Few houseplants are as show-stopping as the popular Bird of Paradise. This plant is named for its bird-like appearance, but it’s a beautiful addition to your home even when it’s not in bloom. The flowers are widely used in floral arrangements. Find the perfect position to locate your bird of paradise plant in your home to both meet its care needs and maximize its spiritual value according to the ancient practices of Feng Shui.
- Where to Position a Bird of Paradise in the Home – The Essentials
- About Bird of Paradise Plants
- Bird of Paradise Plants and Feng Shui
- Where to Position a Bird of Paradise Plant in the Home
- Where Not to Place a Bird of Paradise in the Home
- Where to Place Bird of Paradise Plants Outdoors
- Essential Bird of Paradise Plant Care
- Where to Position a Bird of Paradise FAQs:
- The Final Word
Where to Position a Bird of Paradise in the Home – The Essentials
For optimal care, Bird of Paradise Plants thrive anywhere there is bright but indirect light and no cold drafts throughout the day. Consider the Southeastern or Eastern parts of the home to host this plant to benefit from its energy according to Feng Shui practices.
About Bird of Paradise Plants
The common name Bird of Paradise references a real-life bird, the showy members of the Paradisaeidae family. These birds have head plumage that looks just like the unique blooms this plant produces, hence the name.
The scientific name of the Bird of Paradise Plant is Strelitzia reginae. It’s related to ginger and banana plants, but it doesn’t produce any edible roots or fruit as they do. Instead, it’s a landscaping feature in warm and tropical climates or a houseplant in other parts of the world.
These plants can bloom year-round when treated with care and may produce up to 36 flowers yearly.
Aside from the iconic bloom, Bird of Paradise Plants feature large and paddle-shaped leaves that are attractive on their own. These plants are native to Southern Africa’s coastal regions, but it has been naturalized in tropical climates around the world.
In the wild, Bird of Paradise grows in massive patches that can reach a mile wide. Despite their height, these plants live in the understory of taller trees and must stay out of direct sunlight. Being packed tightly together in the wild helps keep humidity levels high around them as well.
Bird of Paradise Plants and Feng Shui
While Bird of Paradise flowers has plenty of meaning and symbolism when used in cut flower arrangements, they also offer beneficial properties around the home.
Decorating with live plants can be a great way to bring energy into the home, at least according to Feng Shui principles. Blooming plants are particularly popular for decorating when aiming to spice up parts of your life or home that have been stagnant for some time.
The practice of Feng Shui originated with ancient Chinese burial practices and guided the layout of tombs, then important official buildings, and entire settlements. Today, it’s commonly applied to the home to help balance energy in all the significant parts of life.
Thanks to their regular blooming habit, the Bird of Paradise can create positive energy when used in the right part of the home. Yet because they are also large and eye-catching, there are some parts of the home not recommended for the placement of this kind of plant.
Where to Position Bird of Paradise Plants in the Home
Finding the correct placement for a large statement plant like a Bird of Paradise begins with considering the map of the Feng Shui arrangement, also known as the Bagua.
The Bagua is aligned with the Northern direction on the compass. By using a floorplan of your home and a compass, you can lay out the Bagua and determine which room in the house is tied to which energy center.
Each cardinal direction has its own sector, and you’ll use this information to guide the placement of live plants. Live plants are considered to have wood energy in Feng Shui, especially tall and flowering plants like the Bird of Paradise.
Optimizing wood energy means placing plants in the parts of the home focused on career advancements and family relationships.
Which Rooms are Most Appropriate in the Home for Optimal Energy?
According to the Bagua of Feng Shui, the Eastern and Southeastern directions offer the best use of energy from live plants like the Bird of Paradise.
The Eastern sector rules over your career, and putting a big plant there can give you a lot of energy where you need it for promotions or increasing your earning potential.
For direct stimulation of wealth and new opportunities, try the Southeast placement.
If these directions align with the rooms listed below in the areas not to place a Bird of Paradise, try rooms like the living room, study, or family room.
Placing the Plant According to Care
Aside from the energetic considerations of practices like Feng Shui, the Bird of Paradise has some practical needs to consider when selecting a placement.
Watch out for placing this plant too close to a window, especially in the Southeastern parts of the home where direct light can be harsh in the afternoon.
While these plants need bright indirect light, they’re easily burned by any direct sunlight through a window. Keep them away from cold drafts as well.
The plant can quickly grow to six feet tall and three feet wide indoors, so ensure sufficient space for it before placing it.
Where Not to Place a Bird of Paradise in the Home
Inappropriate placement for a Bird of Paradise includes areas that are prone to cold drafts, direct sunlight, and low humidity levels.
Considering Feng Shui principles, keep large houseplants like the Bird of Paradise out of bedrooms, bathrooms, and kitchens. These places need to stay relatively calm and don’t benefit from the energy boost provided by this kind of live plant.
It’s also considered inauspicious to place a live plant in the center of the home or close to the front and back doors.
Where to Place Bird of Paradise Plants Outdoors
Bird of Paradise plants can only thrive outdoors year-round if you live in USDA zone 9 or above. In areas colder than that, they must be placed outdoors only in the summer and brought indoors before the first frost.
Keep them in shaded areas like patios or under mature trees, watching out for how the angle of light changes as the seasons pass.
Ensure the Bird of Paradise is never exposed to direct sunlight, even outdoors. These plants aren’t picky about soil, and they happily grow in either a container or in the ground.
Essential Bird of Paradise Plant Care
- Temperature Range: 55 degrees F to 90 degrees F
- Light Levels: Partial shade and indirect but bright light, avoiding direct light
- Fertilizing: Apply a balanced basic houseplant fertilizer weekly to twice a month during the summer and spring. Taper off in the fall, and don’t fertilize over the winter.
- Watering: Keep the soil moist through the summer and let the first two inches of soil dry out in the winter.
- Humidity: Average home humidity won’t hurt the plant, but regular misting is recommended during flowering to keep the parts of the bloom from sticking together as it opens.
- Soil: Any well-draining soil mix will work, and a wide range of natural in-ground soil conditions are acceptable as long as temperatures remain warm year-round.
- Pruning: Cut off dried-out plant material, including flowers, as they lose their luster. This encourages the plant to put out new leaves and flowers without risking disease from the old material.
For more, see our in-depth guide to Bird of Paradise plant care at home.
Where to Position Bird of Paradise Plants FAQs:
What room is best for a Bird of Paradise?Â
According to Feng Shui practices, rooms in the East and Southeast sectors of the home reap the most benefits from a live plant. Avoid the center of the home or bedrooms if following these principles.
How far away from the window should a Bird of Paradise be?Â
Aim for a distance of three to four feet to ensure direct light can’t fall on the plant at any point as the angle of the sun changes over the course of the year.
Can I put my Bird of Paradise in a corner?Â
Placing a plant in a corner helps boost energy levels, according to Feng Shui, and the Bird of Paradise can thrive there as long as it receives enough indirect light.
Can Bird of Paradise thrive in low-light environments?Â
While the Bird of Paradise doesn’t like direct sunlight, it still needs bright indirect light to flower. Try a plant light to give it just the right amount of light year-round.
Can Bird of Paradise tolerate drafts?Â
This plant doesn’t like drafts, especially cold ones. Keep it away from open doors, windows, and air vents in summer and winter.
Where to Position Bird of Paradise Plants – The Final Word
Growing a Bird of Paradise Plant at home requires careful attention, but it doesn’t usually mean altering your home environment very much. Consider taking advantage of this plant’s bountiful energy by following some basic Feng Shui principles when choosing where to place it. You just might notice a difference after bringing one of these houseplants into your living room or study.
If you’re looking for your next Bird of Paradise to add to your collection, see our in-depth guide to the best plant shops delivering Bird of Paradise plants nationwide.
Andrew is the Editorial Director at Petal Republic. He holds a BSc degree in Plant Sciences and has trained professionally at leading floristry schools in London and Paris. In amongst overseeing a global editorial team, Andrew's a passionate content creator around all things flowers, floral design, gardening, and houseplants.
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