If you have recently repotted your Bird of Paradise or found yourself digging close to one outside, you may have noticed an unusual root structure. Unlike the long, thin strands of roots that many plant owners expect, Birds of Paradise have rhizomes beneath the soil, which may resemble bulbs, to some plant enthusiasts. If you have seen these rhizomes for yourself, you may be wondering if they differ from bulbs and what role they play in plant reproduction.
A Bird of Paradise has an underground rhizome, not a bulb. While different from bulbs, these root structures serve a similar function, storing water and nutrients to support the plant through changing conditions. However, they also play a role in reproduction, allowing a fully grown Bird of Paradise to be safely divided into smaller plants for repotting.
Rhizomes are easy to care for and provide a lot of necessary support for your Bird of Paradise. Understanding how they work and how they differ from bulbs can help you provide the best conditions for your plant. Even better, they can help you turn one healthy Bird of Paradise into a whole collection! Keep reading to learn more!
What Is Going on Down There?
As much as we appreciate the above-ground beauty of our plants, there are a lot of interesting things going on beneath the soil! Depending on the types of plants you are accustomed to growing, you may think of roots as a ball of thin strands that absorb water and nutrients from the soil. These more common root structures often come in two forms, fibrous roots and taproots.
Fibrous roots are often more shallowly distributed, spreading out to seek nutrients, water, and oxygen. Taproots usually have one primary root, which drives deep in the soil, providing stability. In fact, if you have ever struggled to get a dandelion out of the ground, it’s because it had a deeply embedded tap root. But these common root formations are just the beginning!
Some plants have aerial roots that climb above the soil, some roots serve to pull nutrients from other plants, and some root systems store nutrients to protect the plant from changing seasons.
So, what does a Bird of Paradise have beneath the soil, and why does it matter? Bird of Paradise plants have a sturdier type of underground structure called rhizomes. And, interestingly, they aren’t technically a “root” at all!
Although rhizomes have a similar function to roots, they are actually a kind of stem that supports the plant beneath the soil, supporting small roots of their own. That said, these rhizomes often do not look like stems since they become swollen with nutrients for the plant.
In some cases, the rhizomes are actually the star of the show, such as ginger root, which is a tasty, spicy rhizome! But many rhizomes live a quiet existence, providing structure for large, upright plants, like Bird of Paradise and Zamioculcas zamiifolia, while promoting adequate hydration and nutrition.
In an adult Bird of Paradise plant, these rhizomes tend to look a bit like off-white tubes, with some smaller roots present. You might be thinking, “That sounds like a bulb. Are they the same thing?” Actually, while they support many of the same functions as a rhizome, bulbs are a different structure entirely, supporting other species of plants – many of which you may already know.
What is a Bulb?
If it was surprising to hear that a rhizome is a modified stem – check this out – a bulb is technically a modified leaf! More accurately, though, you could think of a bulb as a series of fleshy leaves, or leaf bases, that serve to store food for the plant. These leaves and thin layers surround a core, which is sometimes called a “bud.” Since these leaves are compacted together beneath the soil, the bulb is usually round or oval in shape and may have small roots growing from the bottom.
The whole bulb is often covered by a thicker skin, called a tunic, which serves a protective function. This tunic may have a dry, papery texture.
If you are thinking, “That sounds like an onion,” you’re correct! Onions are a plant that forms a true bulb, though not all bulbs resemble onions.
The “top” of the bulb often hosts a flowering plant that will appear above the soil. Additionally, bulbs can propagate by producing new bulbs that, once large enough, can grow into their own plants. Tulips, lilies, and daffodils are other plants that grow from bulbs and divide into other flowers when they mature.
Now, What is a Rhizome?
As we previously mentioned, rhizomes are modified stems that develop from an established plant. Unlike bulbs, these rhizomes usually grow horizontally under the soil, producing small roots along their nodes. Since they serve to stabilize the plant and store nutrients and water, rhizomes can help plants survive in adverse conditions, especially droughts. This is important since Bird of Paradise is often found outdoors in swelteringly hot locations.
But rhizomes also provide a valuable function in reproduction. While plants with bulbs can produce additional bulbs for reproduction, plants with rhizomes can develop new plant structures from the nodes found along the rhizome surface. These plants can then rapidly spread on their own in outdoor environments.
However, unless you live in one of the few tropical locations in the U.S., your Bird of Paradise is likely not growing outside. With that in mind, it will not be able to fully reproduce through its rhizomes without a bit of help from you. Thankfully, Bird of Paradise rhizomes can be easily divided!
How To Divide a Bird of Paradise Rhizome
Dividing your Bird of Paradise is best undertaken in the spring, at the start of the growing season. This allows the plant plenty of time to recover before growth slows again in the fall and winter. Gather up your sharp, disinfected scissors or a gardening knife, gardening gloves, and a tarp if needed. Now you’re ready to get started.
First, you will want to carefully remove your Bird of Paradise from its planter. If your Bird of Paradise is heavy, you may want to gently lay the planter on its side, making sure not to break any stems. Also, be careful not to pull hard on the plant, as this can separate the rhizomes from the plant. Once the plant is on its side, wiggle the planter back and forth, pulling on it gently. When the plant is free, you should see the rhizomes right away.
A simple way to divide the plant is to keep the individual rhizomes intact but separate them from each other. This approach will be easy if the rhizomes are not tightly clustered. This allows the plant to practically divide itself, as you simply separate the plant along the natural divisions without much cutting.
If the rhizomes have grown so close together that they are a compact block, you will need to cut some of them apart. This may be intimidating, but remember that rhizomes are sturdy and can survive when cut. Look over the rhizome cluster closely, finding a place to cut that will allow each new plant to have a portion of the cluster that is roughly the same size.
Once you have decided where you will cut, take your scissors or blade and begin to make your incisions. But be careful – rhizome skin can be tougher than that of your hands, and your blade can slip. Take your time and cut carefully. Once you have separated your rhizomes, it’s time to replant your Bird of Paradise!
Caring for Your Newly Divided Bird of Paradise
If you’ve gone through the steps above to divide your Bird of Paradise, you can now repot the divisions into their own separate containers. Be sure to use a pot with a drainage hole and well-draining soil to keep your plant from becoming waterlogged.
Keep in mind that, no matter how gentle you were in the division process, your plant has experienced a bit of trauma. It is not uncommon for plants that have been significantly pruned, divided, or repotted, to experience shock as they heal and adapt to their new conditions.
As a result, you may see some limpness, yellowing, or even leaf drop, which will usually be corrected in a few weeks. Don’t worry, and definitely don’t do anything extreme – this is not the time for loads of fertilizer or continual grow lights. Just provide consistent, appropriate care, and allow nature to take its course.
Soon, your divided plant will show signs of recovery. And thanks to your plant’s healthy rhizomes, you may be able to undertake the process again in a couple years- adding even more plants to your collection!