Bird of paradise, that flower, you know, the one that looks like a bird, it’s a real pretty thing. But, you gotta have the right dirt, or it ain’t gonna grow right. I tell ya, I’ve seen a lot of folks mess this up. This article is about the bird of paradise soil mix.
What’s the best dirt for bird of paradise?
Now, this bird of paradise, it likes dirt that drains good. Don’t want no soggy roots, no sir! That’s where you get those little bugs. You gotta make sure the water goes through, not just sit there like a puddle in the road after a rainstorm. So many people use regular garden soil. It’s bad for bird of paradise.
You want something called potting soil. But not just any potting soil. Some of them got too much of that black stuff, you know, the stuff that holds the water. We call that peat. You need some, but not too much. Then there’s this white stuff, looks like little rocks, they call it perlite. That helps with the draining, see? You can use sand, too, the coarse kind, not that fine stuff you find at the beach. It is the most economical way.
Mixing the dirt, the right way
So, how do you mix this stuff up? Well, you don’t just throw it all in a bucket and call it a day. There’s a way to do it. Soil Sunrise Bird of Paradise Potting Soil is good. But you can make your own.
- First, you get some of that compost. That’s the good stuff, the rotted food and leaves, you know? You need two big handfuls of that.
- Then, you get some regular dirt, what they call topsoil. Two handfuls of that, too.
- And then, one handful of that coarse sand.
Mix it all up good, like you’re making a big old mud pie. But don’t pack it down too tight. Remember, you want it to drain.
Some folks, they like to use something called peat-free loam-based compost. That’s a fancy way of saying dirt with no peat. It’s good, too. They say, use John Innes No. 3, I think that’s what they call it. You can add some grit to that, makes it drain even better.
Other dirt mixes, if you’re feeling fancy
Now, if you’re one of those folks who likes to get all fancy, there’s other ways to mix the dirt. Some people use garden soil, but you gotta be careful with that. Too much, and your bird of paradise ain’t gonna be happy.
They say, 70% garden soil and 30% of that organic matter, that’s the compost and stuff. That’s good for trees and bushes and other plants. But for bird of paradise, I don’t know. Seems like a lot of work to me.
If your garden soil is heavy, like that clay we got around here, you gotta use less. Maybe 60% garden soil, and then some of that sharp sand or grit. It’s all about the draining, see? You can also add some perlite.
Putting it all in the pot
Now, when you put your bird of paradise in the pot, don’t go getting a big old pot. Just a little bigger than the roots, that’s all you need. Too big, and the dirt stays wet too long. That’s no good. This step is also important for bird of paradise soil mix.
Put some of your dirt mix in the bottom, then put your plant in, and fill it up around the sides. Don’t pack it down too hard, now. Just enough so it stands up straight. Then, you gotta water it. But not too much! Just enough to get the dirt wet. Then, put it in the sunshine but not direct sunlight.
Keeping that bird happy
Once you got your bird of paradise all potted up, you gotta take care of it. Don’t let it dry out completely, but don’t keep it wet all the time either. It’s a fine line, I tell ya. You will need to use the right bird of paradise soil mix.
And every now and then, you gotta give it some food. They make special food for these plants, you know. Comes in a little bottle. You just mix it with the water. Easy peasy. If you use enough compost, you don’t need to do this step.
So there you have it. That’s how you make the right dirt for your bird of paradise. It ain’t rocket science, but it ain’t just throwing dirt in a pot either. You gotta do it right, or your plant ain’t gonna be happy. And a happy plant is a pretty plant. And who doesn’t like pretty plants?
