My Birds of Paradise are Suffering...Can't be Paradise

[DeborahJane]

Last year I saw a cockatoo attacking (well maybe chewing on, lets not exaggerate) the closed buds on my Bird of Paradise and when it finally bloomed it was quite disfigured....which meant a very unflattering hairdo This year I tried to preempt this by turning the pot away from the railing (where the blighter sits to attack, well chew!) I also placed some grids around them to protect them. (Can't stop the bold print now) but 2 buds are marked whilst the one in the other pot next to it is fine. I didn't see an attack or snack so I don't know if I can hold the cockies responsible or if it is a problem with potted Birds of Paradise. Has anybone seen this before? I'd appreciate your help.

 

[Chuck]

I don't know if this could be your problem or not but here in Texas thrips do damage like this to roses. They only attack the buds, go inside them and then disfigure the blooms. The only way to find out is to sacrifice one of the unopened buds. Open up the bud and shake it over a sheet of paper. If you see a bunch of almost microscopic specks it's thrips insect. And if it is thrips the only thing you can do is apply a systemic insecticide to the plant and drench the soil with the appropriate remedy in your area for thrips. Here it would be spinosad.

 

[alp]

This might or might not be relevant

Other Diseases of Birds of Paradise
Birds of Paradise can contract other fungal diseases including Botrytis blight and Armillaria root rot. Botrytis blight causes leaves and shoots to discolor, wilt, decay and drop, and buds to rot. Flowers become spotted and discolored. High humidity makes the disease worse. To prevent Botrytis, prune off dying tissue and thin the plant’s canopy for improved air circulation. To further improve air circulation, remove debris and weeds from around the plant. Although normally associated with trees, Armillaria root rot can target Birds of Paradise as well. Leaves become undersized and discolored, eventually dropping off. Clusters of mushrooms may be present at the base of the plant. In time, the plant dies.

And this

Pests
Several insect feed on the leaves, stems and buds of bird-of-paradise, causing discoloration, deformed growth and possibly serious injury to the plant. According to the University of Hawaii, bird-of-paradise does not have many significant insect pests, but common parasites like mealybugs, scales and aphids can cause problems. Scales are a common threat to many ornamental and fruit-producing plant species in the United States. These tiny insects remain stationery on the foliage, stems and bark of their host for long periods of time. Scales and mealybugs both drain sap from the bird-of-paradise plant, causing new growth to turn brown or even wilt and die.

See if you can look at the brown bits with a magnifying glass. I grow them myself. I don't have this problem.

 

[DeborahJane]

Thanks alp. Have checked put with a magnifying glass and can't make out any bugs, no mushrooms at the base. Maybe it was the cockies again

r

 

[alp]

You could contact specialist sellers of these plants and ask them by sending photos and just phoning. I am sure they know. Last time this happened to me was when I left them outside to the chill and frost for days when I had my lean to rebuilt. The buds rotted inside, but I am pretty sure it was due to extreme in heat, frost and drought.

Usually, Bird of paradise can take a lot of abuse.

It's so sad as this means you won't see your beautiful blooms this year. I am praying for this year's bloom too. At the moment, they are in my workshop .. to overwinter.

 

[DrCase]

Are you feeding the plant each month ?
If it's growing good it should out run what ever is holding it back .

 

[Greenhorn]

That is quite a small one, what type is it? Is it a container variety? How big is the container? Usually BoP are so sturdy. Mine has been here ever since we moved in (it was pretty much full grown when we moved in) and I've never done anything to it and it does pretty well. We have had drought conditions and it gets only minimal water, do you water it much? How long have you had it, how long in the pot? From the pictures it looks like it's in pot with other plants? It looks quite crowded. What if anything has changed?

 

[alp]

The leaves look reasonably healthy.. They should be pot bound as like Stretopcarpus and agapanthus, they like to be contained in a relatively small sized pot i.e. pot bound.. I would phone a nursery which sells this to ask the supplier for advice.

 

[DeborahJane]

Are you feeding the plant each month ?
If it's growing good it should out run what ever is holding it back .

I haven't fed them DrCase. The one in the pot next to it is doing fine so I'm thinking if it was being attacked by a bug then they should have got that one as well. I will feed them though, thanks for your help.

 

[DeborahJane]

Thanks Greenhorn. It is crowded, same as ithe pot next to it and that one is growing well. IThey're out in the open so get the weather, lots of rain but the hot weather has just started so I will water but not too often.

 

[DrCase]

The more I look at the buds it could be bite marks from the bird .
I know how bright the buds get as they come up , your bird might think it's a fruit that needs picking

 

[DeborahJane]

The bbbbbbbb....bl bl bl...dy... bird did do it!! I actually saw the cockatoo do this. I ran out shouting but it was too late. So

another one bits the dust, flower that is, not the cockie even though I was really mad.

 

[alp]

!

How sad! One year's flowers totally gone. Bird of paradise can take a lot of abuse and they like it crowded or pot bound. You might need to fashion a protective cage to next year's joy! You could take the pot indoors somewhere bright and warm. I wonder if they rebloom in Australia. They certainly don't do that here.

 

[SunshineAndSoil]

Ooooooh, you have wild cockatoos? That is sooooooo cool! It's a shame that it ruined the flowerbeds, though.

 

[DeborahJane]

I see them everyday SunshineAndOil. They are magnificent, cheeky, destructive but magnificent. I recently had to move a seat I had against the window because one was sitting on the back of it gnawing at the wood around the window.