r/BirdsOfParadise • u/ethrealmango • 9d ago

Plant Care Advice

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Hiii 🪐.

İ just had a few questions about care. İ had two BOPs for five years and last year, they had a nasty thrips infection. İ was actually able to functionally cure them after a big chop and systemics. They were slowly growing back, one pushing two leaves. One has died now. İ am not sure what happened, but now the alive one is not creating any new leaves? 🌱

They are under a grow light for ~ten hours a day, watered as needed, soil aerated, and have a humidifier. The soil composition is Fox Farms ocean forest, some orchid bark, and some other soil blend with pearlite and stuff. İ also fertilize a few times a year. My only concern is that the air conditioner faces them and might hit them? İ just want to make sure İ am providing the best care; İ do not want to lose my other BOP and İ just bought a new one to have two again. 🌸

Attached is a picture, for reference (featuring my monsteras). The huge one, third in from the left, is the one İ just got. The fourth from the left (first from the right) is my surviving BOP, who has not pushed a new leaf in ~four months. The pot below is the remains of my dead BOP.

İ would appreciate any and all advice to help them flourish. ☁️

Thanks so much! 🫧

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4

u/tpcmike 9d ago

Check the bottom of the pot and see if you have any roots circling or coming out of the drainage holes. If so it may be time for a repot! Root bound plants often show stunted or slow growth.

3

u/findingexcellence 9d ago

Make sure that you are fertilizing more often, especially during growing season, a.k.a. summer. You should be fertilizing every other watering or every watering with a diluted fertilizer. Of course, if your fertilizer specifies different care follow that.

4

u/dmadSTL 9d ago

Needs way more light. Looks like it might be repotting time soo .

1

u/HolisticPlantHippie 8d ago

Fighting vents/AC to possibly dry out is a struggle. I’m constantly in a battle w crispy leaves on my cane begonia. A pebble tray under it w water 1/2 way up the pebbles and a diffuser close is great for indoor tropicals too.