I have owned a bird of paradise for about two years. It is about five
feet tall and has about half a dozen large leaves, with another half
dozen small leaves near the bottom. Since I got the plant, I've taken
good care of it and it appears healthy, sprouting up a new leaf about
every 4 months.

My problem is that a friend was here, a clutzy friend, and he fell on
my bird of paradise. FELL ON THE DARN THING. So he bent almost all
of the stalks; they snapped like twigs. I couldn't believe it. All
of my big beautiful bird of paradise leaves, now sagging and resting
on the floor. Even though the inside supporting material snapped, the
outer "skin" remains intact. I quickly hijacked some poles from my
rubber tree and carefully used them to prop up my bird of paradise's
damaged stalks...hoping they will restore like broken bones.

My question is, will the plant ever heal? If so, how long would it
take? If not, what should I do? I'm considering just pruning off the
bent stalks, but that would be like starting over with it. Even
though I haven't had it very long, I'd like to keep it instead of
having to buy a new one.

thanks for any advice,

phil (phrom san phrancisco)

p.s. my rubber plant, newly liberated from its poles, is quite
enjoying its freedom.

On 23 Jan 2004 01:00:41 -0800, (Phil) wrote:

I have owned a bird of paradise for about two years. It is about five
feet tall and has about half a dozen large leaves, with another half
dozen small leaves near the bottom. Since I got the plant, I've taken
good care of it and it appears healthy, sprouting up a new leaf about
every 4 months.

My problem is that a friend was here, a clutzy friend, and he fell on
my bird of paradise. FELL ON THE DARN THING. So he bent almost all
of the stalks; they snapped like twigs. I couldn't believe it. All
of my big beautiful bird of paradise leaves, now sagging and resting
on the floor. Even though the inside supporting material snapped, the
outer "skin" remains intact. I quickly hijacked some poles from my
rubber tree and carefully used them to prop up my bird of paradise's
damaged stalks...hoping they will restore like broken bones.

My question is, will the plant ever heal? If so, how long would it
take? If not, what should I do? I'm considering just pruning off the
bent stalks, but that would be like starting over with it. Even
though I haven't had it very long, I'd like to keep it instead of
having to buy a new one.

thanks for any advice,

phil (phrom san phrancisco)

p.s. my rubber plant, newly liberated from its poles, is quite
enjoying its freedom.

Cut off the bent stalks as close to soil level as you can to keep the
over all look of the plant remains healthy. They won't heal. Yes it
will be like starting all over, but in the two years you've had it the
root mass has grown so it won't take two years for it to be as lovely
as it was. As soon as the days get longer and warmer it will start
pushing out a bunch of new growth. Probably by fall weather you will
be pleased with its recovery.

zhan

Just love on your friend. Some folks are not as graceful. Thats why I
don't follow sports. I'm not graceful and I've fallen on my plants.Once
did such a good job that
I crushed my heel and had a plate and 10 screws put in.

Be glad your plant is alive. It'll come back as it is established.
Probably will fool you and look bette rthan prior to its haircut.

--
Celestial Habitats by J. Kolenovsky
2003 Honorable Mention Award, Keep Houston Beautiful
ô¿ô - http://www.celestialhabitats.com - business
ô¿ô - http://www.hal-pc.org/~garden/personal.html - personal

Yeah, if I had a friend that was that clumsy, I would demand the klutz pay
for the damages and the dude forever be in debt to make up for what he did.
I would have taken the jerk's wallet out of his pocket and taken all his
cash as a down payment for the irreparable damage done. Was the dimwit drunk
when he fell on the plant or is he just a complete idiot? I might even have
beaten the crap out of him too (just as a down payment reminder)!!


zhanataya wrote in message
news
On 23 Jan 2004 01:00:41 -0800, (Phil) wrote:

I have owned a bird of paradise for about two years. It is about five
feet tall and has about half a dozen large leaves, with another half
dozen small leaves near the bottom. Since I got the plant, I've taken
good care of it and it appears healthy, sprouting up a new leaf about
every 4 months.

My problem is that a friend was here, a clutzy friend, and he fell on
my bird of paradise. FELL ON THE DARN THING. So he bent almost all
of the stalks; they snapped like twigs. I couldn't believe it. All
of my big beautiful bird of paradise leaves, now sagging and resting
on the floor. Even though the inside supporting material snapped, the
outer "skin" remains intact. I quickly hijacked some poles from my
rubber tree and carefully used them to prop up my bird of paradise's
damaged stalks...hoping they will restore like broken bones.

My question is, will the plant ever heal? If so, how long would it
take? If not, what should I do? I'm considering just pruning off the
bent stalks, but that would be like starting over with it. Even
though I haven't had it very long, I'd like to keep it instead of
having to buy a new one.

thanks for any advice,

phil (phrom san phrancisco)

p.s. my rubber plant, newly liberated from its poles, is quite
enjoying its freedom.

Cut off the bent stalks as close to soil level as you can to keep the
over all look of the plant remains healthy. They won't heal. Yes it
will be like starting all over, but in the two years you've had it the
root mass has grown so it won't take two years for it to be as lovely
as it was. As soon as the days get longer and warmer it will start
pushing out a bunch of new growth. Probably by fall weather you will
be pleased with its recovery.

zhan

On 23 Jan 2004 01:00:41 -0800, (Phil) wrote:

My problem is that a friend was here, a clutzy friend, and he fell on
my bird of paradise. FELL ON THE DARN THING. So he bent almost all
of the stalks; they snapped like twigs. I couldn't believe it. All
of my big beautiful bird of paradise leaves, now sagging and resting
on the floor.

Poor plant. Poor you. Poor friend. Accidents happen, as I was reminded
when a Dudge van the size of a battleship totalled my faithful old
Sentra last week.

As Zhan says, few plants 'heal' with splints. (Nice for us that people
*do*.) And as she also notes, a healthy root mass is likely to help
the plant recover.

For crissake Frogfart, you ought to be ashamed of yourself for making
apologies for an inept klutz you don't even know. The two of you should have
your butts kicked.

Now you apologize for an idiot that can't even drive totaling your car? You
must be under very heavy sedation. There are too many jackasses out there
driving SUV's they can't control. I would sue the moron for all he's got and
demand he pay for a replacement vehicle.


Frogleg wrote in message
...
On 23 Jan 2004 01:00:41 -0800, (Phil) wrote:

My problem is that a friend was here, a clutzy friend, and he fell on
my bird of paradise. FELL ON THE DARN THING. So he bent almost all
of the stalks; they snapped like twigs. I couldn't believe it. All
of my big beautiful bird of paradise leaves, now sagging and resting
on the floor.

Poor plant. Poor you. Poor friend. Accidents happen, as I was reminded
when a Dudge van the size of a battleship totalled my faithful old
Sentra last week.

As Zhan says, few plants 'heal' with splints. (Nice for us that people
*do*.) And as she also notes, a healthy root mass is likely to help
the plant recover.

This is pretty freakin' hilarious, especially if you consider that
this "friend" is actually my girlfriend! I was covering for her
because she felt so awful when it happenned. But now she knows, if
she falls on any more plants, to prepare for an alabama beat down, heh
heh.

phil




"Cereoid-UR12-" wrote in message . ..
Yeah, if I had a friend that was that clumsy, I would demand the klutz pay
for the damages and the dude forever be in debt to make up for what he did.
I would have taken the jerk's wallet out of his pocket and taken all his
cash as a down payment for the irreparable damage done. Was the dimwit drunk
when he fell on the plant or is he just a complete idiot? I might even have
beaten the crap out of him too (just as a down payment reminder)!!

On Sat, 24 Jan 2004 16:26:53 GMT, "Cereoid-UR12-"
wrote:

Frogleg wrote

On 23 Jan 2004 01:00:41 -0800, (Phil) wrote:

My problem is that a friend was here, a clutzy friend, and he fell on
my bird of paradise. FELL ON THE DARN THING. So he bent almost all
of the stalks; they snapped like twigs. I couldn't believe it. All
of my big beautiful bird of paradise leaves, now sagging and resting
on the floor.

Poor plant. Poor you. Poor friend. Accidents happen, as I was reminded
when a Dudge van the size of a battleship totalled my faithful old
Sentra last week

For crissake Frogfart, you ought to be ashamed of yourself for making
apologies for an inept klutz you don't even know. The two of you should have
your butts kicked.

Now you apologize for an idiot that can't even drive totaling your car? You
must be under very heavy sedation. There are too many jackasses out there
driving SUV's they can't control. I would sue the moron for all he's got and
demand he pay for a replacement vehicle.

Was not apologizing for anything. (Although *you* might for being
nasty about my posting name.)

Since the OP mentioned "a friend," I assumed it wasn't a deliberately
malicious or even stupidly careless act that smashed his nice plant. I
was reminded of stepping on the last surviving cucumber seedling in my
very own garden plot. Accidents *do* happen.

As for car, the responsible party (cited for "failure to yield," which
seems vast understatement for turning into opposing lanes of traffic)
stuck around for the police, contacted his insurance, and behaved as
responsibly as possible (except for SMASHING MY NICE CAR). I consulted
an experienced ins. person (my brother) who said "accidents happen,"
among other things.

I see no reason to call people names because they make mistakes.
Malice is unforgivable; clumsiness is a fact of normal life.

Ah ha! Now the plot thickens.

You got the chick drunk in hopes of getting some nookie and she totals your
plant as she passes out instead.

Was it worth it? Are you expecting her to pay for the damages in ways other
than monetarily? Nudge, nudge, wink, wink!!
Are you hoping to experience a different type of bird of paradise?
Are you expecting monthly installments of hugs and Lewinskys?


Phil wrote in message
om...
This is pretty freakin' hilarious, especially if you consider that
this "friend" is actually my girlfriend! I was covering for her
because she felt so awful when it happenned. But now she knows, if
she falls on any more plants, to prepare for an alabama beat down, heh
heh.

phil




"Cereoid-UR12-" wrote in message
. ..
Yeah, if I had a friend that was that clumsy, I would demand the klutz
pay
for the damages and the dude forever be in debt to make up for what he
did.
I would have taken the jerk's wallet out of his pocket and taken all his
cash as a down payment for the irreparable damage done. Was the dimwit
drunk
when he fell on the plant or is he just a complete idiot? I might even
have
beaten the crap out of him too (just as a down payment reminder)!!

I dropped my bird of paradise plant while transplanting it. It slide out of the pot faster than I anticipated and snapped the stem at the base...Is it salvagable? It only had one stalk

Mssully