroom, or investing in a humidifier for the plant environment. 
• To keep the humidity level perfect purchase a hygrometer which helps to determine the humidity in the air around the bird of paradise and help you adjust accordingly.

5. Nutrient Issues:

• The overwatering done to birds of paradise will result in nutrient deficiency which results in leaves splitting. 
• The nutrient tissues do result from overuse of fertilizer mineral build up and soil depleted of nutrients. 
• To complete the nutrient deficiency I will suggest you use fertilizers in the plant’s care routine but too much fertilizer will be more poisonous than curing so it’s better to introduce the fertilizer gradually. 
• When the fertilizer is needed you need to introduce a bit of general-purpose fertilizer such as Jack’s 20-20-20 Houseplant Fertilizer but not more than once a month. 
• Just remember not to fertilize in the fall and winter because the bird of paradise does not need the supplement nutrients outside of the growing season. So, I do recommend to use diluting to 1/4 or 1/2 strength before you apply it to any houseplant. 
• Occasional use of distilled water or rainwater does provide the bird of paradise with a break from the mineral content of tap water. Here tap water usage is safe for plants Chemicals like chlorine and sodium will build up in the soil which helps to contribute to the nutrient issues. 
• Any change in the plant’s care routine will have effect after a few weeks. All this strategy will help in identifying any worse condition of leaf health issues and will make any adjustments if needed.  

6. Lighting Issues:

• If the plant comes in contact with too much unfiltered light on the leaves of the young plant it leads to leaf dehydration, insufficient light is the culprit of a leaf or stem issue. 
• The bird of paradise leaves to have at least five hours of direct sun daily.
• In most north American locations, the plant receives only four to five hours of peak sun exposure and even during the summer months most of the locations at home don’t receive adequate light for the plant. 
• When the plant doesn’t get adequate light the leaves and stems of the bird of paradise do not grow as strong and robust condition which results in bird of paradise leaves splitting. 
• In the case of finding the bird of paradise is getting less than 5 hours of direct light each day in which relocate the plant to a brighter location such as keeping the plant close to a bright south-facing window or keeping it outside on a sunny day. 
• You can opt to use a grow light for the plant to help it increase access to UV light the bird of paradise. 
• All this helps to improve the overhealth of the plant including the strength and thickness of the leaves and stems.

7. Improper Handling:

• Improper handling is the most obvious cause of the plant getting damaged and worth mentioning. 
• The bird of paradise is a large plant which grows upto 6 feet tall indoors and can grow widely. 
• To move the plant to a better location, repot the plant, open coiled leaves or prune away all the aged flowers that result in splitting leaves or damaged stems. 
• To protect the plant you need to handle it with care and make sure to keep it safe from children and pests. 
• You can use a rolling planter when the container is too large and you can ask for help from a friend or neighbor that is involved like lifting, moving, or tipping a heavy planter. All this will help to protect the bird of paradise from any injuries. 
• Use caution to open bird of paradise leaves or ideally, it’s best to open leaves on their own and avoid placing any strain on newly growing leaves which does result in immediate splits or weakness when the leaf develops. 
• When you treat the plant gently and with care, you can avoid causing common accidents that damage the plant and impact its beauty. 

Caring for Bird of Paradise:

Light and Water:

Always provide the plant with bright, indirect light to keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Adequate light and water will help to ensure the healthiest growth of the plant. 

Humidity:

The bird of paradise is a tropical plant that loves to grow in higher humidity. In case of living in a dry area use a humidifier or mist the leaves of the plant regularly.

Space to Grow:

You need to remember these plants do grow quickly quite large so make sure to give the plant space to spread the leaves and show some natural beauty. 

Wrap-Up:

Well, bird of paradise leaves splitting is an example of how the plant adapts to the natural environment. With proper care, the plant will be a stunning, healthy addition to the home which will bring a wild touch. The above-mentioned reason behind leaves splitting will help you to save the plant accordingly so make sure to read out the whole information to get familiar with the situation.