please help ID
what is this plant, it’s turning brown. it’s in a 3 seasons room hasn’t been exposed to frost. daughter bought it at Ikea 3 months ago
Hi Eric,
Your plant is a Strelitzia or White Bird of Paradise Plant.
A Bird of Paradise Plant is a slow growing plant with large paddle- shaped leaves that resemble those of a Banana Plant. Even indoors, a Bird of Paradise Plant can easily reach a height of 6ft.-7ft. This plant has no stem and the leaves, sometimes 3ft or more in length, emerge from a central frond. After about 4 or 5 years, a Bird of Paradise Plant(Strelitzia Reginae) may, on very, very rare occasions, produce an exotic orange/red flower that resembles the head of a crane. The Strelizia Nicolai or White Bird of Paradise will produce a blue/white version of this flower. Flower production is much more frequent when a Bird of Paradise Plant is used as an outdoor plant.
Browning on the leaves is usually caused by too much fertilizer or too many chemicals in the water you are using. Feed a Bird of Paradise Plant monthly in the spring and summer when it is actively growing with a good basic houseplant fertilizer at 1/2 the recommended strength. Never fertilize a Bird of Paradise Plant in the fall and winter. Excess food in the soil deposits salts that burn the leaves. If the water you are using contains fluoride or chlorine let it sit out over night before using it so the chemicals can evaporate. Never use water that has passed through softener, it has too much salt and it too will burn plant leaves.
A Bird of Paradise Plant requires very bright indirect light. You may have to move your plant to different areas as the seasons change in order to give it adequate light. Placing a Bird of Paradise Plant close to a south- facing window is always best.
In the spring and summer the soil of a Bird of Paradise Plant should be moist but never soggy. This plant needs less water in the fall and winter. Water a Bird of Paradise Plant from the bottom so the soil does not become too compact and remains well aerated. Again, water that has a high salt content burns the leaves.
You can read more about a Bird of Paradise Plant in the Popular Houseplant section of the website.
https://www.houseplant411.com/houseplant/bird-of-paradise-how-to-grow-care
These plants are considered poisonous and should be kept away from pets and children. Read more about common houseplants that are poisonous in Don’t Feed Me To Your Cat! A Guide to Poisonous Houseplants.