This Soil Formula Will Supercharge Your Bird of Paradise—No Fancy Tools Required

For optimal growth, a Bird of Paradise plant (Strelitzia) will grow best in a slightly acidic to neutral potting mix between pH 5.5 to 7.0. In my experience, the soil mix should hold some water and allow for aeration and drainage. To make your own mix, I combine two parts peat moss, one part perlite, one park bark fines, and one part compost. In this guide, I’ll take you through everything you need to know about the best soil mix for thriving Bird of Paradise plants at home.

The Importance of Well-Draining Soil for Bird of Paradise Plants

Bird of paradise plants prefer moist soil, but they don’t like sitting in wet soil. Therefore, proper drainage is crucial.

If you use poorly draining soil, your plants may develop a fungal issue known as root rot. This can lead to poor plant health and eventually death.

Materials such as perlite, sand, and pumice improve drainage. Mix these materials with peat moss or coco coir for a well-balanced soil mix.

The Ultimate Bird of Paradise Potting Mix Home Recipe

When you make a potting mix for your bird of paradise, your goal is to balance water holding with drainage. The mix should also hold nutrients and allow for aeration.

To make a mix at home, I thoroughly combine the following:

• two parts peat moss or coco coir
• one part perlite
• one part pine bark fines
• one part aged compost

Mix in a bit of water until the soil feels moist but not wet. At this point, you’re ready to plant!

If you don’t want to make your own potting soil, you can buy pre-mixed soil. Since potting soils greatly vary, it’s best to go with a houseplant blend that offers excellent moisture retention, good aeration, and plenty of nutrients.

Why Soil Choice Matters 

Soil provides plants with everything they need, from an anchoring foundation to water, air, and food in the form of nutrients. Minerals such as copper, calcium, nitrogen, and potassium are all key to plant health, and they’re all delivered through the soil. 

A proper soil base will:

• provide a space for plant roots to anchor
• allow plants to complete gas exchange
• hold nutrients until plants can absorb them
• provide a habitat for beneficial microorganisms
• hold water

As you might expect, soils can vary quite a bit. This is true for both naturally occurring soils as well as manufactured potting mixes.

When you look at natural soil, you’ll see it’s broken down into three primary particles: sand, silt, and clay. Sand is the largest, followed by silt and then clay.

The combination of these particles impacts soil texture. Scientists use this texture to classify soils. 

Sandy soils are well-draining and well-aerated, but they often have a difficult time holding nutrients and water.

Silty soils balance water-holding and drainage.

Clay soils are great at holding water and nutrients, but they may suffer from drainage issues.

Loamy soils combine sand, silt, and clay to form a well-balanced soil.

Along with these inorganic particles, many soils contain organic matter. This material is made from previously living organisms such as leaves and roots.

Organic matter can improve the water-holding capacity of sandy soils and also improve the drainage of clay soils. It also increases nutrient-holding capacity and provides a home for beneficial microbes.

Common Signs You’re Using the Wrong Soil Mix for Bird of Paradise Plants

Yellowing Leaves

If you notice your plant’s leaves are turning yellow, wet soil may be to blame. While overwatering is a possible cause, so is improper soil.

Soils rich in clay and organic matter can experience issues with drainage. As the roots of a bird of paradise plant sit in wet soils, they essentially begin to drown. Therefore, they have difficulty taking up the nutrients and air they need.

Compacted soils can also lead to issues with drainage and, therefore, yellowing leaves.

If you notice yellow leaves, check your plant’s soil. If excess water isn’t running out the bottom of your pot, you’ll need to use potting soil with better drainage.

Wilting Leaves

Wilting leaves are another sign that you might be using the wrong type of potting soil. While you may think wilting leaves indicate dry soil, they can also be a sign of too wet soil.

If soil contains too much perlite, sand, rocks, etc., it won’t hold much water. Therefore, a bird of paradise plant might not take up enough water, resulting in wilting leaves.

Soil that is too damp can cause plants to rot, which prohibits water uptake. Over time, leaves begin to wilt.

Fortunately, it’s easy to tell if your soil is too dry or too wet. A few days after you water your plant, stick a finger in the soil. 

If it’s still saturated, replace your soil with a mix that drains better. If it’s super dry, swap your soil out of one that holds a bit more water.

Wrap Up

Now that you know how to choose the proper soil for your bird of paradise plant, you can watch your plant grow into a lush, tropical specimen. Remember to choose a well-draining mix that can also hold a bit of water.