Cut back the tall leaf stalks and leave the lower ones to grow into that space.
Radiant_HoneyRoots
No!!! 🥺
windycityzow
You could probably sell it
clbbcrg
I had same issue with mine, the new leaves grew up and then broke themselves pressing against thr ceiling before they even opened it was 8ft (the ceiling) dint take all that long to grow that big either tbh maybe 3 years from a small pot plant
Echeyak
Radical you say? What about upgrading your house?
Uschisewpie
These are large plants that can reach upwards of 25ft outdoors. Birds of paradise are hard to keep indoor for this reason.
Budget-Discussion568
Gorgeous! I just donated my monstera to a local school because it legitimately took up 3/4 of a bedroom. The room really be used for much else other than to house “Giant Plantie”. Yes, , he was given a name. I think he created his own atmosphere & I should have been charging him rent. It was a bittersweet day but I had to choose the plant’s well being or getting my space back. I no longer had appropriate space for him to continue growing. Really well done!
MilkingDucks
I have a white bird of paradise too! Made the mistake of taking her outside one summer and had a hard time getting her back in the house. I cut back the tallest leaves BUT ended up killing one of the middle crowns. It looks terrible and it’s been 2 years since I did that. I wouldn’t cut it back, I’d train it to spread the leaves outwards if I could go back. Another thing you could do is repot it. Knock off all the dirt and see how far the roots go down then sink it lower into the pot and give it fresh soil. (Edit grammar)
OtterMumzy
Can you take cuttings and propagate? Once they root you can give to others, keep, or sell. I do this with my 25yo fiddle leaf fig. She has many children!!
AlwaysToodles
Amazing plant. If it were mine, I would cut the tallest leaves one at a time, with time in between, until eventually they’re all gone. The lower leaves will grow and the plant will look balanced.
Zeal_of_Zebras
You should cut the tall leaves and use them as plates.
Invite your friends over for burgers or taco night. Eating on banana leaves is super fun! Then do it all over again when the young leaves reach the ceiling. Make it an annual thing.
Definitely keep the plant!
the_grinchs_boytoy
Is there a reason nobody has suggested placing it outside? I didn’t see a mention that you can’t have plants outdoors
Jane_Smith_Reddit
Yes. Give it to me please. 😆
Do what is best for you and will keep you happy, do you have another spot you can move it to?
It will break my heart if I had to part with such wonderful plant.
ratherbeona_beach
I would donate it. Maybe an art space? If you love it, let it grow!
JayCaj
I said goodbye to my apartment bird of paradise a few years ago and it was a sad day. We took great care of it and was about as big as yours! Even with 10’ ceilings it was just too hard to take with us when we moved. We took her apart carefully and respectfully but it was time.
Capital-Designer-385
Does your apartment building have an entrance or clubhouse or somewhere with higher ceilings and decent light? Maybe the property manager would love to take it and that way you can keep watching it thrive
botritis
How are you doing this, my bird of paradise does not want to grow.
RoRuRee
Our local hospital has an atrium area at the front which houses many neat tropical plants and trees. We are in Northern Ontario. Some are very tall! You could see if any public buildings could take this gorgeous plant in.
Finepry
Find someone with really high ceilings.
Wareve
I mean, honestly, if the goal is to keep it, then I would recommend you trim it by half. I’m unsure of how much can be removed without threatening the whole plant, but if you were to take out the tallest fifty percent of leaves, you would have something that can fit the space again.
Alternatively, maybe you could gift it or sell it to an organization or business with a lobby, assuming you can extract it from the space intact.
Do you have a relative who gardens? An elderly neighbor?
Adventurous_Collar_6
How did you get it to grow so well? I would love tips!! Mine look so sparse ðŸ˜
carlitospig
Honestly it’s impressive it’s gotten enough light seeing how tall the damn thing is!
Glitterous82
See if you can find the Orange BOP and get that one instead! They stay apartment sized and will grow like 5ft max.Â
pencilline
It has demonstrated it’s desire to grow out of your confines, it has earned it’s freedom
Big-Cloud-6719
I move mine outside in the summer and then back in late Fall and I have 16 foot ceilings in my main room. Once she hits that, I’ll try to find her a loving home who can accommodate her. My Fiddle Leaf Fig is in the same situation. It’s so hard to let them go.
BeerJunky
How radical? Have you considered adding on a large 3 story green house addition to your home?
jenea
I certainly hope you don’t give up the ghost—that would mean *you* would die! You might need to give up the plant, though. It doesn’t look like it’s going to give up the ghost any time soon.
Artichokeydokey8
I sold mine after she reached 8+ feet. She was taking over the room.
likewhatilikeilike
Perhaps you could donate her to a local organisation with higher ceilings, say, a library, children’s centre or swimming pool? Or just knock through the ceiling to make more room 🤣
Cleangreen21
If you want to enjoy it for longer, chop her back to appx 1’ tall. You can then watch her grow up again.
30 Comments
Cut back the tall leaf stalks and leave the lower ones to grow into that space.
No!!! 🥺
You could probably sell it
I had same issue with mine, the new leaves grew up and then broke themselves pressing against thr ceiling before they even opened it was 8ft (the ceiling) dint take all that long to grow that big either tbh maybe 3 years from a small pot plant
Radical you say? What about upgrading your house?
These are large plants that can reach upwards of 25ft outdoors. Birds of paradise are hard to keep indoor for this reason.
Gorgeous! I just donated my monstera to a local school because it legitimately took up 3/4 of a bedroom. The room really be used for much else other than to house “Giant Plantie”. Yes, , he was given a name. I think he created his own atmosphere & I should have been charging him rent. It was a bittersweet day but I had to choose the plant’s well being or getting my space back. I no longer had appropriate space for him to continue growing. Really well done!
I have a white bird of paradise too! Made the mistake of taking her outside one summer and had a hard time getting her back in the house. I cut back the tallest leaves BUT ended up killing one of the middle crowns. It looks terrible and it’s been 2 years since I did that. I wouldn’t cut it back, I’d train it to spread the leaves outwards if I could go back. Another thing you could do is repot it. Knock off all the dirt and see how far the roots go down then sink it lower into the pot and give it fresh soil. (Edit grammar)
Can you take cuttings and propagate? Once they root you can give to others, keep, or sell. I do this with my 25yo fiddle leaf fig. She has many children!!
Amazing plant. If it were mine, I would cut the tallest leaves one at a time, with time in between, until eventually they’re all gone. The lower leaves will grow and the plant will look balanced.
You should cut the tall leaves and use them as plates.
Invite your friends over for burgers or taco night. Eating on banana leaves is super fun! Then do it all over again when the young leaves reach the ceiling. Make it an annual thing.
Definitely keep the plant!
Is there a reason nobody has suggested placing it outside? I didn’t see a mention that you can’t have plants outdoors
Yes. Give it to me please. 😆
Do what is best for you and will keep you happy, do you have another spot you can move it to?
It will break my heart if I had to part with such wonderful plant.
I would donate it. Maybe an art space? If you love it, let it grow!
I said goodbye to my apartment bird of paradise a few years ago and it was a sad day. We took great care of it and was about as big as yours! Even with 10’ ceilings it was just too hard to take with us when we moved. We took her apart carefully and respectfully but it was time.
Does your apartment building have an entrance or clubhouse or somewhere with higher ceilings and decent light? Maybe the property manager would love to take it and that way you can keep watching it thrive
How are you doing this, my bird of paradise does not want to grow.
Our local hospital has an atrium area at the front which houses many neat tropical plants and trees. We are in Northern Ontario. Some are very tall! You could see if any public buildings could take this gorgeous plant in.
Find someone with really high ceilings.
I mean, honestly, if the goal is to keep it, then I would recommend you trim it by half. I’m unsure of how much can be removed without threatening the whole plant, but if you were to take out the tallest fifty percent of leaves, you would have something that can fit the space again.
Alternatively, maybe you could gift it or sell it to an organization or business with a lobby, assuming you can extract it from the space intact.
Do you have a relative who gardens? An elderly neighbor?
How did you get it to grow so well? I would love tips!! Mine look so sparse ðŸ˜
Honestly it’s impressive it’s gotten enough light seeing how tall the damn thing is!
See if you can find the Orange BOP and get that one instead! They stay apartment sized and will grow like 5ft max.Â
It has demonstrated it’s desire to grow out of your confines, it has earned it’s freedom
I move mine outside in the summer and then back in late Fall and I have 16 foot ceilings in my main room. Once she hits that, I’ll try to find her a loving home who can accommodate her. My Fiddle Leaf Fig is in the same situation. It’s so hard to let them go.
How radical? Have you considered adding on a large 3 story green house addition to your home?
I certainly hope you don’t give up the ghost—that would mean *you* would die! You might need to give up the plant, though. It doesn’t look like it’s going to give up the ghost any time soon.
I sold mine after she reached 8+ feet. She was taking over the room.
Perhaps you could donate her to a local organisation with higher ceilings, say, a library, children’s centre or swimming pool? Or just knock through the ceiling to make more room 🤣
If you want to enjoy it for longer, chop her back to appx 1’ tall. You can then watch her grow up again.