Bird of paradise care in Dubai: light, water and torn leaves

Bird of paradise (Strelitzia) needs the brightest spot in your home, water when the top 5 cm of soil is dry (about every 7 days in a Dubai summer, every 10 to 14 days in winter), and a big pot. Its leaves tear naturally, and indoor plants rarely flower.

Key takeaways

• Give it bright light, including some direct sun if possible. Low light stops growth.
• Water when the top 5 cm is dry: about weekly in summer and every 10 to 14 days in winter, under AC.
• Split leaves are normal, especially on the white bird of paradise. Wind, handling and low humidity make them worse.
• Keep it out of direct cold airflow and wipe the large leaves.
• It grows tall. Plan for ceiling height and a heavy pot.

Which bird of paradise do you have?

Two types are common. Strelitzia nicolai, the white bird of paradise, grows tall with banana-like leaves and is the one usually sold as a floor plant. Strelitzia reginae, the orange bird of paradise, is smaller with leaves on long stalks. Care is the same for both, with nicolai needing more space. We list the Bird of Paradise in our shop. Check the product page for size and details.

How much light does a bird of paradise need indoors?

This plant is a sun lover. Put it in the brightest room you have, ideally within a metre or so of a large window. Several hours of direct morning sun are good for it. In Dubai, strong afternoon sun through glass can scorch the leaves in summer, so filter light on west and south windows with a sheer curtain.

Low light is the usual reason a bird of paradise stalls. Growth slows, new leaves come out small and the plant leans. Rotate the pot a quarter turn every week or two.

How often should you water a bird of paradise in a Dubai summer?

It's a thirsty plant in the growing season. Water thoroughly when the top 5 cm of soil is dry, until water runs out of the drainage holes. In a bright air-conditioned room in summer that is about once a week. Empty the saucer afterwards. A big plant in a bright spot may need water more often than a small plant in a dim corner.

Drooping or curling leaves can mean thirst, and yellow leaves with wet soil mean too much water.

And in winter, from November to March?

Every 10 to 14 days is typical, with longer gaps in cool rooms. A plant on a balcony or sunny terrace dries faster on warm, breezy days, so check it more often.

What does AC do to a bird of paradise?

Dry air makes leaf edges brown and crisp. Cold air straight from a vent can cause leaves to curl, brown or drop. Keep the plant out of the direct airflow. Grouping plants, a pebble tray with water below the top of the pebbles or a small humidifier gives some help. Misting gives only a few minutes of extra moisture.

Why do the leaves split?

Bird of paradise leaves have natural lines along which they tear. Wind, air conditioning, brushing past the plant and low humidity all speed this up. Splits don't harm the plant. They're mostly cosmetic. You can trim badly torn or brown parts with clean scissors, following the shape of the leaf. Keeping the plant out of foot traffic and airflow helps.

What soil, pot and repotting does it need?

Use a rich but well-draining potting mix with perlite or bark. The pot needs drainage holes and should be heavy and stable, because the plant gets top-heavy. Bird of paradise roots are thick and fleshy. Repot every 2 to 3 years, in spring or summer, into a pot 5 cm or so wider, or when roots crowd the pot or push up out of the soil. Large plants are hard to handle, so our plant repotting service can take care of that.

How big does it get indoors?

White bird of paradise (nicolai) commonly reaches around 2 to 3 m indoors, depending on ceiling height, and spreads wide. The orange type (reginae) stays at roughly 1 to 1.5 m. Both grow faster in bright light and slow in winter.

Will it flower indoors?

Rarely. Flowering needs plenty of bright light, a mature plant and some patience, often several years. Don't worry if yours produces only leaves.

Why are my bird of paradise's leaves yellow, brown or curling?

• Yellow lower leaves: normal ageing if only the oldest, or overwatering if many.
• Brown, crisp edges: dry air, vents or salt build-up. Flush the pot every few months.
• Curling leaves: thirst, dry air or cold airflow.
• Brown patches with a yellow halo: overwatering or a fungal spot.
• Bleached, papery patches: direct sun through glass in summer.
• Small new leaves: too little light.

Which pests affect bird of paradise?

Spider mites are common on indoor plants in dry air, with scale and mealybugs also possible. Mites show as fine speckles and webbing under the leaf. Scale looks like small brown bumps on stems. Mealybugs are white cottony tufts in leaf bases. Wipe both sides of the leaves with a damp cloth, which also removes Dubai dust. Dab scale and mealybugs with a cotton bud dipped in rubbing alcohol, and repeat weekly. For large plants in lobbies, see our plant maintenance, quoted after a free site visit.

For other big-leaved plants, read our monstera care guide. Or browse the indoor plants range.

Reviewed by Hamza, site supervisor at Green Beetle.