I recently bought a stunning bird of paradise plant from Facebook Marketplace, and it was growing beautifully for about a year. The seller mentioned that it was basically two plants in one, so I thought I could separate them when it got bigger. But after three years, I finally decided to repot them, and now both plants are struggling and dying. I also repotted a fig plant, and it's not doing well either. I'm really new to this and would love to know what I did wrong!
3 Answers
Most plants don’t like being disturbed too much. When you separated the stems, were you gentle? It's usually best to only go up about an inch when repotting. If you cut a lot of roots or removed too much soil, that could cause stress. You might want to ensure your soil retains moisture better, especially if it’s drying out too fast. Don't give up yet! There’s still a chance you can save them—just give them some more time and care!
When you repotted, did you accidentally cut any of the live white roots? That could shock the plants. The key is to keep them watered but not overly so. Maybe water them deeply about once a week and let it rest a bit before watering again. It sounds like they might need a little time to recover!
I think I shocked them pretty badly! I overwatered last week, and they started drooping. I’ve been trying to be careful, but it’s been months since I repotted them. I'm really worried!
It might be the potting soil you used. Make sure it has good drainage to prevent the roots from sitting in water. That can really stress the plants. If you didn't already, try to check if your pots have drainage holes!
Yes, both of my pots have drainage so I'm not sure if that’s the issue.
I had to cut some roots to separate them since they were tangled. I watched a video that said it was okay to trim the roots, but I guess I overdid it. Should I just buy new plants or do you think I can still save the ones I have?