Birds of Paradise

Bring a little bit of paradise into your home. Large, glossy leaves and bright spiky flowers that resemble tropical birds in flight.

A close relative of the banana plant, this beauty will give a strong island vibe to your home or office. They’ll tolerate a dim room, but prefer to bask in a sunny window.

If you have a yard or balcony, they will happily live outdoors for the summer, but be sure to welcome them back inside when the weather dips below 10 degrees Celsius overnight.

 how this nature nurtures you 

They have a sturdy and comforting presence, and are a good choice for quiet spaces, as they’ll help absorb sound. Also it's an excellent sleeping buddy, releasing their oxygen at night.

These plants have adapted to strong winds in their native habitat with slits along their leaf seams. This allows the wind to pass through, rather than tearing their leaves. This reminds us that resistance is often futile, and we benefit from adaptation.

 how to nurture your nature 

ORIGIN South Africa

WATER Water every 1-2 weeks, letting soil dry in between.

LIGHT Prefers bright light, but can tolerate low light.

TEMPERATURE Likes daytime temps of 20-25 degrees celsius and nighttime temps of 13-15 degrees celsius

HUMIDITY Loves humidity. To raise humidity levels you can group with other plants, pamper by misting, use a pebble tray or position a humidifier nearby.

TOXICITY Mildly toxic- will cause irritation to pets and humans if consumed.

FERTILIZER Feed every month in the spring and summer with an all purpose fertilizer.  Apply to damp soil so you don't burn the roots.

OTHER NICE-TO-KNOWS An important plant in the Feng Shui tradition, symbolizing freedom and joy. Here's a great informative 5-minute video on loving your bird of paradise: