Pest battle with Bird of Paradise — and how I won

I had a serious problem with spider mite infestations in hot dry conditions on my Bird of Paradise earlier this year. Caught it late and had to work hard to bring the plant back. The experience was frustrating but educational.

Now that it's healthy again I can fully appreciate dramatic large leaves or flowers that create an instant impact, which is remarkable. I've repositioned it in a hotel lobby-style statement interior display and improved my attention to watering generously in summer and reducing in winter. flowering period in peak summer heat was the proof that the plant had fully recovered — genuinely beautiful. Moral of the story: inspect regularly and catch problems early.