How to Propagate Bird of Paradise

You will need a clean sharp knife or pruning saw, a heavy ceramic or terracotta pot with drainage holes, well-draining potting mix, and optionally rooting hormone for cut root surfaces.

1. 1 The best time to divide is in spring when the plant is entering active growth and can recover most quickly from root disturbance.
2. 2 Water the plant thoroughly the day before to make root separation easier and reduce transplant shock.
3. 3 Remove the entire plant from its pot — for large specimens this may require two people. Lay the plant on its side and gently slide the root ball out.
4. 4 Examine the root ball and identify natural division points where clumps of stems (fans) have their own root systems. Bird of Paradise produces thick, fleshy rhizomes that connect the fans underground.
5. 5 Using a clean, sharp knife or pruning saw, cut through the rhizome to separate sections, ensuring each division has at least 3–4 fans (stems) and a substantial root mass. Divisions with fewer fans can survive but take longer to recover and bloom.
6. 6 Dust the cut surfaces with cinnamon powder or sulfur to prevent fungal infection at the wound sites.
7. 7 Plant each division in its own pot with fresh well-draining soil, at the same depth as before. Use a heavy pot — Bird of Paradise is top-heavy and can tip over in lightweight containers.
8. 8 Water thoroughly after planting and place in a warm, bright spot protected from direct sun for the first week.
9. 9 Expect some shock — leaves may droop and one or two older fans may die back — but the division should stabilize within 2–3 weeks.
10. 10 Resume normal care after 3–4 weeks, including monthly fertilizing during the growing season.

You will need fresh Bird of Paradise seeds (harvested from mature flowers or purchased), a seed-starting tray, sterile seed-starting mix, a heat mat, and a clear humidity dome or plastic wrap.

1. 1 If harvesting your own seeds, wait until the seed pod on a spent flower turns dry and brown, then crack it open to reveal the black seeds with orange tufts.
2. 2 Soak the seeds in room-temperature water for 24–48 hours to soften the hard seed coat — change the water once during soaking. Some growers also lightly nick the seed coat with a file or sandpaper (scarification) to improve water absorption.
3. 3 Fill a seed tray with moist, sterile seed-starting mix.
4. 4 Plant each seed about 1/2 inch deep and cover lightly with mix.
5. 5 Cover the tray with a clear humidity dome or plastic wrap to maintain moisture.
6. 6 Place on a heat mat set to 75–80°F (24–27°C) — warmth significantly improves germination rates.
7. 7 Keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy, and provide bright indirect light.
8. 8 Be extremely patient — germination can take anywhere from 1 to 3 months, and some seeds may take even longer.
9. 9 Once seedlings have 2–3 true leaves, transplant them into individual small pots with well-draining soil.
10. 10 Grow on in bright indirect light, watering when the top inch of soil is dry, and fertilizing monthly during spring and summer.