How to Propagate Bird of Paradise by Division? Methods and Steps Explained

  Bird of paradise, also known by another name——the flower of the bird of paradise. Its name not only sounds elegant but is also full of poetic charm, and it is not hard to imagine the noble and elegant air it possesses. It is said that when it was first introduced to Britain, people were attracted by its dignified and gorgeous bearing as soon as they saw this flower, so it was called an indescribable flower.

  In the previous article "When Does Bird of Paradise Bloom," we explained that by means of division, bird of paradise can be made to bloom all year round, so how is bird of paradise divided?

  1. Selection of the Mother Plant

  In order to cultivate more high-quality bird of paradise plants through division, we must choose a robust adult plant with many tillers, neat leaves, and no pests or diseases as the mother plant. This kind of mother plant is usually one that has grown for more than 3 years and has more than 4 bud points and no fewer than 16 leaves.

  2. Time for Division

  The time for dividing bird of paradise from the mother plant to propagate young plants should preferably be chosen during May to June. Plants propagated by division during this period are more likely to survive after potting, and the plant shape is more ornamental.

  3. Division Method

  Besides being propagated by cuttings, bird of paradise can also be propagated into young plants by division, and the division method is more commonly used. So how is bird of paradise divided? Below is an introduction to the division of bird of paradise.

  Bird of paradise mostly uses the division method in which the mother plant is not retained, that is, the entire plant is dug out for division. When digging out the plant, keep as much of the root system as possible and avoid damaging the important branches and leaves on the mother plant.

  When digging, first carefully loosen the surface soil with your hands, then remove part of the old soil clinging to the roots, and then remove the old leaves below. When the root system and the gaps between buds can be clearly distinguished, then according to the size of the plant, and while ensuring that each young plant has 2-3 bud points, appropriately choose the cutting points, and then use a sharp blade to divide the mother plant into several clumps from the junctions of these rhizomes.

  During the division process, we should minimize damage to the root system, as this is more conducive to the survival of the divided seedlings. After separating the divided seedlings from the mother plant, we need to smear the wounds with plant ash to achieve disinfection and sterilization. Next, place the divided seedlings in a cool, ventilated place to air for 3-5 hours. After that, the root system can be properly pruned; roots that have grown too long should be appropriately cut, and afterward plant ash still needs to be applied to the wounds on the root system, and finally they are potted for planting.

  We need to note that the root system of each divided seedling should have more than 3 roots, more than 8-10 leaves, and 2-3 bud points. Of course, if due to improper operation or miscalculation during division some seedlings end up with too few roots or too few side buds, in order to improve the survival rate of the seedlings, we can adopt the method of planting several seedlings together for cultivation.

  4. Care and Management

  After the divided seedlings have been potted and planted, the next step is to do a good job in care and management. This mainly involves work in the areas of light and temperature environment and water and fertilizer management; of course, the prevention and control of pests and diseases is also an important management measure. I believe that as long as everyone does a good job in care and management, the divided seedlings will surely survive smoothly and grow delightfully.