Bird Of Paradise Temperature Tolerance (How Much Cold Can It Tolerate)

The bird of paradise is a tropical plant that thrives both indoors and outdoors. But before you get it for your space, you should know how much temperature this plant can tolerate. Let’s find out.

In general, The bird of paradise can tolerate temperatures as low as 24°F, but that’s only for a short while. The ideal range for the bird of paradise plant is 65-85°F during the daytime and 55-65°F at night. Try to move the plant indoors or into a greenhouse during winter to avoid cold damage.

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If the temperatures drop as low as 24°F, keep your bird of paradise indoors, mulch the soil, reduce fertilization and watering, and maintain ideal temperature and humidity during the winter. Do not let the temperature fall below 60°F.

In this article, you will learn about the temperature tolerance of the bird of paradise plant. I will also discuss how to treat and prevent frost damage in your plant. So keep reading.

Understanding the bird of paradise plant and its ideal climate conditions

The bird of paradise plants is known for their large attractive leaves and spiky flowers.

They are native to South Africa and are closely related to the banana family.

In their native place, the conditions are warm and humid, with frequent rains and short winters.

In the wild, they can survive temperatures up to 100°F.

However, their temperature tolerance level will differ when grown as a houseplant.

As a houseplant, they will not be able to tolerate temperatures below 60°F.

So during the winter, you will need to bring the bird of paradise plant indoors (if it is placed outdoors) and provide them with plenty of sunlight.

What is the suitable temperature range for a bird of paradise?

The bird of paradise is a tropical plant that grows best in warm and humid conditions.

They are hardy and can survive low-temperature conditions but are not immune to frost damage.

The cold temperatures can damage their thin, broad leaves and kill the plant’s roots.

The ideal temperature for a bird of paradise plant is 65-85°F or warmer during the daytime and 55-65°F during the nighttime.

Although the plant can withstand low temperatures, it won’t survive long.

What are the effects of extreme temperatures on bird of paradise growth and health?

The bird of paradise plant can survive temperatures as low as 24°F.

The plant will undergo great damage if the temperature falls below this range.

Here are some effects of extreme temperatures on the bird of paradise:

1. Stunted growth

A frostbitten bird of paradise plant will continue to grow new leaves in the spring.

However, these leaves will be very small.

The plant will take many seasons to grow back its large, glossy leaves again.

During the plant’s recovery process, you must provide it with dilute liquid fertilizer to fasten its growth rate.

2. Root rot

If the roots of the plants are frost damaged, they will become a breeding ground for various fungi, viruses, and bacteria.

When the soil freezes, the roots don’t get the air to breathe, due to which it starts to rot.

You will need to monitor the plant regularly if there’s frost damage.

The plant might still be vulnerable even if you have pruned the damaged roots.

So, you will need to execute each cure step carefully for the plant’s successful recovery.

Also read: How To Save My Bird Of Paradise From Root Rot?

3. The plant will stop blooming

The bird of paradise plants is tricky with their flowering.

They will only flower if they get the ideal growing condition.

When they are frost-damaged, they won’t bloom.

How much cold can a bird of paradise tolerate?

The bird of paradise can’t tolerate frost very well, and even a slight freeze can damage the leaves and flowers of the plant.

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A prolonged cold condition will kill the roots of the plants.

Knowing the plant’s temperature tolerance will help you protect it from extreme conditions.

The leaves and flowers will get damaged if the temperature falls below freezing.

The plant will die if the temperature level falls below 24°F.

How to protect bird of paradise plants from cold weather?

Here are the steps you can follow to protect your bird of paradise from cold weather.

1. Bring your potted bird of paradise plant inside

If your bird of paradise is outside, bring it inside to protect it from cold damage as soon as the winter season arrives.

You can use a thermostat to check the temperatures around the plant.

2. Provide your bird of paradise plant with a protective surrounding outside

If you live in hardiness zones 9 and 10, you can keep the plant outside in a few particular locations.

For instance, you can keep your plant on east facing terrace and porch, which remains warm most of the time.

You can grow the plant near structures and wall that retains heat to protect them from cold winds.

Also, growing the plant in a thick pot will protect it from overnight cold damage.

3. Keep a check on your plant’s growing surrounding for cold

You will need to check the plant’s environment, as even some indoor locations can be too cold.

For example, if the bird of paradise is placed in a shop, institute, or even our homes, we might turn off all the devices when we go out.

And that creates a temperature change, which might become too cold for your bird of paradise.

4. Try to maintain a warm and humid environment around your plant

In an indoor environment, we can use heating devices to create a warm environment that suits the bird of paradise.

But when outside our house, the conditions are not in our control.

This is why you should bring the plant indoors if the outside conditions become unfavorable.

But, even indoors, do not expose the plant to the air from the AC, keep it away from heating devices, and do not keep it near frequently opened and closed doors and windows.

Also read: Do Bird Of Paradise Like Misting?

What are the signs of cold stress in bird of paradise?

The cold stress in a bird of paradise plant will freeze the cells and tissues, causing huge damage to the plant.

The signs of cold stress in a bird of paradise plant are:

1. The stem and trunk of the plan will freeze.
2. There will be mild winter burns on the leaves.
3. There will be a sudden color change in the leaf. The tips will turn brownish yellow, and later the leaves will get large dark brown blotches.
4. Some leaves will die and start falling from the plant.
5. The plant’s stem will turn brown or black blotchy, limp, and soft spots in the trunk. The stem will feel soft and spongy when pressed.
6. The plant can also suffer from fatal injury.
7. The leaves will start to tatter at a rapid rate. The frost-damaged leaves will get numerous small holes and splits.
8. The frost-damaged leaves will become soft and soggy. The formation of ice crystals in the tissues makes the leaves soft and wet.

What is the impact of temperature fluctuations on birds of paradise blooming?

The bird of paradise will only produce flowers when it gets the most suitable growing conditions.

But if the plant is affected by frost, it will not flower until it recovers.

The plant will first heal the leaves before focusing on flowering.

So, you will provide the plant with the best care and maintenance for quick recovery.

Once the plant recovers from the frost damage, it will start blooming again.

How to treat a frost-damaged bird of paradise plant?

You can treat a frost-damaged plant by following the steps given below:

1. Move your frost-damaged plant to a warmer place in your house.
2. Inspect the plant carefully for damaged parts.
3. Prune the damaged leaves of your plant with sterilized and sharp garden shears.
4. Remove the damaged flower buds.
5. Check the roots for any frost damage. If the roots appear mushy, soft, and black, you must prune them, leaving behind healthy leaves.
6. Repot the plant in a new, large container.
7. Add a dilute dose of balanced liquid fertilizer to the soil.
8. Keep the plant in a bright and humid location. Take good care of it and wait for its recovery.

Tips for maintaining optimal temperatures for a bird of paradise

Before growing a bird of paradise plant, consider the location’s soil texture, growing season, and freezing conditions.

1. Keep your plant in a sunny and sheltered location

You can prevent freeze injury by keeping your bird of paradise in a sunny and sheltered location.

For example, you can keep your plant with another to form a protective barrier against cold winds.

You can also keep them near a structure or wall that will block entry of the cold air.

Also read: How Much Light Does A Bird Of Paradise Need?

2. Create a microclimate

You can create a micro-climate that will extend your plant’s growing season and prevent the risk of frost damage.

You can create a mini-greenhouse and keep the bird of paradise inside this.

3. Mulch the soil

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Mulch the soil of your bird of paradise during the winter season to protect the roots from freezing.

You can use bark, dried leaves, cardboard, etc., to mulch the soil.

Also read: What Soil Should I Use For Bird Of Paradise?

Importance of microclimates for planting birds of paradise

A microclimate is a particular place within a climatic zone where temperatures differ from the overall zone.

For example, if you live in a microclimatic zone, the place’s temperature is way cooler than the other areas of your zone.

Many other factors, like fences, grounds, ponds, etc., can also lead to the formation of a microclimate.

The microclimate has a huge role in determining the growing environment for your bird of paradise plant.

The micro-climate for a bird of paradise plant should provide them full sun, moist soil, and humid conditions.

You can prepare a micro-climate for a bird of paradise plant for better growth.

You can prepare a rock garden in a dry, sunny place.

The rocks will absorb the heat during the daytime and release it at night.

They will also block the cold winds.

Since the bird of paradise plants are frost-tender plants, you can increase their growing season by planting them on the south side of your house.

The sun and the shelter from the building will create a microclimate for your plant.

How to winterize bird of paradise plants?

If you live in an area where the temperature continuously drops below freezing level, you can do the following to winterize your bird of paradise plant.

1. Keep your plant in a bright sunny place

You can grow your bird of paradise in a pot and keep it indoors during the winter months.

Select a spot that is warm and which can protect your plant from cold winter nights.

Keep the plant in a bright, sunny place where it can get the maximum sunlight during the wintertime.

2. Avoid fertilizing the plant

Avoid fertilizing the plant during winter as the plant remains dormant and doesn’t require fertilizers for growth.

Also, avoid fertilizing the plant during fall, as it can cause the plant growth spurt, which will make it more vulnerable to cold damage.

3. Mulch your plant

Mulching will provide the plant protection against the cold.

Also, mulching will help to increase the drainage of the soil.

You can prepare a mulch by using pine straws and wood chips.

Avoid adding compost as it will retain a lot of moisture that can harm the plant.

Adding 2 to 3 inches of organic mulch will protect the plant from freezing at the root zone.

4. Reduce watering

Reduce watering your plant during winter.

Since the plant remains dormant, it needs very little watering.

So, you should water the plant only when the soil feels dry.

Avoid watering if there’s rain.

5. Cover your plant with a burlap

The burlap should be large enough to cover the entire plant.

Extend the burlap to the ground and fix it with stones to keep it in position.

Keep the burlap a little loose to prevent the breakage of the plant’s stem.

Reference: Wikipedia.

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