What Is Wrong With My Bird Of Paradise?

Are the leaves small, discolored, and drop early, clusters of honey-colored mushrooms may sprout at the base of the plant?

Are the flowers covered with gray mold?

Are the roots dark brown, the plant is wilting, yellowing, and dying?

Does the foliage turns yellow, wilts, and dies; the basal stem has holes or decay?

Are the leaves curled and distorted, sticky to the touch?

Do the leaves and stems have white, cottony clusters on them?

Are the leaves covered with small bumps?

Are the leaves yellow and the plant looks weakened?

Is there a white layer formed on the branches and nearby surfaces?

Armillaria root rot is a fungal disease that cannot be effectively controlled once it has become established. Diseased or dead plants should be uprooted and removed. Preventing infection of new plants and planting resistant species are the only effective controls for Armillaria. Prepare the site well. Remove old roots and debris from the soil before planting. Use pathogen-free plants and air-dry soil well before planting.

Likely cause for these symptoms is a fungal disease - Botrytis blight. Other symptoms include brown to black spots that may appear on leaves and petals. You can only prevent Botrytis blight disease by planting sweet alyssums in areas with good air circulation. Water plants sparsely. Infected plants should be removed. Spray weekly with a copper fungicide until the disease is under control.

These symptoms indicate a fungal disease - Pythium Root Rot. Do not overwater plants. Remove affected plants and their roots, and discard surrounding soil. Plant only in the pasteurized soil. Hold back on fertilizing too. Keep hose ends off the ground. Apply a copper-based fungicide to protect plants.

Crown borer larvae bore into the crowns of plants. They are most commonly found in bird of paradise plants but also attack strawberries. Foliage turns yellow, wilts, and dies. The basal stem has holes or decay. Borers are probably secondary pests attracted to decaying tissue. Avoid wounding plants. Provide good cultural care. Avoid overwatering. Remove debris and dying plants.

Distorted and sticky leaves and stems are caused by aphids. These tiny insects cluster under leaves and on growing tips where they feed on plant sap. Leaves, stems, and buds get distorted and later leaves and flowers drop from the plant. You can control them by washing them off the plant with water spray. Insecticidal soap should be used only with severe infestations.

White, cottony clusters on leaves and stems are caused by mealybugs. These tiny insects are covered with a fluffy white coating. They feed by sucking plants sap. They produce the sticky substance honeydew which makes leaves sticky. You can control them by washing them off the plant with water spray. Insecticidal soap should be used with severe infestations.

Leaves covered by small bumps are caused by scales. These tiny, shelled insects often feed on the undersides of the leaves, causing an unhealthy appearance with yellowish blotches on the upper leaf surfaces. Scrape off minor infestations with your fingernail. Prune out badly infested growth, or use a soft brush and soapy water to gently scrub the scales off the stems. Control scales by spraying insecticidal oil during the growing season.

Yellow leaves and stunted look are caused by whiteflies. These tiny, mothlike flies and their larvae feed by sucking plant juices. Whiteflies secrete honeydew, a sugary substance that makes leaves sticky to the touch. Control whiteflies by eliminating garden weeds and by introducing green lacewings in the garden. Spray infested plants with insecticidal soap every 3 days for 2 weeks.

Glassy-winged sharpshooters drain leaf fluids. The fluid waste they excrete dries to form a white layer on the branches and nearby surfaces. These bugs transmit the deadly Xylella fastidiosa bacteria. Organic insecticidal soap controls these pests, but complete control on large trees requires patience.

Mineral deficiencies can cause tip chlorosis or necrosis or cause foliage to discolor, fade, distort, or become spotted, sometimes in a characteristic pattern that can be recognized to identify the cause. When nutrient deficiencies occur, nitrogen and iron are the most commonly seen deficiencies. Apply only the mineral found to be deficient. Excess nutrients, on the other hand, causes symptoms like leaf tip dieback, marginal leaf chlorosis, necrosis (or burn), branch dieback, and pest problems. In this case, you should provide good drainage, and use good practices during fertilization and irrigation.